Danza del Sol Winery
by
Kathy Sullivan
Summary: Danza del Sol Winery recently purchased by Bob Olson has undergone renovations. The tasting room and patio have been enlarged and offer a great experience for visitors. Consider purchasing an Assagini Platter to enjoy with a glass of wine.
Danza del Sol Winery is located on De Portola Road in Temecula, California. Originally begun as Filsinger Vineyards and Winery, the change of ownership also changed the name of the winery. The winery tasting room size has been increased, as has the patio. This redesign of the tasting room and patio was a metamorphosis from the original design. The tasting room is spacious. The winery has a Mediterranean theme and the wines fit into this theme. Prices of wines are reasonable. The focus of the winery is to create quality wines and to have the friendliest tasting room staff. They want visitors to feel welcome and to be treated right.
Bob (Robert) Olson was in the software business in Minneapolis and sold the business. He wanted to become involved in another small business opportunity. Bob enjoyed wine and heard about the Temecula wine region. When he visited Temecula to check the area out, he discovered the Filsinger winery was for sale. Bob saw the winery and decided to purchase it in February 2010.
Tasting Room
The Danza del Sol Winery tasting room has been enlarged significantly since February 2010. Lighting is enhanced with eight chandeliers. Over the tasting counter hanging lights also add a gentle ambiance. The walls appear to be Tuscan beige that sets off the dark wood of the tasting counter. Just outside the tasting room a large patio is available for anyone who would like to enjoy a glass of wine and relax in the peaceful countryside.
Vineyards
The vineyards consist of 25 acres. Varieties include Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Petite Verdot, Zinfandel, Syrah, Grenache, and Sangiovese. They are considering replacing the Petite Verdot with another variety.
Wines
The winemaker, Mike Tingley, is enthusiastic about the wines he can produce from the winery’s vineyards. They hope to produce 6,000 cases in the future. There are two lines of wines available, the Danza del Sol and Filsinger wines. The first vintage for Danza del Sol Winery is the 2010. In addition to still wines, Danza del Sol also produces Methode Champenois champagne.
We chose to taste wines from the Danza del Sol line. Reserve Chardonnay 2009 offered a tropical fruit aroma and taste of butterscotch with tropical fruit nuances. The finish had notes of tropical fruit, butterscotch and caramel. Dos Blancos 2009 was a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. The wine offered apple nuances. Suggested pairings included a cream-based sauce and pasta, cheeses or dry fruits. Tempranillo 2009 was a ruby color. The aroma and taste had plum nuances. There were mild tannins on the fruit finish. Grenache 2008 was produced with 90 percent Grenache and 10 percent Syrah. The aroma was of light red berry fruit. The smooth taste had red berry notes. The finish was crisp. Syrah 2008 was a ruby color. The aroma and taste had blackberry notes. There were medium tannins on the finish.
An opportunity to taste wines in barrels occurred. The Chardonnay 2010 had some grapefruit notes and was crisp. The Zinfandel 2010 offered black fruit and peppery nuances with bold tannins.
Events
Danza del Sol Winery has a number of public events including music on the patio and mimosa mornings. The winery also offers the location for private events. The Event Team can help with the planning.
Enjoy an Assagini Platter while visiting Danza del Sol. Platters include assorted artisanal cheeses, imported olives, sliced Italian meats with homemade rolls. Francesca’s Italian Kitchen prepares these special platters.
Enjoy your visit to Danza del Sol and plan to stay awhile and enjoy the renovated tasting room and patio.
Danza del Sol Winery
39050 De Portola Rd.
Temecula, California 92592
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