Temecula and San Diego Wine regions
Although smaller in area and numbers of wineries, the Temecula Wine Region and south towards San Diego in Southern California offers fantastic weather, rolling hills, and the friendliest winemakers and owners in the world. This region is easily accessible to people throughout the United States with several airports close by. Many of the wineries have on-site restaurants with outdoor seating. We visited this region in late February 2009 and having lunch outdoors was quite enjoyable. Adding to photogenic opportunities are the many hot air balloons you may observe. Some of the wineries have their own hot air balloons.
History
In 1769, Father Junipero Serra established a Mission at San Diego. Father Serra encouraged the planting of vines on Mission properties including the Mission grape that was used to make table wine and a fortified wine. Today the Temecula Valley has 1300 acres of vineyards and more than thirty wineries.
Varietal Grapes
This warm climate witnesses afternoon breezes off the ocean that cools the daytime temperatures and preserves the acid levels in the grapes. There is a large diversity of grapes grown in the region including the whites: Chardonnay, Muscat Canali, Pinot Gris, Roussanne, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Viognier. Red varietal grapes include: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Granache, Malbec, Merlot, Mourvedre, Petit Verdot, Sangiovese, Syrah, and Tempranillo.
Visit these California organizations and wineries that partner with Wine Trail Traveler.
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