Steve ChapinChapin Family Vineyards

What do you love about making wine in Temecula Valley? What drew you to the region?

There are a number of reasons we enjoy making wine in Temecula Valley. First, Temecula has a unique terroir and provides the opportunity for making crafted wines that are outstanding. The guest audience visiting Temecula is large with numerous experienced oenophiles looking for excellent wines.  Finally, Temecula has a concentrated population with numerous resources and supplier’s allowing our winery to deliver excellent products and service to our wine guests.

What is your winemaking style/philosophy?

Our winemaking philosophy is “Post-Modern” utilizing many of the concepts of winemaker, author and consultant, Clark Smith.  Post-Modern philosophy emphasizes utilizing state-of-the-art resources; chemistry analyzers, winemaking equipment, reagents and French Barrels.  Our goal is always to maximize extraction, control fermentation temperatures with appropriate aging and always seeking wine balance.

What is the one thing you want people to know about Temecula wines?

Temecula Valley wine country historically was “branded” as having weak red wines.  We believe this reputation is rapidly disappearing as many great wines are being produced by numerous Temecula wineries.  We want people to know that Temecula Wine country now competes with the great wine producing areas of California.

What are you excited about when it comes to Temecula Valley’s future?

Temecula Wine Country is now a “destination point” for the southwest and it is exciting that this will only grow in the future with more visitors.  The wineries of Temecula provide many different “market genres”, providing different experiences for visitors.  I have personally traveled to many wine producing areas of Latin America and Europe and there is still only one place I would want my winery, Temecula Valley.  Wine is a collaboration of heaven and earth.