We have chosen our preferred wineries based on the quality of their wines, their servers, and the general atmosphere
If you would like to visit particular wineries, you MUST advise us at the time of booking, as almost all now have reservation systems. Otherwise, we will choose the wineries for you and make bookings.
Preferred Wineries - click on name for description
Akash Winery **
Altisima Winery
Bella Vista Winery
Callaway Winery **
Falkner Winery
Fazeli Cellars
Frangipani Winery
Lorimar Winery
Lorenzi Estate
Masia de la Vinya Winery
Miramonte Winery (Monday-Friday Only)
Mount Palomar Winery
Oak Mountain Winery & Cave
Palumbo Family Cellars – by appointment on weekdays, weekends available
Robert Renzoni Vineyards & Winery
Somerset Winery **
Europa Village Winery $15 per person
Briar Rose Winery $15 per person
Gershon Bachus Winery $15 per person
** Please choose only one of these per tour – they offer “1st come, 1st served” service and can get very busy due to demand vs capacity. It could mean a lengthy wait for service, particularly on the weekends. This could impact the number of tastings or even the number of wineries visited, especially with 1/2 day tours. We will visit these wineries as a first stop to lessen the wait time.**
Please click on images to go to winery website
Picturesque boutique winery producing award-winning, hand-crafted, small lot, premium artisan wines, specializing in red varietals. Briar Rose is one of the hidden gems in the Temecula Valley – as Temecula’s first reservation-only tasting room with friendly and knowledgeable staff, your reception is personal as well as instructive. Owned by Les and Dorian Linkogle who have made it their goal to make each visitor feel special.
-Winemaker Les Linkogle
Situated on property high above the Temecula Valley, Bella Vista provides a spectacular view of the area. A beautiful lake is on the top plateau, where the new owners are developing a lovely tasting area.
Vines were planted on the Calle Contento property in 1968 by the Cilurzo family, and Temecula’s first commercial winery was born!
Imre and his wife Gizella Cziraki purchased the former Cilurzo Winery and renamed it Bella Vista, as the views are spectacular.
The current owners, Kurt Tiede, recently purchased the winery and are making great changes, taking advantage of the spectacular property.
Callaway Vineyard currently grows seven different varietals. The winery property now has 20 acres of Estate vineyards planted with Viognier, Syrah, Dolcetto, Zinfandel, Sangiovese, Grenache, Roussanne, Petite Sirah, and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. The Lin family owns an additional 200 acres of property at the corner of De Portola Road and Monte de Oro, of which approximately 50 acres are currently planted with Chardonnay, Cinsault, Mourvedre, Muscat Canelli, and Cabernet Sauvignon
-Winemaker Craig Larsen
Production tours are available, book in advance
One of Temecula’s wineries that stays open after 5 pm. Danza has a wide selection of wines including some of the best desert wines I have ever tasted. The staff are eager to please and very friendly which makes a visit to Danza a great experience. A recent addition to the winery is their new member’s tasting room, a beautiful serene spot with lovely gardens and views.
-Winemaker Art Villareal
Tours are available daily at 11 am – book well in advance.
Lorimar was founded by brothers-in-law Lawrie Lipton and Mark Manfeld, combining their first names to name it! They opened their Old Town Location in 2009 awaiting the construction of their beautiful Wine Country location which opened in 2012 with breathtaking views of Mount Palomar and the Santa Ana Mountains. Their wines are distinguished by a fruit-forward Tuscan style and there is music by local musicians on the patio at weekends.
-Winemaker Marshall Stewart
Formerly Masia de Yabar, now owned and run by Bob Olson who also owns Danza del Sol on the de Portola trail. Beautifully re-designed and re-planted, the winery has lovely views above De Portola Road (you can see our house!) and the wines here, though different from those at Danza, are also excellent.
– Winemaker Arturo Villareal
Located between the two trails and owned and lovingly tended by Nick and Cindy Palumbo, this is another winery off the beaten path which produces excellent handcrafted artisan wines. It is a true family venture as they not only work but live on the property. Though they specialize in reds, there is usually at least one white on the tasting menu. All of them are delicious!
-Winemaker Nicholas Palumbo
Perhaps one of the friendliest wineries in the area and well-frequented by locals – you’ll often see staff from other wineries enjoying the excellent wines. Outstanding views and live music most weekends. As well as an outside tasting bar during the summer, Oak Mountain also has an outside wine Margarita bar. They are the only winery with wine caves behind the winery.
-Winemaker Steve Andrews
Cave tours are available by appointment, advance notification is required.
Lumiere is a charming, small family owned and run winery on the north side of Calle Contento. Purchased by the Kleiner family in 1987 from the Barlin family who had planted predominantly Sauvignon Blanc vines, Lumiere now has a good range of Bordeaux-style wines to offer. Perched atop a hill with lovely views of the valley; the winery’s tasting room is pretty and your reception will be warm and friendly. Outside there are tables where you can enjoy some of their delicious wines and perhaps a chat with co-owner Martha Kleiner who has seen many changes in the Valley over the years.
-Winemaker Andrew Kleiner
Lorenzi Estate is a charming, hilltop winery, known almost as well for its beautiful planting as its award-winning wines! The setting is stunning, with flowers galore, and the service is personal and friendly. The Lorenzi family is very much involved in the viticulture and daily running of the winery – Don Lorenzi comes from an Italian family of wine growers and makers after all! His wife Brenda and daughter Michelle are also committed to the vision of this winery – You will often find Brenda in the tasting room overseeing operations, and Michelle, with her background in marketing, promotes the business. A true family effort!
-Winemaker Don Lorenzi
One of Temecula’s newer wineries, owned and farmed by the 4th generation of the Pelzer farming family. Their Pumpkin farm is already a local institution and now with their delicious wines, their Crush House winery is bound to be a great hit ! Tastings paired with Great Harvest bread samples, also available for purchase in the Crush House.
-Winemaker Jon McPherson
With a family history of wine and cordial making dating back to 1996 with Robert’s great-grandfather Federico in Fano, Italy, it’s perhaps not surprising that Robert purchased the beautiful acreage on De Portola to continue the family business in 2004. His carefully tended vines produce wonderfully rich Italian varietals. Their new tasting rooms have amazing views of the Valle de los Caballos with a great trattoria, Mama Rosa’s.
-Winemaker Robert Renzoni
Vineyard Walking Tours are available – space is limited so book in advance, no refunds within 48 hours.
Production tours are also available – book at least 24 hours in advance.
Founded by Ray and Loretta Falkner in 2000, the winery sits high above the valley with spectacular views in every direction. The staff is friendly and the atmosphere is that of a family-owned and very much hands-on winery. The Pinnacle restaurant is excellent and it’s where we take our lunch tours. Also a perfect wedding venue!
-Winemaker Duncan Williams
Owned and operated by the Patel Family, Ray, Nalini, and Akash. They have realized a lifelong dream of owning their own winery, with a vineyard stretched across a 20-acre parcel. The Patels and the winery staff extend to their customers the utmost care and personal attention, making a great tasting experience The tasting room, officially opened in mid-2019, sits high on a hill overlooking the vineyards on Calle Contento. Akash is a 100% estate-grown & single vineyard, which develops wines with passion and sophistication. Akash Winery has already developed a loyal following, with events, music, and general fun for all!
-Winemaker: Renato Sais
Temecula’s newest winery, founded by 8 local families, sits high above the Valle de Los Caballos on the de Portola wine trail. With spectacular views, excellent food, and exceptional wines courtesy of respected local winemaker Marshall Stewart, Altisima is certainly a great addition to the area.
-Winemaker Marshall Stewart
“When brothers Kurt and John Tiedt decided to go into the winemaking business with a group of close friends, it wasn’t for fame and fortune. Somerset Vineyard & Winery continues a legacy of sharing good times with others, a cornerstone of the Tiedt Brothers philosophy for decades.” – Somerset Vineyards & Winery
-Winemaker David Vincent Raffaelle
One of Temecula’s original wineries establishes in 1969. Mount Palomar Winery sits on 315 acres of outstandingly beautiful Temecula Wine Country. Enjoy the friendly service and delicious wines while taking in the views or listening to music on the weekends. It is also a premiere wedding and events venue.
-Winemaker James Rutherford
Offering wines in the finest European tradition, Europa specializes in wines from France, Spain, and Italy. There are More than 30 acres planted and there are plans in the works for separate venues for the wines from each of these three countries. They will be connected by a series of shops and walking paths with a 40-room resort and spa. Cest la vie is a French-inspired winery.
-Winemaker George Bursick
NB There is a $15 extra charge per person for this winery
Tours and classes are available, book in advance
Bolero is Europa Village’s Spanish-inspired winery, with a fantastic restaurant and villas.
-Winemaker George Bursick
COMING TO EUROPA VILLAGE WINERIES IN 2023 – Vienza, the Italian experience!
NB There is a $15 extra charge per person for this winery Tours and classes are available – book in advance
Miramonte Winery (originally Piconi Winery) was founded in 2001 by Cane Vanderhoof and occupies a position high on a hill off Rancho California Road in the Temecula Valley. They predominantly produce varietals of Southern France, Spain and Portugal.
Miramonte was the pioneer of weekly, after-hours musical entertainment in Temecula – quite controversial in its day, now an industry standard! Their popular, award-winning Flower Hill Bistro was opened in 2015, and remains a popular attraction in Temecula Wine Country. With comfortable seating and great views, Miramonte is a great place to go tasting or just while away the time!
-Winemaker Reinhard Schlassa
NB This winery is available Monday – Friday
“Gershon Bachus was a simple man who immigrated to the United States from Europe in 1922 with his wife and two girls. He brought with him a zest for life and agriculture with only a few concepts for fine wine. Like many transplanted Europeans, he continued to make wine for his friends and family but never realized his dream of owning his own vineyard in California.
In 2005, 84 years later, Gershon’s fantasy was fulfilled by his grandson, Ken, and his wife, Christina. The family winemaking tradition now lives on in Temecula, California, where the lifestyle described in the many stories from the old country has been captured. Family, Friends and Food.” – Gershon Bachus Website
“Nestled in the picturesque rolling hills of the De Portola Wine Trail – the famed ‘Wine Row” of Southern California’s spectacular Temecula Valley wine country – Fazeli Cellars soars as a state-of-the-art winery offering a combination of stunning architecture, breathtaking scenic beauty and the finest selection of boutique wines the region has to offer.
Bizhan “BJ” Fazeli fulfilled a life-long passion in the acquisition and development of his Temecula vineyards/winery. Since its first vintage in 2006, Fazeli Cellars today boasts more than 20 varietals of boutique wines from Cabernet Sauvignon to Sauvignon Blanc, Petite Sirah to Mourvedre, and Viognier to Chardonnay that have earned numerous prestigious festival competition awards – and the loyalty of enthusiasts across the region.” – Fazeli Cellars Website
