Temecula Valley: When Buddy and Cherri Linn bought the Van Roekel Winery in the Temecula Valley in 1994, they went and looked south to the Guadalupe Valley east of Ensenada where wine growing dates back to the Dominican Friars as far back as 1834 and where almost 74 different varietals of grapes are grown. They renamed the vineyard "La Cereza", home of the now multi-award winning best "Viognier" wine in California, and the Best "Red Garnacha" among the numerous wineries along Rancho California Road in Temecula. Among my favorite is of course their "Pinot Grigio which is sharp, dry, with a good ending. Hmmmm.
The secret: they make their wine from a choice of the "Tempranillo" grapes from Guadalupe. "Tempranillo" is taken from the Spanish word "Temprano" meaning "early", the black colored grape that originally came from Spain and was brought to Mexico and ripens early. This varietal gives red wine a truly ruby color and are mixed with the "Sanglovese" grapes, also from Guadalupe, which now comprises 80 percent of their multi-awarded Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. So off I went for an early peek at this year's offering amid the excitement of a great atmosphere, fresh air, beautiful mountain vistas and of course, great wine and cheese!
What I found out on this August day trip to Temecula was that wine tasting is more than drinking wine. It is about California history, relaxation, meeting new people, so much so that it seem to connect new acquiantances on a deep level. After all, wine-making is a big part of human culture for thousands of years. It is like a way of becoming intimate with our past as well as with nature. I met a chemistry professor from a local Los Angeles University as well as countless Fil-Ams being ferried around Tour Buses and Limousines (wine tasting tours $73) along the nice easy drive of Rancho California straddled on both sides by the pleasant micro-climate & rolling hills full of rows & rows of grape vines.
Instead of the tour, I went the way the locals do. First stop is go and grab some cheese at "Temecula Cheese Company" & buy some "Prima Donna" Holland cheese or whatever cheese fits your fancy (free cheese tasting too). Next is Jack's Nuts (The Hottest Nuts in town)for some roasted almonds & nuts, all at Old Towne Temecula. Then, head up East on Rancho California where there are about 30 plus wineries with a wide selection of vintage varieties of wine waiting for discovery. Stop at the sister winery of "La Cereza", which is "Maurice Carrie" Winery (by the way, their Muscat Canelli white wine is awesome) and get a 2-winery wine tasting ticket which will give you 6 tastings at "Maurice" and six at the famed "Cereza" with an extra 2 taste tickets available at "La Cereza's" tobacco terrazza just back of the winery. Total Cost is only $24 for both wineries. Good deal.
But, well, as the locals do, you have to drive yourself; sorry, no limo rides but you get the best of both worlds. You can visit and cruise at your own pace and maybe grab a nice picture of the vineyards of the different varietals of grapes in their final almost harvest stage. On selected evenings, jazz concerts are happening all over the wineries including Bob Wilson's retirement business: the now world-famous "Wilson Creek" Winery at the top of the hill.
Give it a try before summer is gone. You will cherish the experience.
La Cereza Vineyard and Winery is located at 34567 Rancho California Road in the heart of Temecula’s Wine Country. The tasting room is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call 1-800-716-1711.
(Photos and article by: Jay Fermin ppp-usa)