If planning to visit California wine country, one can add another California destination to explore in addition to the traditional Napa and Sonoma wine regions. For the second straight year, South Coast Winery is recognized as the “California State Winery of the Year.” The Temecula wine region is on the California map and offers amazing wineries to visit. Several of the wineries have restaurants and two have lodging facilities.
South Coast Winery is a destination with award winning wines, lodging, restaurant and spa. The winery started in 2003 and in just a short time was producing many award winning wines under the direction of master winemaker Jon McPherson. While on tour of the winery with Jon and winemaker Javier Flores, the two paused for a moment to autograph bottles of wine. In the tasting room, visitors will often corner one of the winemakers and start a conversation. South Coast winemakers have their fans and take time to talk with them.
South Coast Winery is a destination for those who need to escape to wine country. The lodging is made up of 76 villas. Each villa is well appointed, has a fireplace, spa and terrace overlooking the vineyards. These villas are meant for relaxing in and a bottle of South Coast wine is in the room when visitors arrive. The villas offer privacy and range in size from 575 to 1,150 square feet. Visitors can enhance their relaxation by going to the Grapeseed Spa for a message, facial or pedicure. The Vineyard Rose Restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Mediterranean cuisine pairs well with South Coast wines.
In addition to South Coast Winery, wine travelers can visit over twenty wineries and discover wines that reflect the region. Most wineries are just a short driving distance from each other. From a weekend to a week, visitors can spend their days tasting wines, and taking in the wine country views. Hot air balloon rides over the wine country add special memories of the wine region and great photo opportunities for those in the air and on the ground. The Temecula wine region is about four miles east of Interstate 15 between San Diego and Los Angeles. Temecula is about an hour’s drive from LA/Ontario International Airport and just over an hour’s drive from San Diego International airport.
If interested, read a review of South Coast Winery.
Read reviews of Temecula Valley wineries.
There are four suggested Temecula winery trip itineraries on the Wine Trail Traveler website.
Comments
South Coast was not designated "best winery in California", but the "winery of the year" based upon the number of awards its wines won at the state fair. "best winery in California"? That's a tall order and probably a highly subjective call!!
This reads as nothing more than PR puffery. How about some original thought?
What a joke! Please pick a relevant winery that actually sees many visitors from outside of CA, offers an incredible visitor experience, sells affordable wine in many retail outlets outside of CA (thereby exporting CA), employs many, buys many grapes from CA farmers, and educates consumers. I'm glad Temecula is back on the map (I was a big Callaway fan back in the 90s) but it is not an area that's relevant to the state as a whole as far as taxes, employment or overall exposure.
Winning the award two years in a row certainly does give the winery some great recognotion and the area credibility. South Coast Winery not only produces fabulous wine, but the property is beautiful and they're wonderful community partners. They employ hundreds; produce 40,000-50,000 cs per year (hence either grow or purchase the tonnage in the South Coast appellation of California)and are distributed nationwide. Our wine country is fortunate enough to average over 100,000 visitors per year; not only from California, but from across the country and from around the world. Our colleges have viticulture, enology and winery hospitality programs; our wineries offer tours and educational programs to our guests. We pay lots of taxes. Maybe you haven't been here in awhile?
And to Kara, wine competitions are always highly subjective; the judging panels are made up of winemakers and wine writers!
Peggy Evans, Exec Director
Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association
peggy@temeculawines.org
Did you receive cash in hand for this astonishingly sycophantic piece, or merely a comped trip to California? C'mon- you know better, we know better, and we know you know better: how about an objective piece of journalism on wine?
Jeff that is absolutely ridiculous! How dare you make accusations without knowing the facts! It's one thing to ask if the author received compensation but quite another to write such a diatribe. The facts are: the author received no money, no comped lodging, no meals, not even a bottle of wine! Jealousy certainly has brought out some negativity in the wine industry!
Wow it sounds like certain people in Napa and Sonoma are a bit jealous that South Coast is getting some exposure! Lighten up people- this appears to simply be an article by someone who happened to like the winery. I for one wouldn't mind staying in a villa and taking a hot air balloon ride over the vineyard!
Hello. Scoreboard. The article reports the fact. A socal winery won the award (in Sacramento). It's based on a double blind taste test. Despite your personal bias, they won. Try the wines, there excellent.
Peggy Evans reports over 100,000 visitors to the Temecula Wine Country per year. This past year 50,000 came to the Baloon and wine festival in one weekend!!
I stayed at South Coast two years ago and had a fabulous experience. The restaurant was delicious, my massage at the spa was great, and the rooms are amongst the vines which coupled with the surrounding views makes for a very unique wine experience. Also, check out the hot air balloons which go right over the vineyards.
Can I do some wine tasting here? My friends all tell me I have to do it if I haven't before. I'm hardly even familiar with the different kinds of wines.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!