Visit California


July 06, 2010



Sip, Golf, and Relax in Southern California’s Backyard

http://www.visitcalifornia.com/Trip-Ideas/Sip-Golf-and-Relax-in-Southern-Californias-Backyard/

In the rolling hills of southwestern Riverside County lies California’s southernmost wine region, just an hour from San Diego and 90 minutes from Los Angeles. Many are startled to learn that one of the state’s finest wine regions is so near the desert, with its scorching heat. But vintners here are proving that the combination of cool nights, proximity to the Pacific Ocean breezes, and 1,500-foot elevation can produce sophisticated warm-climate reds, plus excellent examples of reds and whites typically grown farther north. Wine country visitors are also learning that Temecula supports a whole range of options in addition to wine tasting. Good restaurants, golf, a spa, concerts—which will you choose?
Trip Time: 1 day

If San Bernardino is along your route, stop at the California Welcome Center for wine country brochures and maps to get you started.

Next, head to the heart of the wine region, Temecula. About 4 miles east of I-15 Interstate 15 in Temecula on Rancho California Road, subdivisions give way to vineyard land near Hart Winery , just off the main road. The old-school tasting room is small and unadorned, but it’s a must-stop for lovers of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Mediterranean reds like Syrah and Tempranillo.

Half a mile away, Callaway Vineyard & Winery , founded by Ely Callaway who went on to change the world of golf equipment, is one of Temecula’s biggest operations. Callaway makes wine to suit a range of tastes—and the view from the tasting room across the vineyards is stunning.

Continue on Rancho California for about a mile. You may not know it from the low-key tasting room, but Mount Palomar Winery offers a Sangiovese that shines year after year, an excellent medium-dry Riesling, and a cream sherry that has won many converts. In all, 16 varieties of grapes grow in the 40-acre vineyard.

The most difficult part of getting lunch in Temecula may be deciding among the many good options, as a number of wineries have restaurants on-site. At Ponte Family Estate , another mile along the road, the lunch fare at the Smokehouse restaurant in back of the winery might be pizza from the grape-wood-fired oven, a salad of local greens, and a glass of the Nebbiolo or Super Tuscan blend.

Is your idea of midafternoon relaxation a trip to a spa or a round of golf? Both are close at hand. If it’s a spa sort of day, visit South Coast Winery, Resort & Spa for a grapeseed body scrub, radiant pearl facial, or warm stone massage. (If you didn’t lunch at Ponte, South Coast offers Tuscan fare to accompany wine like reds from its Wild Horse Peak Mountain Vineyards.)

If you think putting green when you hear a vintner use the term “grassy,” it may be time to hit the links. Temecula Creek Golf Course , 8 miles to the southwest near I-15 Interstate 15, features a 27-hole championship course over 300 acres with views of Mt. Palomar.

Not far from the spa, a good-time vibe draws a youngish crowd to the tasting room and patio at Wilson Creek Winery & Vineyards . Newcomers may come for the popular almond-infused sparkling wine, but the Estate Zinfandel is the unsung hero.

Loop south about 6 miles onto De Portola Road for another sort of tasting experience. With its high-ceilinged, somewhat formal tasting room inside a Tudor-style building, Leonesse Cellars , founded in 2003, feels more Napa than SoCal. Nice views extend to the vineyards and Temecula Valley’s less-developed east side. Don’t miss the Cinsault Port.

Back on Rancho California Road near Callaway, close your day in style at Thornton Winery . April through October, you can enjoy weekend jazz concerts on the Mediterranean terrace accompanied by a grill menu and a bottle of the sparkling wine. Year-round, the on-site restaurant serves elegant dinners, plus Sunday Champagne brunches.



« Back