Cougar Vineyard & Winery

Cougar Vineyard & Winery is a family owned and operated boutique winery located on the De Portola Trail. The winery was opened in 2006 by owners and winemakers, Rick and Jennifer Buffington.  Rick and Jennifer, the first couple winemakers in the Valley, began making wine over 20 years before they opened their Temecula winery and tasting room.  Winemaking started as a home-based hobby in Texas and later Washington where the couple lived before moving to Fallbrook, CA. The Cougar label was born during their time in Bellevue, WA and named after Cougar Mountain where they lived.

Cougar specializes in 100% Estate grown Italian varietals including several varietals rarely found in the United States: Lambrusca di Alessandria, Brachetto, Prosecco, Falanghina and Negroamaro.  Cougar also grows more commonly known varietals on their 17 acre property including: Sangiovese, Aglianico, Primitivo, Montepulciano, Vermentino, Pinot Grigio and Arneis.  Rick and Jennifer chose Italian varietals not only for their ability to pair perfectly with their favorite foods, but because the weather and geographical conditions in Temecula are ideal for these grapes.  At Cougar they pride themselves on making their wine from ground to glass.  Cougar not only grows their own grapes, but also makes, bottles and stores all their wine on site.

The family of Cougar Vineyard & Winery, including their wine dog, invites you to visit them in their new Tasting Room where you can enjoy picturesque views of the Valley, eat a picnic surrounded by olive trees and grape vines, and experience their hand-crafted, award winning wines yourself.

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