Temecula Winemakers Open House May 5 & 6
Like bees making honey, Temecula winemakers are very busy these days, tending to their grape crops and at the same time planning for a banner year for visitors; with new varietals, new marketing and a sense that things are finally going their way. The optimism is oozing.
If you haven’t been a regular to the Temecula Valley, Saturday and Sunday May 5th and 6th, from 10am to 4pm, couldn’t be a better time to really get a handle on the talent that’s in charge of producing the wines that are making a difference in Southern California’ s own wine country. No less than 20 winemakers will be out front, mixing and mingling with visitors in an important open house… a first annual “Winemakers Choice Weekend.”
The winemakers themselves will be choosing their favorite offerings of wine and food, and they’ll sign any purchased bottles of wine. Check-in points will be at either Thornton Winery or Leonesse Cellars. It’s a great time to go to Temecula. The weather is gorgeous and the vines are starting to show their foliage. Check out the website for details at www.temeculawines.org.
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What I am excited about in Temecula is the caliber of talent that has been brought in and the results of their expertise, both at the owner and winemaker levels. The Winegrowers Association has just crafted and adopted a set of operating principles that will serve to assure greater public involvement with shared responsibility of each member to reach out as one. Ray Falkner, this year’s president, was enthusiastic about the guidelines. “Ultimately, this will allow our association to speak with a single voice and lead to more opportunities for the wineries and growers here in Wine Country.” What I read out of that pledge is, the message of Temecula’s wine country is coming to a neighborhood near you.Other individual Temecula wineries are cranking up their events calendar, anticipating more newcomers to wine country. Palumbo Family Vineyards has a unique local produce and wine combo they call “the Farmer, the Chef and the Winemaker Farm Tour & Dinner,” Sunday evening April 29th. Guests will start the evening with a tour of a local farm to pick and taste some of the produce used for the dinner. Palumbo’s estate wines will be paired. Cost is $145 per person. Call 951-676-7900 for details.
Leonesse Cellars is celebrating its tasting room Anniversary Saturday April 28th at 7pm, with a Spanish style meal for only $25.00 including a glass of Leonesse wine. Contact them at 951-302-7601.
The next Sunset Jazz Concert at Wilson Creek kicks in on Saturday June 9th at 7pm with the great Jeffrey Osborne. Concerts here are grass and gazebo laid back; a great venue! Check out the details and the summer lineup at www.wilsoncreekwinery.com.
The Local Sip
Wine Merchants of Carlsbad has Winemaker Cecil DeLoach of Hook and Ladder visiting on Friday, April 27th from 5 to 8pm. These are premium Sonoma wines. Cost is $20. Call 888-750-WINE for details.
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A Montes tasting will be spotlighted at Holiday Wine Cellar in Escondido Thursday April 26th from 6 to 8pm. Montes was recently named winery of the year in Chile and several of their varietals have scored 90+ in Wine Spectator. Price is $15 per person. Call 760-745-1200 for more info.***
Leon Santoro and his Orfila Vineyards and Winery in Escondido is staging a Spring Dinner and Wine Tasting Saturday April 28th from 6 to 9 pm. Orfila’s award winning wines will be paired with gourmet food, and entertainment. $76 for club members, $85 for non-members. RSVP at 800-868-9463.Carlsbad resident Frank Mangio is a Wine Spectator certified wine connoisseur. You can reach him at mangiompc@aol.com. Phone is 760-632-1199.
10631 Vinedale Street, Sun Valley, CA 91352 - Phone (818) 767-3413 - Fax: (818) 767-1410
