Temecula is wine country in my neck of the woods (i.e., Carlsbad). No, it’s not quite Napa, or Sonoma, or Paso Robles. But it’s ours in the San Diego area and there is much there to be thankful for.

Temecula, about 60 miles NE of San Diego and inland from the ocean about 25 miles (and about 45 minutes from Carlsbad), has over 20 wineries to explore. They vary in size and types of wines produced, as well as services they offer – wine tours, restaurants, wine tastings, shopping, and even spa and hotel services (South Coast Winery, Spa and Resort). Located on rolling hills with great views of mountains in the distance in several directions and plenty of orange and lemon groves, Temecula offers a fantastic getaway for a weekend afternoon or the entire weekend.

On a recent Saturday, we found the area to be rather crowded, despite still being winter and not the height of the season. Several of the wineries we visited were jammed with folks at the wine tastings, and mid-afternoon lunch at our favorite Ponte Winery (The Smokehouse) was a 2 hour wait due to the crowds. The popularity of Temecula clearly shows, even in the winter time.

You can drive from place to place yourself, or arrange for a private limo or Grapeline tours. Many of the wineries are popular places for weddings, so plan ahead if you are thinking of a visit, especially in the summer. A number of them also offer jazz concerts with or without dinner. And Temecula even has an International Jazz Festival in July each year that has received rave reviews.

There are some terrific places to stay if overnight is part of your plan, as well as several nearby casinos.

Only an hour from San Diego and just a bit further from Los Angeles, Temecula is a destination place for wine lovers in Southern California. Check it out.

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If I can provide more information about this community or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360
or email me at JDowler@remax.net.