Temecula Wine Country Has Busy Season Ahead

Photo: Guitarist Craig Chaquico

Up and down Rancho California Road, and recently DePortola Road, the wineries of Temecula are busy creating lovely new wines and new and bigger facilities. The visitor count rises as nicer weather takes on a more consistent pattern.

It is an exciting time to be part of the wine scene is this growing area. Just a few days ago, a new winery opened its doors on DePortola: Robert Renzoni Vineyards, capturing the essence of Italian style winemaking. More about this in a future column.

At the New World International Wine Competition in Ontario recently, Temecula Valley wines captured 52 medals, after scoring 12 medals earlier at the San Francisco Chronicle showing. It was spread out among a number of wineries that are pulling some strong ratings from Sauvignon Blanc to Zinfandel.

Wilson Creek is meriting a lot of attention with its major upgrade, to include Wine Country’s newest restaurant as well as more banquet space. The Creekside Grill will feature “Mediterranean home-style,” elegantly presented cuisine. It should be ready to go in June. A ballroom above the restaurant will hold parties of 350 people. A barrel room will hold 75 guests. New Food and Beverage Director is Mindy Smith and will be handling the bookings of the new operation.

The biggest boost to Wilson Creek is the appointment of Etienne Cowper as winemaker. He has been in the Valley for 17 years and before coming down to Temecula he was at Kendall Jackson in Sonoma. At a recent party to introduce a new Zinfandel 2005 release, Etienne told me that “the fruit and its fullest expression is the most important part of the wine process. You have to know the grape and what it can do.” He went to say that “I believe in blending…some grapes like Sangioves tend to be thin in the middle and blending will enliven it and build up the body.” I asked him about how he knows when to harvest the grapes. “I sample (grapes) myself, walking, looking, feeling, and examining the seeds and skins.”

Concert season is just about ready to kick off and Wilson Creek has its Sunset jazz lineup in place, with headliners like the Sax Pack June 28, Eric Darius and guitarist Craig Chaquico (shown in above photo) July 19, among others. Tickets and information at www.wilsoncreekwinery.com or call 951-699-9463.

Thornton Winery, which invented “Champagne Jazz” concerts some 20 years ago, has its most ambitious venue ever with some 21 dates. Names like Richard Elliot, Jeffery Osborne and Mindi Abair are set to entertain in the next few months. Check out the lineup at www.thorntonwine.com or 951-699-3021.

If your entertainment likes are more intimate, try Keyways Vineyard and Winery Piano Bar on Friday nights 6:30 to 9:30pm, and Sunday “Music in the Vines” from 2pm to 6pm. More information at 951-302-7888.

by Frank Mangio

Temecula Valley Wines Win Big in SF Competition

by Don McAuliffe

Wines from the Temecula Valley walked off with 12 medals at the first wine competition of the year. Held during the second week of January at the Cloverdale Citrus Fair, the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition 2008 featured wines from nearly every major wine-producing region in the United States.

Among more than 4,200 wines from 1,500 wineries, Stuart Cellars 2006 Syrah ($35) won double gold and best of class in its price category. Falkner Winery’s 2006 Sauvignon Blanc ($16.95) also won a double gold and best of class in its price class.

Ray Falkner of Falkner Winery - Photo Courtesy of Valley Business Journal

Maurice Car’rie’s 2007 Sauvignon Blanc ($12.95) received a gold, a reflection of the region’s emphasis on quality wines. “The Temecula Valley region is proud to have won some of the more prestigious awards at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition,” said Ray Falkner, winery owner and president of the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association, which represents more than 60 growers and vintners. “To have two of our wines win Best in Class reflects that the quality of wine produced in Temecula is every bit as good as that of any of the wine regions to the North.”

Also receiving medals were Falkner Winery’s 2006 Viognier ($21.95), 2004 Amante ($24.95) 2004 Meritage ($29.95), 2004 Syrah ($24.95) and 2004 Merlot ($21.95); Stuart Cellars 2005 Tatria ($38) and 2005 Long Valley Red Meritage ($65); La Cereza Winery’s 2006 ($24.95) Viognier and Girlfriends ($16.95) white blend; and VR Winery’s 2006 Gewurztraminer ($14.95)