Temecula Wines Crush 2024: An Evening of Wine and Culinary Discovery

The annual “Crush” Wine & Culinary Showcase is an exquisite wine-tasting event in Temecula Valley that I eagerly anticipate attending each year. Hosted by the Temecula Winegrowers Association, it is an elegant evening where fellow food and wine enthusiasts come together to savor the finest offerings of the region. Over 30 of the area’s top wineries and local restaurants gather at the picturesque plaza at Monte de Oro Winery to showcase their talents. Last year, local guitar player Jack French provided a bluesy soundtrack (and ended up with a crew of groupies by the end of the evening), a tethered hot air balloon illuminated the sky, and twinkling lights from Monte De Oro’s tasting room provided a dramatic backdrop on the warm summer evening.

Wineries and restaurants have tasting tables across the plaza at Monte de Oro.

The Perfect Venue to Discover New Wines

With more than 50 wineries in the area, it’s challenging to visit all of them every year. During each visit to Crush, I find new favorite wines that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to try otherwise. The wineries will either showcase signature bottles or their latest releases. We discovered Raul Ramirez Winery’s outstanding Tempranillo at Crush a few years ago and visited their tasting room a few weeks later. We were so impressed by the wines and the experience that we became members. Last year, the wines we came away talking about were:

Lorenzi Estate Wines 2020 100% Grenache: The servers were quick to remind my husband and me that winemaker Lorenzi “makes wine for wine lovers,” and it was hard to disagree when sipping that smooth, fruit-forward Grenache.

Raul Ramirez 2021 Estate Garnacha Reserva Especial: This was another excellent Grenache discovery that evening. I think of Ramirez for Tempranillo, Cava, and Monastrel, so this was a terrific find. And with only 50 cases produced, I’d suggest heading to their tasting room to try a glass before it disappears.

Masia del Vinya 2023 Albarino: Yet another example of Temecula’s winemakers making me eat my words from a few years ago when I said we don’t do white wines well here. This lovely Albarino is complex, peachy, and perfect to serve on that hot summer night.

Chapin Family Vineyard 2022 Estate Syrah: Chapin is on our Editor’s Picks weekend itinerary for their big red wines (and stunning views). The smooth, dark fruit Syrah they poured at Crush did not disappoint.

Julie’s Dream 2016 Syrah: Their tasting room is relatively new to the area, and I have not yet visited, so it was a delight to try a few of their wines that evening, especially the Syrah. I’ve now put them up high on my list to visit next.

Discoveries like these make Crush a win for both winemakers and wine lovers — several of the wineries at Crush hand out two-for-one tasting cards for your next visit to their winery.

(Photo courtesy of Visit Temecula Valley)

The Culinary Side of Crush

Several chefs worked hard that evening, carefully plating elaborate small-bite presentations. We enjoyed the fresh focaccias from the Bistro at Monte de Oro and Robert Renzoni, as well as the ceviche from Oak Mountain Winery. These were perfect choices for a warm summer night. However, our favorite bites of the evening were:

A perfectly cooked Lamb Lollipop with a Jalapeño Mint Chutney from Small Barn
Wild Opah and Smoked Dashi Ramen Bowl from Corkfire Kitchen
Ahi and Rockfish Ceviche Tataki with Avocado, Cucumber, Nori, Puffed Rice, Aguachile Verdi, Furikake Salsa Negra in a Miso Soy Vinaigrette from the Vineyard Rose Restaurant at South Coast Winery
Grilled Octopus with Yuca Puree and Fried Plantain from Pinnacle at Falkner Winery
For dessert, the crème brulée, also from Small Barn, topped our list, as did the White Chocolate Raspberry cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes.

Small Barn, Corkfire, and Vineyard Rose were already high on our list of dining experiences in Temecula. However, our previous experience with Pinnacle was limited to salads and burgers. The grilled octopus had me Googling their menu when I got home to see what I had been missing by ignoring the entree options. It turns out that grilled octopus is definitely on the menu! An evening of discovery, for sure.

The lighting turned dramatic once the sun set over the event.

Things to know

There is very limited seating at Crush. If having a table is important to you, it’s worth paying the small extra fee to join the early bird line. Even with the early bird ticket, you’ll want to line up at least 20 minutes early to secure a table. While having a table is not a top priority for me, I still opt for the early ticket. It allows you to enter before the crowds, making the event feel more like an elegant cocktail party, and gives you access to the tasting area before it gets crowded.