traditional Tuscan estates. The Mediterranean
climate means that winter temps
only dip to the 60s and 70s, making it a
perfect escape from the considerably cooler
Bay Area.
Take Temecula’s temperature by immersing
yourself in the local history—the Old
Town recalls an earlier era with original
saloons, antique shops and eateries serving
regionally inspired food and drink.
Grapes aren’t the only crops that flourish
in the fertile land around Temecula. You
can sample the rest of the valley’s bounty
in the 12-block district. Temecula Olive
Oil Company (28653 Old Town Front St.,
Temecula, temeculaoliveoil.com) offers free
tastings of locally grown and cured olives
and extra-virgin olive oil, and on Saturdays,
more than 40 Southern California growers
bring their produce to the Old Town
Temecula Certified Farmers’ Market. Dig
deeper into the farm-to-table scene with a detour to Cork Fire
Kitchen (44501 Rainbow Canyon Rd., temeculacreekinn.com) at
the Temecula Creek Inn. Each month, the eatery features a creative
new bite built around a fresh, local ingredient, paired with
an equally inspired beverage built around regional spirits or wines.
More than 30 wineries thrive in the Temecula Valley and Italian,
Spanish and French grapes grow in this unique atmosphere,
resulting in surprisingly sophisticated small-batch vintages. And
with many distributed only locally, these award-winning wines
are ripe for discovery.
To get the ultimate bird’s eye view of these gorgeous grape growers,
take to the skies in a hot-air balloon. An aerial tour with A
Grape Escape (33475 La Serena Way, Temecula, hotairtours.com/
grape-escape) is a resplendent way to get fired up first thing in the
morning. The airborne adventure includes a 60- to 75-minute
sunrise hot-air balloon ride over the Temecula Valley wine country,
private-label champagne, orange juice, continental breakfast,
souvenir certificate of flight and winery discounts. The sensation
of lifting off with a burst of flame and drifting off on a gentle dawn
breeze will make you giddier than a carafe of bottomless mimosas.
As sunbeams flood the valley, passengers float over rows of wine
grapes, beautifully built winery estates and startled yet bemused
82 South Bay Accent
tourists sleepily emerging from their bungalows to investigate
the gasps and giggles just a few dozen feet overhead. The balloon
pilots are knowledgeable and happy to share a literal and figurative
overview of the valley’s history and growth, and patiently answer
questions from awestruck amateur aviators.
One of the first resorts passengers may spot from the effervescent
balloon ride is Carter Estate Winery and Resort (34450 Rancho
California Road, Temecula, carterestatewinery.com), which is pretty
apropos as the winery exclusively produces sparkling wines. Utilizing
the method champenoise, the vintners draw on the traditions
of the Champagne region of France, yet the 60 bungalows on the
estate are Mediterranean-inspired and nestled amongst the vines.
Many of the bungalows face the nearby hot-air balloon launching
site, so capturing an iconic winery/balloon snap is a breeze.
Other standout wineries include the brand new Bottaia (35601
Rancho California Road, Temecula; bottaiawinery.com) a chic, modern
destination featuring locally grown Italian varietals only and a pool
club slated to open in spring 2019; Lorimar Winery (39990 Anza
Rd. lorimarwinery.com), the laid back, unpretentious winery with a
fun, kick-up-your-heels, party atmosphere. Tasting Room Manager
Matt O’Doherty runs a tight ship while making newcomers and
regulars feel at home and topping off glasses of vineyard blends, viogners,
meritages, zins and more. Winemaker
Marshall Stuart is a tall, brawny figure who
looks more like he swaggered straight out of a
John Wayne movie than a viticulture school.
Passion is a hallmark of this emerging wine
destination. Remarkable food and wines, lovely
accommodations with Tuscany-like views
and small-town friendliness is a salve for an
urban dweller’s soul.
Luxurious accommodations, delectable
food and top-notch vino are the essentials of a
romantic vino vacation. Biking through vineyards,
whale-watching or hot-air ballooning
all give you a unique perspective that takes
the experience from typical to transcendent,
so raise a glass and toast, with us, the many
splendors of California’s wine meccas. n
A ROMANTIC
VINEYARD
GETAWAY IN
PASO ROBLES
VINEYARD ESTATE
SUITE AT CARTER
ESTATE WINERY
AND RESORT
COURTESY OF VISITTEMECULAVALLEY.COM (2)
