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Shop the Holidays in Temecula Wine Country

You love visiting Temecula Valley for wining and dining – but did you know that your local wine country is also a holiday shopping goldmine? Winery gift shops, wine club memberships and special holiday sales make Temecula wine country the best place to shop in December.

Check out the retail details below!

Temecula Winery Gift Shops

Just one trip to your local wine country will get you all the gifts you need to give.  Plus, you can sip while you shop! Our Temecula winery gift shops offer unique and charming wine-themed gifts, specialty food items, home decor – and of course, delicious wine.

Your best bets for fabulous holiday hauls include:

 

Temecula Wine Clubs and Case Discounts

A wine club membership truly is the gift that keeps on giving! Most Temecula wineries offer affordable VIP wine club memberships with amazing year-round benefits like seasonal pick-up parties, VIP pricing and discounts on special events, free tastings for guests, first dibs on seating and many more perks. Simply call or visit your favorite Temecula winery to sign up your friends and family. You can even sign up for some wine clubs online, hassle-free.

Purchasing wine by the case makes economical sense for the holidays. Great wine makes the ideal host and corporate gift, not to mention the perfect match for your holiday table. Many of our wineries offer festive white and red dessert wines, either late harvest or port-style. Some festive wine options include: South Coast Winery’s sparkling wine line, Thornton NV Cuvee Rouge, Leoness Cellars Port-style 2006 Cinsaut, and the Callaway estate duo Late Harvest Chardonnay and Cabernet dessert wines. With the purchase of a case, some winery gift shops offer discounts and offer holiday gift boxes including Wilson Creek Winery, which offers white, red, and sparkling wines with custom and personalized holiday labels.

 

Special Holiday Shopping Events

Throughout December, Temecula wineries are going all out with special holiday shopping extravaganzas, craft fairs and Black Friday sales. See a round-up of our top picks below. And don’t forget to celebrate locally-made products by dropping by the annual Slow Food Temecula‘s Terra Madre Day at Europa Village on December 12. A $10 entrance fee will buy you the opportunity to shop assorted artisan wares and specialty food items, all hand-made and one-of-a-kind.

Europa Village: “Christmas in the Vines” – Europa Village Craft Fair; Fri, Dec 6 & Sat, Dec 7; 10:00a-5:00p. Terra Madre Day: A Global Slow Food Event – Thur Dec 12, 5:30p-8:00p / $10 pp. Eat, sip, share, shop and support small businesses!

Ponte Family Estate: Holiday Shopping Sundays – Ponte Winery’s festively decorated Tasting Room and Marketplace offers a carefully curated selection of gourmet delicacies, elegant housewares, cookbooks and wine. Guests are invited to shop while sipping hot cocoa and listening to holiday music under twinkling lights. Wine tastings are available for purchase. Sunday, December 15th and 22nd 10:00am-5:00pm.

Maurice Car’rie: Weekend Craft Fair – every Saturday and Sunday from 10am-5pm at the winery property.

Falkner Winery: Black Friday Weekend Sale – Friday, November 29-Sunday, December 1. Wine specials and discounts on selected gifts.

Frangipani Estate Winery: Holiday Shopping Event – Sat, Dec 7, 1:00p-5:00p. Vendors include Mary Kay, Chicks with Bark Gourmet Chocolate, Originals by Deborah Jewelry, Designer Clothing, Purses, Hats, Organo Coffee/Tea, Juice it Up and more.

Lorimar Winery: Black Friday Shopping Event – One weekend, huge savings on wine, art and music-themed gifts. Nov 29-Dec 1 at the wine country location.

 

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Winery Spotlight: Get to Know… Ponte Family Estate

The Story

Located in the heart of Temecula Wine Country, Ponte Family Estate offers guests a “day in the country,” with its spacious rustic-style tasting room, al fresco dining, and extensive marketplace gift shop nestled within more than 300 acres of vineyard. The 60-room, mission-style Ponte Vineyard Inn is an ideal wine-country hotel for visitors to enjoy a “stay in the country.” Ponte Family Estate offers an approachable, memorable experience that welcomes both new and experienced wine lovers. Visitors can enjoy tours of the winemaking process, participate in special events like the Annual Grape Stomp Festival, or work with the winery’s event planners to create an exceptional wine country wedding or other special event. With its picturesque setting, approachable wines, farm-fresh cuisine, upscale lodging and array of activities, Ponte Family Estate is one of the most sought-after and complete wine destinations in Southern California.

The Wines

As a boutique California winery producing about 1500 cases a year for each varietal, Ponte focuses on quality rather than quantity. Ponte wines feature crowd-pleasing single varietals like Moscato and Pinot Grigio; plus their friendly signature blends, like Super T, Beverino and “Angry Wife” Red. Popular Ponte white wine blends include the “Isabel” and “Juliet” lines. Plenty of choices for the sweet wine lover, too! Ponte fans love the pretty Rosé Spumante and the many Late Harvest varietals, which pair well with a cheese plate or dessert. For a special holiday host gift, consider giving the Ponte Holiday Magnum or a Zinfandel Port.

To shop the Ponte wine store online, click here.

 

The Tasting Room, Marketplace and Winery Tours

Ponte’s tasting room is open daily from 10am-5pm. Tasting includes 6 wine tastings and a Ponte wine glass.

Mon – Fri $15 per person
Sat – Sun $20 per person

Located in the expansive country-style tasting room, the Ponte Marketplace is one of the best in the valley. Guests love to sip wine while shopping 3,500 square feet of fabulous and unique gifts. There are charming wine accessories, home accents and delicious specialty foods on sale every day.

Ponte Winery offers one-hour vineyard and winery tours seven days a week. Jump on board their new 12-passenger electric bus and tour the 310 acre ranch while learning about Ponte’s grape-growing philosophy. Taste three signature Ponte wines, right next to the vineyards they come from. Visit the winery facilities to learn about the art and science of winemaking. The tour ends with sample tastes from stainless steel tanks and giant oak casks.

Monday – Friday
1:00 p.m.

Saturday & Sunday
11:00 a.m. | 1:00 p.m. | 3:00 p.m.

Vineyard Bus Tours are:
$25 per guest

Have a question? Please call 951-694-8855.


Dining at Ponte: Bouquet, The Cellar Lounge and The Restaurant at Ponte

Ponte offers more dining options than most other Temecula Valley wineries. The Restaurant at Ponte has been voted one of the top 50 best outdoor restaurants by OpenTable. This al fresco lunchtime eatery offers upscale California cuisine with Mediterranean flavors seven days a week. Dinner can enjoy the new Bouquet and The Cellar Lounge located next-door at the Ponte Vineyard Inn.  The chefs at Ponte Estate focus on locally-sourced ingredients and artisan recipes.

Learn more about restaurant choices at Ponte Family Estate here.

 

Ponte Holiday Events and Ponte Vineyard Inn Packages

Cyber Monday Special: Sunday-Thursday bookings at Ponte Vineyard Inn made on Cyber Monday, December 2 will be priced 30% off regular rates. Subject to availability; stay should take place between Cyber Monday and the end of 2014. Blackout dates include all holidays.

Holiday Shopping Sundays: Ponte Winery’s festively decorated Tasting Room and Marketplace offers a carefully curated selection of gourmet delicacies, elegant housewares, cookbooks and wine. Guests are invited to shop while sipping hot cocoa and listening to holiday music under twinkling lights. Wine tastings are available for purchase. Sunday, December 15th and 22nd 10:00am-5:00pm.

New Year’s Eve Dinner and Package: The winery’s popular Restaurant at Ponte will be serving their full menu with specials in the winery’s stunning Barrel Room. Reservations accepted from 5:00pm to 8:00pm, on December 31st. For reservations, call (951) 252-1770. In addition, there will be a special seating for dinner at Bouquet Restaurant at Ponte Vineyard Inn with a prix fixe menu and wine pairings. Please contact Ponte Vineyard Inn at 951-587-8855 for tickets. After dinner, guests are invited to take the short walk via a designated path to neighboring Wiens Family Cellars for their vintage Las Vegas-themed New Year’s Eve Celebration, hosted by The King himself, Elvis Presley. Those who book rooms at Ponte Vineyard Inn will enjoy exclusive access to The Cellar Lounge, a complimentary bottle of Ponte Winery Moscato, a complimentary Bloody Mary at Bouquet the next morning and a 1:00pm late check-out.

To book a room at Ponte Vineyard Inn, call (951) 587-6688  or visit www.pontevineyardinn.com. To purchase tickets to the Wiens Family Cellars new Year’s Eve Celebration, please contact the winery at (888) 989-4367.

Ponte Family Estate is located at 35053 Rancho California Road, Temecula CA 92591 | www.pontevineyardinn.com | 951-694-8855

 

 

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December Winery Events in Temecula Valley

Our Temecula wineries offer a heap of holiday-themed events throughout December. Festivities include winemaker’s dinners, holiday shows and concerts, New Year’s Eve celebrations, Christmas brunches, pet fundraisers, Terra Madre Day sponsored by Slow Food, hotel overnight packages and much more. Enjoy the mild winter weather in Southern California’s wine country and stay extra warm by sipping a glass of wine by one of the tasting room fireplaces.

See below for a list of Temecula winery events for December!

Image source: nj.com

Shakespeare in the Vines presents: The Game’s Afoot….or Holmes for the Holidays at Carol’s Restaurant

  • Dinner & Show
  • Dec. 5-8 & 12-14 at 5:30p
  • For more info and tickets click here

 

New Year’s Eve Dinner at Carol’s

  • Tues, Dec 31 at 5p – 9p
  • Live Music (Fandango)
  • Reservations Needed 951-676-9243

 

Dog Day Sundays

  • Every Sunday, live entertainment, 11:30a-2:30p
  • Bring your well-mannered pooch to lunch!

 

Estate Club Private Wine Tasting

  • Thurs-Sun, 11:00a-2:30p
  • Call for reservations: 951-972-9768.

 

Bel Vino Winery
Jingle Mingle

  • Sat, Dec 21, 6:00p-9:00p  $35 pp / $30 Wine Club
  • An evening of holiday cheer with family & friends
  • RSVP required to Lindsay@belvinowinery.com or 951-676-6414

 

Callaway Vineyard & Winery

Barrel Tree Lighting and Santa Sunday

  • Sun, Dec 1,  4:00p to 6:00p
  • Santa will be here to take photos after the tree lighting
  • (Reservations recommended, but not required).
  • Call 951-676-4001 for more info

Live Music Fridays at Meritage at Callaway

  • 6:00p-8:00p

Sangria Sundays at Meritage at Callaway

  • Sangria, Tapas & Live Music from 5:00p-7:00p

 

Doffo Winery

Holiday Polenta Party

  • Sat, Dec 7 or Sat, Dec 14, 1:00p / $60 pp
  • Be sure to wear your ugliest holiday sweater, prizes included!
  • Only register for ONE date, reservations required here

 

Europa Village

“Christmas in the Vines” – Europa Village Craft Faire

  • Fri, Dec 6 & Sat, Dec 7 / 10:00a-5:00p

Terra Madre Day – A Global Slow Food Event

  • Thur Dec 12, 5:30p-8:00p / $10 pp
  • Eat, Sip, Share, Shop! Celebrate eating locally!

 

Wine Education – Class 3 of 3

  • Fri, Dec 13 4:30p-6:00p
  • 3 class series $30 pp/ Société Members $20
  • Discover the art of winemaking from berry to bottle
  • For more info or to RSVP call 951.216.3380 or email events@europavillage.com

 

Cookies With Santa

  • Sat, Dec 21, 10:00a – 12:00p, $7.50 pp / Société $6.75 pp
  • Bring the little ones for a visit with Santa & other activities

 

Falkner Winery

Black Friday Weekend Sale

  • Friday, November 29-Sunday, December 1
    Wine specials and discounts on selected gifts

 

Frangipani Estate Winery

Holiday Shopping Event

  • Sat, Dec 7, 1:00p-5:00p
  • Vendors include Mary Kay, Chicks with Bark Gourmet Chocolate, Originals by Deborah Jewelry, Designer Clothing, Purses, Hats, Organo Coffee/Tea, Juice it Up and more

 

Keyways Vineyard & Winery

2 1/2 Hour Winemaking Tasting Tour

  • Every Mon & Fri at 12:00p / Sat & Sun at 10:00a & 1:00p / $29 pp
  • Reservations required by calling the winery at 951-302-7888

 

Lorimar Winery

Live Music in Wine Country

  • Fri-Sun / 5p-8p Fridays & Saturdays / 2:00p-5:00p Sundays

Live Music in Old Town

  • 6:00p-9:00p, Saturdays

 

Maurice Car’rie Winery

Toys for Tots Toy Drive

  • Now – through Dec 22, bring a new, unwrapped toy to Maurice Car’rie Winery
  • Receive two standard wine tastings for the price of one.

 

“Slap Yo’ Daddy BBQ Competition”

  • Sat, Dec 14 / Benefiting Michelle’s Place Breast Care Center

 

Oak Mountain Winery

Pet Fair

  • Sun, Dec 1, 11:00a-5:00p / Free admission
  • Pet adoptions, pet vendors and wine tasting
  • Live music & gourmet pizza available for purchase.

 

Ponte Family Estate

Happy Hour at the Cellar Lounge

  • Mon-Thur / 4:00p-7:00p

 

Christmas Eve Dinner at Bouquet Restaurant

  • Tues, Dec 24 / 5:30p-9:00p
  • Winter menu available, along with an additional special entree.

 

Christmas Day at Bouquet Restaurant

  • Wed, Dec 25 / 4:30p-8:30p
  • Winter menu available, along with an additional special entree.

 

New Year’s Eve at The Restaurant at Ponte

  • Tues, Dec 31 / 5:00p-8:00p
  • New Year’s Eve dinner in the Barrel Room.
  • Reservations only, please call 951-252-1780

New Year’s Eve at Bouquet Restaurant

  • Tues Dec 31 / 5:30p-9:00p
  • New Year’s Eve dinner at Bouquet
  • Reservations only, please call 951-676-7898

New Year’s Eve at The Cellar Lounge

  • Tues, Dec 31 / Live entertainment and a midnight toast.

 

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa’s WINOS (Women In Need of Serenity)

  • Mon-Thur / 11:30a-2:30p
  • At the Vineyard Rose Restaurant.
  • Half price Mimosas, Sangria and glasses of select wines
  • Call for Reservations 951-587-9463 x 2

 

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa’s Divas in D’Vines

  • Every Sunday during football season, 12p to 3p in Vineyard Rose Restaurant.
  • Half priced mimosas, sangria & signature Spumante Diamante.
  • Reservations Recommended. Call 951-587-9463 x 2

 

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa’s Vintage Vantage Menu

  • Mon-Thur 11:30a -3:00p
  • $9.99 lunches at the Vineyard Rose Restaurant for 55 and over.
  • Call 951-587-9463 x 2

 

Marvelous Mondays

  • 5:30pm to 9pm each week, half-priced bottles of select wines with purchase of 2 entrees.
  • Call 951.587.9463 today or visit here.

 

Wine Down Wednesdays

  • Live music with pianist Blecie Hopkins
  • Half-priced select appetizers with the purchase of any 2 entrees
  • Call 951.587.9463 today or visit here.

 

Thursday Night Jingle & Mingle Mixers

  • Single and want to mingle?
  • Wine Press Tasting Room Thursday Nights 6 pm to 9 pm, $10.
  • Click here for more details.

 

Christmas Caroling Throughout December

  • Christmas Carolers from the Riverside Community College Choir
  • Perform at its “official” tree lighting celebration on Dec 1
  • Fri thru Sun nights, 6p to 9p:  call 951.587.9463 or online here

 

South Coast Winery’s Tree Lighting Ceremony

  • Sun, Dec 1 / 6:00p-9:00p, Free Admission
  • Tree lighting ceremony, holiday movies, tractor rides, Christmas caroling
  • Nutcracker by Temecula Valley Cathy’s Dance & Performing Arts Academy
  • Call for more information:  800.617.2819 or online here

Christmas Dinner at South Coast Winery Resort & Spa

  • Tues, Dec 24 & Wed, Dec 25 / 5:30p-9:00p
  • For more info, call:  951.587.9463 or online here

 

Black Tie & Pearls New Year’s Eve at South Coast Winery Resort & Spa

  • Tuesday, December 31 / 7:00p-12:30a
  • Black Tie & Pearls party with music, food, wine & champagne
  • Black-ties are optional & overnight packages are available too.
  • Call for more info:  800.617.2819 or online here

 

Behind the Scenes Winery Tour

  • Daily / 11:00a and 1:00p
  • $40 walking wine tour, members $35
  • Reservations strongly suggested:  Call 951.587.9463 x7219.

 

Thornton Winery

Thornton Winery Holiday Entertaining Class

  • Sat, Dec 7 / 2:30p
  • Homemade eggnog, quick and easy appetizers, Christmas cupcakes.
  • Adult and kid friendly beverages.  For reservations: 951-699-0099.

 

Christmas Dinner at Cafe Champagne

Wednesday, December 25

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Temecula Wineries Pour at San Diego Wine and Food Festival (Nov 20-24)

10th Annual Classic is November 20-24, 2013

Join the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association at The Grand Tasting on Saturday, November 23 as they pour from some the region’s best wineries, including:

  • Maurice Car’rie Winery
  • Europa Village
  • Wiens Family Cellars

 

The San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival™ returns November 20-24, 2013, and this year is bigger and better than ever.  Celebrate 10 years in the making with new events, the best wines in the world and some of today’s biggest celebrity chefs and culinary personalities.  Join over 200 wineries (including Temecula’s Falkner, Oak Mountain, Keyways, Ponte, Callaway, Monte de Oro and Wilson Creek,) breweries and spirit purveyors, 70 of San Diego’s best restaurants, and 10,000 wine and food aficionados from across the nation for the biggest birthday bash on the West Coast.

Click here for the list of events and to purchase tickets.

See you there!

 

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