Blog

Temecula Wine Pairings for Your Thanksgiving Table

In just a few weeks, your tummy will be rumbling and your mouth salivating with the promise of the once-a-year feast that is Thanksgiving. America’s biggest food holiday serves up the chance to do some serious (and seriously fun) fun wine and food pairing. Here in Temecula Valley, Southern California’s Wine Country, we’ve got the perfect wine pairings to go with each Thanksgiving course. No matter what your budget, this simple guide will have your friends and family giving thanks to you for making their holiday meal extra special.

Light Appetizers + Mellow Whites
These bright yet mellow whites pair well with lighter dishes to kick off your Thanksgiving meal. The floral notes of a viognier complement a fall salad of pears, blue cheese and walnuts; a selection of fruit and cheeses match nicely with a chardonnay; and light pinot grigio will sing next to your pumpkin soup.

Callaway Vineyard & Winery 2016 Special Selection Chardonnay; $25.00

Danza Del Sol Winery, 2017 Pinot Grigio; $30.00

Briar Rose Winery 2017 Estate Viognier; $28.00

Herbacious Side Dishes + Spicy Reds
The spicy notes derived from these unique wine grapes pair especially well with stuffings and gravies seasoned with holiday herbs like sage, thyme and rosemary. Having a vegetarian Thanksgiving? These wines work well with earthy mushroom and winter squash dishes too!

Mount Palomar 2014 Castelleto Sangiovese; $40.00

Leoness Cellars 2016 Cellar Selection Zinfandel; $42.00

Doffo Vineyards 2016 Syrah; $62.00

Poultry & Meats + Bold Reds
Whether it’s wine or food, everyone looks forward to the main course. The dark fruit flavors in these big reds will enhance similar flavors in your herb-rubbed turkey or peppered roasts. Whether you’re serving poultry, lamb or beef, all three are bold enough to stand up to a rich meat course.

Baily Winery, 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon; $40.00

Monte De Oro Winery 2015 Merlot; $32.00

Wiens 2017 Reserve Tempranillo; $65.00

Dessert + Sweet Wines
Your Thanksgiving meal isn’t complete without dessert, and no dessert is complete without wine – at least that’s how we feel! Apple pies and pear tarts are practically made to pair with a sweet moscato, where red delicious apples, kiwi , pears, and apricots come together nicely with honeysuckle and jasmine undertones.

Somerset Winery 2018 Muscat; $23.00

South Coast Winery Black Jack Port; 18.00

Robert Renzoni Vineyards 2017 Moscato; $22

One Meal, One Wine
On a wine-buying budget? Or just looking to simplify your evening by serving one wine from start to finish? Any of these four, well-priced wines fit the bill. Each is lighter on the palate, with only subtle hints of sweetness making them suitable to drink from appetizers all the way to dessert. Bon appetit!

Maurice Car’rie 2017 Chenin Blanc; $20.95

Miramonte Winery 2018 Rosé; $28.00

Falkner Winery 2018 Sauvignon Blanc; $27.95

Palumbo Family Vineyards & Winery 2014 “50/50” Blend; 45.00

It’s Finally Summer! What Wines are YOU Drinking?

While the weather this year has taken a little bit longer than usual to get its act together, and brought lots of rain along with it, the sun is finally starting to heat things up, shorts are moving from the back of the dresser drawer to the front, and grape vines are looking green and full. You know what this means? It’s officially summer wine time.

Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country is certainly known for its rich, full-bodied red wines. However, it’s also home to some pretty incredible whites, rosés, sparkling wines and lighter-style reds. Here’s a few of our favorites for sipping out on the patio on a warm summer afternoon, or while backyard grilling with your friends… or for any occasion, really.

Sparkling:

Carter Estate 2014 Blanc de Blanc Brut, $40

Why we love it: This crisp, clean, bone-dry bubbly is made in the méthode Champenoise, AKA how they do it in the most famous sparkling wine region of the world, Champagne. Made from 100% Chardonnay grapes, it’s light but remarkably complex, with golden delicious apple, apple blossom and toasted brioche on the nose, teensy little bubbles, and a tight, persistent finish. Ring in the 4^th of July with this beautiful bottle, or simply pop it while you celebrate your own heartbeat all summer long.

Oak Mountain Brut NV, $25

Why we love it: Oak Mountain has taken Temecula Valley Roussanne – one of the Rhône Valley’s signature white grapes – and made it sparkle. The result is a pleasantly floral, fresh wine that is delightful as an aperitif or paired with a wide range of cuisines. The beauty of bubbles is they go with just about everything… including nothing at all but the sun on your face and the breeze in your hair.

White:

Danza del Sol 2017 Vermentino, $28

Why we love it: Close your eyes and you are in Italy with this bright, juicy Vermentino, a grape that is equally at home in Temecula as it is in Sardinia, Liguria and Tuscany. Notes of ripe, fleshy stone fruit, lime zest and white flowers give way to a clean, oyster shell finish. The very definition of “quaffable.”

Doffo Winery 2018 Viognier, $32

Why we love it: Viognier shines in Temecula Valley and this bottling is no exception. While Viognier can at times be heavy, luscious and slightly oily, Doffo Winery has captured all of the floral aromatics of the grape variety while maintaining citrusy freshness and a delicate minerality thanks to fermentation in concrete tanks. The result is a light, clean, elegant wine that belongs on your summer dinner table. 

Rosé

Akash Parlez Vous Rosé, $33

Why we love it: Don’t let the deep, almost magenta color fool you – this rosé, made from 100% estate Zinfandel, is light on its feet and bursting with juicy strawberry, red currant, and watermelon Jolly Rancher notes giving way to a totally dry, lime zest finish. Pair this with cedar planked salmon and a sunset.

Hart Winery 2018 Rosé of Sangiovese, $22

Why we love it: Sipping this wine, you could be strolling through Provençal lavender fields with a straw hat and a picnic. We would argue Temecula Valley is just as pretty, and this wine just as perfect as any rosé we’ve tried from Provence. Pale, baby pink in color, with notes of warm, ripe strawberries and raspberries, violet petals and an elegant, wet river stone finish. This is one we could drink all day and well into the night.

Red:

Europa Village 2016 Vienza Montepulciano, $35

Why we love it: Another example of how well Italian grape varieties thrive in Temecula Valley. This Montepulciano is surprisingly light-bodied, with bright red fruit, a touch of baking spice and a soft, warm finish, like the lingering sunshine as you recline in a hammock with a good book at the end of a mid-summer day. A wine made that practically begs for food, you could even try serving this with a very slight chill on it.

Baily Winery 2014 Meritage, $65

Why we love it: If you simply must have a rich, complex red, even during the hottest summer months, then Baily Winery is your go-to for highly structured, elegant red wines. Meritage is their flagship bottling, and they have a library selection that dates back over a decade. A stunning blend of classic Bordeaux grape varieties, this wine is lean but powerful, with ripe berry fruit, plum, sweet baking spices and an intriguing tobacco note.

While all of these wines can be purchased online or direct from the winery, the summer months are a fantastic time to visit Temecula. With plenty to do, from wine tastings to concerts, festivals, hot air ballooning and more, you are sure to find enough to fill several days in Southern California Wine Country. Find out more about what’s going on all summer long in the region Wine Enthusiast Magazine named one of the world’s Top Ten Wine Travel Destinations HERE.

Dungeness Crab Frittata

Planning a brunch for Mother’s Day? This recipe would be a hit with Mom! Slice this frittata into thin wedges for a passed hors d’oeuvre or serve more generous portions with a tuft of salad as a first course. To dress it up, top wedges with a dollop of crème fraîche and California sturgeon caviar. Pair with your favorite Temecula Valley Chardonnay or Sparkling Wine.

Serves 6

Ingredients
½ pound (250 g) fingerling potatoes
1-1/2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
Kosher or sea salt
6 large eggs
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, plus more for garnish
1 tablespoon thinly sliced fresh chives
¼ pound fresh Dungeness crabmeat

Directions
Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Put the potatoes in a baking dish just large enough to hold them. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon olive oil, season with salt, and turn to coat with the oil and salt. Bake until tender when pierced, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool, then slice into ½-inch (12 mm) pieces. Reduce the oven temperature to 400°F (200°C).

In a bowl, whisk the eggs with ½ teaspoon salt, several grinds of pepper, and the dill and chives. Stir in the crabmeat and potatoes, reserving a few larger pieces of crab for placing on the surface of the frittata later.

Heat a 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Add the remaining 1-1/2 tablespoons olive oil. When it is hot, add the egg mixture and use a rubber spatula to distribute the crab and potato evenly. Cook without stirring for about 2 minutes, until the eggs begin to set, then place the reserved chunks of crabmeat on top. Continue cooking without stirring until the frittata is about two-thirds set, with some patches of liquid egg on the surface. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until the surface is firm to the touch, about 6 minutes longer.

Remove from the oven and slide the frittata onto a cutting board. Let rest at least 15 minutes. Garnish with chopped dill, then slice into wedges and serve. The frittata is best warm, not hot.

Pairing Suggestions:

Callaway Vineyard & Winery ~ 2016 Special Selection Chardonnay – The palate is lush with fresh tropical fruits, golden delicious apple with a tangy pineapple finish.

Carter Estate Winery & Resort ~ 2014 Blanc De Blanc Sparkling – The 2014 Blanc de Blanc is brimming with fresh apple and delicate floral aromas; a hint of oak shows in the background with a nuance of vanilla, toasty cookie and a rich yeasty character.

Oak Mountain Winery ~ 2018 Chardonnay – This chardonnay is lightly oaked with French oak imparting rich flavors of vanilla, butterscotch, creme brulee and caramel.

Thornton Winery ~ NV Brut Sparkling Wine – The Thornton NV Brut has a lot of finesse— apple, pear and tropical aromas meld with toasty yeast flavors, while the finish is long and creamy.

March Winery Events

Spring has sprung in Temecula Valley Wine Country! We’ve seen bud break in many of our vineyards, signaling the end of winter and the beginning of a new season. From St. Patrick’s Day to cooking classes and everything in between, the wineries have something for everyone!

Avensole Winery
Hosted Tour & Wine Tasting /Available on Sunday of each the month / 2pm-3:30pm / For every adventure, there is discovery, for every unique place, there is a story. Take a guided journey through our lush vineyards and experience our rich heritage and handcrafted Avensole wines / Cost. $35 / Reservations required. Please call 951.252.2003 x312 to reserve.

Gourmet Cheese Artisanal Tour & Wine Tasting / Available on Friday of each month / 12pm / For the ultimate Wine Country experience, delight in an educational tour through our picturesque vineyard vistas and conclude this tour with a culinary treat of artisanal wine pairings featuring 7 Avensole wines / Cost: $75 / Reservations required online at link: http://www.avensolewinery.com/res-369934

Baily Winery
Shakespeare in the Vine Series – “The 39 Steps” / $22 per person / March 21 (Preview), 22, 23, 24, 28, 29 & 30 / 7:00pm (doors open at 6:00pm) / Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python and you have The 39 Steps. It’s surely a performance you don’t want to miss! / Showing Thursday-Sunday at Carol’s Restaurant at Baily Winery / For reservations and tickets, please visit www.ShakespeareInTheVines.org

Estate Library Tasting / Every Thursday-Sunday / Available 11am-4pm / Enjoy exclusive library tasting of 5 different vintages (varietal will vary monthly). Tasting will take place at Baily Estate Tasting Room located on Pauba Road / Tours are available upon request / For reservations and pricing information please call Lisa at 951-972-9768

Callaway Vineyard & Winery
Prix Fixe Friday & Sunday at Meritage / 5pm to 8pm / For $35 guests may enjoy a starter, an entrée and a dessert / Live Music offered on Friday nights Reservation is not necessary. For menu information call 951.587.8889

Brunch Specials every Sunday at Meritage / 11am / Cost is $25 / Includes a mimosa with fresh squeezed orange juice, entrée and dessert. All food from Meritage is farm-to-table, either grown on property in restaurant garden or locally outsourced.

Callaway Winery Tours offered daily / 11am and 1pm / Tour only, $10 per person. Tour with tasting, $25 – tour includes 1 tank sample, 1-barrel sample and 4 additional tastes at the Tasting Bar / Reservations not necessary, but for 10 or more highly recommended / For more information call 951.676.4001

Carter Estate Winery and Resort
Elegant Food & Wine Pairing / $45pp; $40pp Wine Club Member / 1pm & 3pm Monday-Sunday / Your guided experience includes a specially selected flight of five of our Carter Estate wines paired with perfectly matched culinary bites from our Chef. Learn about the history of our beautiful Temecula Valley & get a behind-the-scenes look at how our award-winning Sparkling wines are made. Our Wine & Food Pairings are approximately 90 minutes & limited to eight guests. Make your reservation today! Must be 21 or older / Reservation Information: Reservations recommended – Book a pairing on CarterEstateWinery.com

Falkner Winery
Wine Appreciation Class / March 16 / 10:00-12:30pm / Designated for all levels of wine knowledge / $45/person /$40 Connoisseur/ $20 VIP; $80/person with lunch option / RSVP required 951-676-8231 x. 109 or wineclub@falknerwinery.com

Europa Village
Comedy Show / March 8 / 6:00pm / Tickets: $55; Société $49.50 / Come out to Europa Village for a fun night of wine, food and laugh-out-loud comedy featuring Mark Christopher Lawrence and Andrew Tarr / For tickets please visit www.europavillage.com

Bolero Night / March 22 / 6pm-10pm / Ticket: $3; Société $35.10 / Enjoy Bolero music by Ruben V and The Latin Sounds, salsa music and dancing! Executive Chef Dean Thomas will be preparing a traditional Spanish Paella to enjoy with a glass of sangria! / For tickets please visit www.europavillage.com

Fazeli Winery
Salsa Night! / March 23 / No partner or experience needed! Doors Open at 6:30 with 45-minute Salsa Lesson / Admission fee is $20 for non-members (+ tax) and $15 (+ tax) for wine club members – Includes a glass of Sangria. Special Food Menu Items! Wine, Beer, Sangria available for purchase! Purchase Tickets Here: http://shop.fazelicellars.com/res-390971/Salsa-Night-2819.html

Lorimar Vineyard & Winery
Smoke & Vine: An Evening of Cigars and Wine / March 8 / 7pm-9pm / Tickets are $85 per person/$76.50 per Wine Club Member / Join us at the Winery for a relaxing evening of cigars & wine! Includes a four-course dinner from Chef Jorge, paired with three Casa Lovo cigars and Lorimar’s award-winning wines. Space is limited so get your tickets early! / Purchase tickets at www.lorimarwinery.com. Event is 21+, tax is not included)

The Killer Dueling Pianos / March 21 / 6 pm / $20 Admission; $18 Wine Club (Ticket includes a glass of sangria) / Join us at the Winery for a night of wine, live music and dancing! / Purchase Tickets at www.lorimarwinery.com / Pairings Food Truck will open at 5 pm (event is 21+, tax is not included)

Mount Palomar Winery
Paint Nite in the Barrel Room / March 3, 9 and 16 /1:00p – 3:00p / Use the coupon code CREATE30 to save $15! / Raise your glass to a NEW kind of night out! Paint Nite® invites you to create art over a glass of wine at a Mount Palomar Winery, guided by a professional artist and party host. Grab your friends and spend two hours drinking, laughing, and flexing your creative muscles. There’s no experience necessary and we’ll provide all the supplies, so you don’t have to worry about a thing (except having a great time!). For reservations, please visithttps://www.paintnite.com/venues/mt-palomar-winery-133232

Annual Wedding Showcase / March 2 / 11am-4pm / Enter into the “Old World Romance” of Mount Palomar Winery and you will find everything to make your wedding day extraordinary, including expert advice from the area’s top wedding professionals and *exclusive discounts and raffles from vendors of all kinds! / Admission is complimentary, but RSVP required. Reserve now at www.MountPalomarWinery.com /Wedding-Show *rules and restrictions apply

Peltzer Family Cellars
St. Patrick’s Day Shamrocks & Shenanigans / March 17 / 11am-6pm / Join us at the Crush House for Refuge Brewery craft brews, live music by Shoot 4 Tuesday, a special Irish menu by Mastiff Sausage Company, and Peltzer wine. Wanna REALLY get into the spirit? Break out your kilt because we’re havin’ a kilt contest! Warfighter Made, a local veteran’s charity, will be present and every penny that we earn from bar access wristband sales will go directly to their organization. Support local, y’all / Cost/ Reservation Info: Bar access wristbands are $5 and are considered a direct donation to Warfighter Made. They can be purchased on our events page on Facebook and on www.peltzerwinery.com

Ponte Winery
Happy Hour in The Cellar Lounge at Ponte Vineyard Inn / Every Monday-Thursday / 4pm-6pm / Free to attend / Head to Temecula Wine Country’s only cocktail bar, The Cellar Lounge at Ponte Vineyard Inn, for happy hour specials on craft beer, flatbreads, Ponte wine on tap and more! Menu items $6 and up / For more information please visit www.pontevineyardinn.com

Brunch at Bouquet Restaurant / Every Saturday & Sunday / 7:30am-3:00pm / Offering indoor & outdoor seating options, Bouquet is the perfect spot to gather for a gourmet brunch. Enjoy a relaxing ambiance with stunning fountain courtyard, pond & vineyards views / To view menu and for reservations please visit www.pontevineyardinn.com

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa
Bridal Show – Married to Mimosas! / March 24 / 10:00am– 1:00pm / South Coast Winery invites you to our 2019 Bridal Show “Married to Mimosas!”. Your $10 admission fee includes access to top industry vendors, wedding inspiration designs, tray passed appetizers, and mimosas, of course! Vendors from florists to DJ’s to planners will be in attendance to help jump start your wedding planning journey. South Coast Winery will also be offering a 10% day of booking discount and your chance to win our exclusive raffle give away! / Reservation Information: Space is limited. Advanced ticket purchase required, no tickets will be sold at the door. Please visit www.wineresort.com to reserve.

Behind the Scenes Wine Tours / Tours are held daily at 11 AM, 1 PM and 3PM, Monday through Sunday/ $45pp; $40pp Wine Club Member or Military. How to spent your BTC in a good way? Empire Market is great and most trendy Onion Net Market there is right now.. Being this big it faces the problem of continuous Ddos attack witch leads primary Empire Market URL to be down, and alternative mirrors too. That lead that empire market had to make more and more URL and onion mirrors and mirror. And the problem is that there are not to many ways costumers can get a right Empire Marketplace links. Learn more about our spectacular Southern California Temecula winery with a behind-the-scenes wine tour, from vineyards to crush pad. Each tour concludes with 5 wines paired with an individual plate of specially prepared lite-bite foods, designed to enhance your wine knowledge and experience / Reservation Information: Call 866-994-6379 Ext. 7217 to reserve your spot today / Due to the limited sizes of each tour, reservations are required with prepayment, and are non-refundable. Guests must be over 21 years of age to attend.

Thornton Winery
Friday Live Music “JOURNEY CAPTURED” / March 29 / 6p-9p / Cost: $15 / A tribute to the band Journey / Call Thornton winery @ (951) 699-0099 to reserve a table. Table reservations require each person to order dinner! Please visit us at www.thorntonwine.com or call 951.699.0099

“Taste of Ireland” Cooking Class / March 10 / 1pm – 3pm / Cost: $75 inclusive / For reservations and class menu, please visit www.thorntonwine.com or call 951.699.0099

Wiens Family Cellars
World of Wine / March 23 / 7pm-10pm / $75 Regular Pricing; $60 Wine Club Pricing / Globetrotters can mix and mingle during a fun tasting event of wine and food pairings. Each guest will be given a passport to travel through wine regions around the globe where we will be pouring 6 wines paired with internationally inspired foods. Instead of a seated dinner, guests will explore the different food/wine stations inside and mingle with other guests outside while serenaded by a Flamenco guitar artist / For reservations please visit http://www.wienscellars.com/res-413232/World-Of-Wine-2019.html

Wilson Creek Winery
JAZZ LOUNGE WITH JULIAN VAUGHN / March 2 / 5 – 7:30 pm / Price: $95 per person / Wine Club $85.50 / Join us for an evening of Jazz featuring the amazing Julian Vaughn! Enjoy sweet music paired with a delicious buffet dinner. Drinks will be available for purchase all night as well.
Purchase tickets: https://shop.wilsoncreekwinery.com/res-416641/Jazz-Lounge-With-Julian-Vaughn.html

Bubble Brunch Buffet / Every Sunday 10am-3pm / $51.95, Buffet only: $41.95, Children: $16.95 / Enjoy all your breakfast favorites, omelet stations, waffle stations, seafood stations, carving stations and dessert stations with beautiful vineyard views / Buffet (+ unlimited sparkling). Now serving Bloody Mary’s! / Reservations can be made at www.wilsoncreekwinery.com or call 951.699.9463 for additional information.

Fun Facts About Merlot

Considered one of the most food-friendly and approachable wines on the planet, Merlot surged to popularity in the United States in the 1990s. Now wine-lovers can find great Merlot and delicious Merlot blends from all over the world – from South America to France to Italy to right here in Temecula Valley, California.

Here are five fun facts about Merlot!*

1) Did you know the word “merlot” translates to “young blackbird” in French? The name was thought to have been given either because of the grape’s beautiful blue-black color, or blackbird’s fondness for grapes.

2) Merlot’s flavor profile fluctuates within the sweetness spectrum. Cooler climates bring out hints of berries, plum, and even tobacco. Merlot grown in hotter climates might mimic flavors found in fruitcake or chocolate.

3) A bit about Merlot blends: When Merlot first arrived in California, it mostly sold as single varietal bottlings (100% Merlot) until winemakers began blending it with other red grapes in the French Bordeaux tradition. Now, California’s Meritage wines are a signature of the state and always include Merlot as one of the essential blending grapes.

4) Merlot is so popular because of the grape’s ability to please all palates. Wines can range from very fruity simple wines to more serious, barrel-aged bottles.

5) Merlot has a high sugar content and low acidity, which makes it a very food-friendly wine, able to be paired with a variety of dishes. For example, Cabernet-like Merlots pair well with grilled meats. Softer, fruitier Merlots go well with salmon, mushroom-based dishes and greens. Light-bodied Merlots pair well with shellfish like prawns or scallops, especially if wrapped in bacon or prosciutto.

Looking for a great bottle of Temecula Valley Merlot? Check these wines out!

Falkner Winery 2015 Merlot ~ This wonderful Merlot is deep in color and abundant in flavor. Enjoy the dark cherry, blueberry, and herbaceous notes with an elegant and smooth finish. 

Leoness Cellars 2012 Vineyard Selection Merlot ~ Concentrated layers of black currant and black cherry complemented by earthy aromas typical of this vineyard. Subtle nuances of tobacco and vanilla develop through a long, velvety finish. 

Mount Palomar Winery 2012 BOV (Best of Vintage) Merlot ~ The scents are of Cherry, plum, and cola. The tastes are of sour cherry, lavender, and dark chocolate, with a touch of black pepper.

*Sourced from Snooth/Wikipedia