Southern California food and wine-lovers who are looking to bundle their event tickets with a special VIP experience, a shuttle service, an overnight stay – or all of the above! – can choose from several World of Wine packages.
Saturday, March 2: WoW Passport PLUS Thornton Winemaker Dinner Join veteran winemaker, David Vergari and winery owner Steve Thornton for a scrumptious four-course dinner perfectly paired with Thornton wines.
$179 for World of Wine 2-Day Passport Ticket + Dinner
* Amuse-bouche; served with NV Thornton Blanc de Noirs
* Individual tapas plate: fennel salami, garlic shrimp cannellini bean salad, saffron aioli; served with Thornton 2011 Chardonnay
* Slow-braised boneless beef short ribs, creamy soft white cheddar polenta and spring vegetable ragout with an Estate Syrah demi-glace; served with 2010 Thornton Estate Syrah
* Old-fashioned strawberry shortcake with a Cherry Caramel Kiss wine reduction; served with a Caramel Cherry Kiss!
Sunday, March 3: WoW Passport PLUS Cougar Winery Vineyard Tour and Breakfast Join Cougar Winery for a behind the scenes “Ground to Glass” vineyard and winemaking tour with continental breakfast.
$114 for World of Wine 2-Day Passport Ticket + Vineyard Tour and Breakfast * Check in time is 8:45am
* Tour starts promptly at 9am
* Includes a glass of Cougar bubbly and continental breakfast
World of Wine shuttle and overnight packages
WoW + Ride Transportation Package
WoW + Ride packages are from $59-$189.
Event guests can leave the driving to the professionals during World of Wine Weekend! Grapeline Wine Country Shuttle offers several packages, which include: passport event tickets, pick-up / drop-off, shuttle service to 9-10 wineries per day, wine and food samples at each winery stop, map of Temecula Valley and a souvenir glass.
Grapeline shuttles pick up at all local hotels and at Pechanga Casino for day-trippers. Guests who book these packages get to skip the check-in process at the TVWA.
Got event tickets and just need a ride? Grapeline offers a 2-day shuttle, Saturday shuttle and Sunday shuttle during WoW weekend
World of Wine two-day tickets are $99 per person, so the $199 Weekend Package is a savings of about $10 — plus the added convenience of the friendly shuttle service.
Temecula Valley wine country is an idyllic, easily-accessible, year-round wine destination where visitors can experience premium winemaking in a warm, welcoming atmosphere along with fine dining, stunning scenery and exciting events. Temecula Valley is only a 60 – 90 minute drive from all major Southern California cities.
Temecula Valley Wine Country in Southern California
Cougar Vineyard & Winery is one of Temecula Valley’s smaller boutique wineries, producing approximately 4500 cases per year. Owners and winemakers Rick & Jennifer Buffington are passionate wine-lovers; they have been making wine for 20 years and are known for their hands-on approach to every aspect of the winery operations.
Italian varietals are Cougar’s specialty. In addition to unique wines and fun-loving staff, this popular wine tasting stop also hosts cool events and boasts a devoted wine club following.
Cougar Winery & Vineyard, Temecula Valley
The Wines
Cougar produces reds, whites, rosés, and sparkling wines so there’s a wine to suit every palate. Rick & Jennifer love to introduce rare and unique Mediterranean grapes to the Temecula wine scene. Cougar proudly offers lesser-known Italian varietals like Vermentino, Montepulciano and Brachetto. The latter was just recognized as a grape varietal in the United States and Cougar Vineyards is one of only two commercial wineries that are growing it. Visit Cougar’s wine store here!
Cougar Wines from Temecula Valley, CA
Wine Tasting
The Cougar Winery tasting room is open 7 days a week from 11-6pm.
Tasting Room Pricing:
$10 for 6 tastes
$15 for 6 tastes + logo glass
$22 for 6 reds-only tastes (available Friday-Sunday)
Vineyard tours and wine production tours are available Friday-Monday. Call to reserve your spot at 951-491-0825 or visit www.cougarvineyards.com.
Cougar Winery & Vineyards address: 39870 De Portola Road, Temecula, CA 92592
Exciting news for spring 2013!
Cougar Winery announces their new tasting room and eatery, Sangio’s Deli – opening in early spring 2013! The addition of another food stop on De Portola Road promises to provide hungry wine-lovers with even more options to fill up between sips.
Get the latest news by visiting the Cougar blog. Make sure to say hi to black labs Monte and Mocha on your next visit to Cougar Winery & Vineyards!
4 New York steaks
½ cup olive oil
4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon freshly chopped rosemary
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
For the “butter”
8 ounces Gorgonzola cheese, cut into small chunks
1 teaspoon white-wine or regular Worcestershire
2 teaspoons green peppercorns
¼ cup lightly toasted walnut halves
1 ½ tablespoons minced chives
6 drops Tabasco
How to make:
Place steaks in a glass dish. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, garlic, vinegar, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Marinate in refrigerator covered for 2 to 3 hours. Remove steaks from marinade when ready to grill.
To make “butter”, combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender and process for about a minute until mixed thoroughly. Can be refrigerated, but plan to serve at room temperature.
Prepare a hot fire and grill steaks for 5 to 6 minutes per side or until cooked to desired doneness. Shortly after turning, slather a mound of Gorgonzola butter on steaks and allow it to melt slightly while the steaks finish cooking.
Serve with couscous and additional Gorgonzola butter.
*Pair with Cougar Vineyard & Winery Estate Sangiovese
Ingredients
Total Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 4-5
1/2 pound rotini or fusilli (corkscrew-shaped pastas)
1 garlic clove
1/2 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard
3 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/2 tablespoon water
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 ounce (1/4 cup) sun-dried tomatoes (not packed in oil), soaked in hot water for 5 minutes and drained well
1/4 pound smoked mozzarella, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
8 ounces canned garbanzos, drained and rinsed
1 1/4 ounces sliced hard salami, cut into julienne strips
5 to 10 bottled small pepperoncini (pickled Tuscan peppers)
1/4 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes
1/2 cup loosely packed fresh flat-leafed parsley leaves, minced
Method
In a kettle of boiling salted water cook the rotini until it is tender and drain. Refresh the pasta under cold water and drain well.
In a blender blend the garlic, the mustard, the vinegars, the water, the oil, and salt, to taste, until the dressing is emulsified.
In a very large bowl toss the pasta well with the dressing and stir in the sun-dried tomatoes, the mozzarella, the garbanzos, the salami, the Tuscan peppers, the red pepper flakes, and the parsley.
Chill the salad, covered, for 1 hour. The salad may be made 2 days in advance and kept covered and chilled.
Enjoy!
Cougar Vineyards is located at 39870 De Portola Road, Temecula, CA 92592
Meet Rick and Jennifer Buffington, owners/winemakers of Cougar Vineyard & Winery. Their loyal fan club and fun Italian varietals makes Cougar a standout winery to visit in Temecula Valley Wine Country!
Gift shop and gourmet deli; live music on Saturday & Sunday from 2-5pm. Tasting room open daily, 11am-6pm
Wine club, special events, group tours, private & group tastings, picnic area; weddings facilities coming soon.
(951) 491-0825; 39870 De Portola Road, Temecula, 92592
