Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Self Guided Vineyard Tour in Temecula Wine Country


TEMECULA, CA –Leonesse Cellars has always been able to talk the talk with its lineup of award-winning wines but now it can walk the walk.

Starting in May the winery introduced Vineyard Walk, a self-guided walking tour of a working vineyard complete with informational plaques and tasting stations where you can sample wines that are not available in the tasting room.

The tour is open to anyone who purchases a $12 ticket on the weekend to taste six different wines.

The Vineyard Walk is an opportunity to learn about history of the vineyard, new wines and the grape growing season and the commitment by Leonesse owners Mike Rennie and Gary Winder to viticulture in the Temecula Valley.

“It’s a great opportunity to get out of the busy tasting room and learn about winemaking and vineyard management from the roots up,” said Rennie, who also co-owns Stage Ranch Farm Management, the region’s leading vineyard management company.

The decision to stroll among the vines from the winery’s main tasting room to the Barrel Room was an easy one for Kevin Burns and Renee Greenberg of San Diego.

“Just look at all the people in the tasting room and we are out here,” said Burns as he sipped on a glass of yet unreleased 2008 Late Harvest Muscat Canelli. “What better way to enjoy wine than in the vineyard from where it came.”

At the second tasting station, Vineyard Walkers got a chance to sample an unreleased 2007 Cinsaut.

“It is very unique,” said Karen Wangeline of San Pedro. “I think this is what draws people to Leonesse Cellars.”

If a day in the vineyards works up an appetite, Leonesse now serves Small Bytes, bit-sized gourmet appetizers prepared by Leah DiBernardo, a moving force in the Slow Food movement in Southern California.

Visitors to the winery’s tasting room and barrel room can order seasonally prepared artisan food from a self-service menu with most of the dozen or so items priced less than $20.

Choose from lamb burgers and prawns poached in Chardonnay with an orange infused cocktail sauce or a charcuterie platter and homemade country pate.

Guests can enjoy the food and wine while relaxing on the tasting room patio, in the picnic area with its spectacular vistas of Wine Country and in Leonesse’s barrel room.

Small Bytes will be served Friday through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Leonesse Cellars is an award-winning winery in Temecula’s Wine Country. Its tasting room at 38311 DePortola Road has breath-taking views of the southern part of Temecula’s Wine Country and is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. . For more information call ((951) 302-7601 or go to: www.leonessecellars.com

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