Planning your first visit to Temecula Wine Country? This is how to do it. With this two-day itinerary, you’ll explore wineries both big and small, old and new, and dine at our top wine country restaurants. You’ll also spend a morning in Old Town Temecula to brunch, browse the shops, and take in the local scene.
60 minutes north of San Diego, the rhythm of the world shifts once you land in the valley. As you enter wine country, housing developments and strip malls give way to rolling hills covered in vineyards and citrus groves. This is where your journey begins.
Friday Itinerary
Stop 1: Choose one of Temecula’s most popular wineries.
Europa Village
The Vienza tasting room at Europa Village is a gorgeous spot for Italian wines and Tuscan-inspired architecture. There’s a beautiful piazza and garden out back to take your glass. There’s also an Italian market just downstairs with lovely gift items. Grab a gelato and browse a little while you’re there. (Try to avoid visiting on a Saturday, when it can be almost impossible to find a parking spot after 1 pm.)
Peltzer Winery
Peltzer Winery serves French-style wines and has a more rustic bent with dirt pathways, a petting zoo, and a seasonal pumpkin farm, but their tasting room is farmhouse-chic in a way that would make Joanna Gaines proud.
Leoness Cellars
Leoness Cellars has one of the best views in the valley and the perfect patio to take them in from. Start in the tasting room, then take your tastes of French-style wine down into the vineyard to gaze at the view.
Stop 2:
Get to know one of Temecula’s founding wineries. Choose one.
Callaway Winery
Callaway Winery was the first winery to open its doors to the public in 1974. Their wine has been served to British royalty and Queen Elizabeth famously asked for a second glass!
Bella Vista Winery
Bella Vista Winery was Temecula’s first commercial vineyard. The winery is currently undergoing an exciting revitalization with new owners. They’ve created a gorgeous area for taking in the incredible view, and last year opened a hidden weekend speakeasy, The Cilurzo, named for the original owners, that serves wine cocktails and small bites.
For your final tasting of the day, visit a smaller, family-owned winery. Choose one.
Lorenzi Estate Winery
Lorenzi Estate Vineyards sits at the center of the vineyard and seated tastings are held at umbrella-topped tables overlooking it all. Be sure to make a reservation ahead of your visit.
Palumbo Family Wines
Palumbo Wines is just next door to Lorenzi. It’s a a casual spot for walk-in tastings, with picnic tables on the patio to bring your pour.
Friday Night Dinner
Domenico’s Italian Chophouse
Friday evening, go for dinner at the mostly al fresco restaurant, Domenico’s Italian Chophouse at Truffle Pig Winery. It’s the newest winery restaurant in Temecula and has a sexy and stylish vibe and some surprisingly affordable white wines by the glass. Try the Taleggio & Pappardelle Pasta. It’s delicious.
Saturday Itinerary
Early risers should plan ahead and go on a hot air balloon ride, horseback ride, or scenic sidecar tour through wine country. All three are iconic Temecula experiences. Those who prefer a quieter morning can reserve a lovely outdoor brunch table at Bouquet, the restaurant at Ponte Vineyard Inn.
Stop 1: Wine Tasting and Lunch
Start your day of wine tasting at a winery where you can lunch with a view:
- Altisima Winery’s Spanish-influenced restaurant, Gaspar’s. Start with a wine tasting at the indoor or outdoor bar, then settle in for lunch with your favorite glass.
- Pizza lovers might like Mama Rosa’s Trattoria at Robert Renzoni Winery. It’s a casual spot where you’ll order at the bar and have food brought to your table. It’s the best pizza in the valley.
- Bottaia Winery has a seasonal pool where there is a lovely cafe. Even out of pool season, Bottaia is a favorite for its well-made Italian-style wines and outdoor deck with a view that stretches for days. There’s a small bites menu on the deck as well.
Stop 2: Taste with a Winemaker
For your second stop, go for an authentic, intimate experience where the winemaker guides you through your tasting.
Our perfect spot for this is Uys Garagiste Winery. Dirk Uys will take you on a vineyard tour and tasting of some of the best wines in Temecula.
Stop 3: Taste at golden hour
For your final tasting of the day, visit a winery with fine wine and a unique flair.
- Doffo Wines pours award-winning French varieties and has a museum showcasing its owner’s collection of vintage European motorcycles.
- Raúl Ramirez Bodegas Y Viñedos crafts excellent Spanish varieties and is a dancing Andalusian horse farm. You may even catch a weekend where they are performing or rehearsing their dancing.
- Briar Rose Winery is a life-size replica of Snow White’s Cottage. They also have one of the largest oak trees in California.
Saturday Dinner
Saturday evening, make a reservation for Bolero Restaurante at Europa Village. They have a mouthwatering menu of Spanish tapas, paella, and steaks, and their bartenders know how to craft a pretty great cocktail if your palate can no longer handle vitis vinifera.
Sunday in OLD TOWN TEMECULA
Sunday is the perfect day to go for brunch (here’s a brunch guide) and browse around Old Town Temecula before you head back to reality.
If you’re staying for another full day in wine country. Check out these itineraries and guides for more ideas:
- Best Wineries in Temecula
- Best Wine Country Views
- Where to Go for a Wine Country Lunch
- One-of-a-Kind Wine Country Experiences
WHERE to Stay
My top pick for places to stay, and well-suited to this itinerary, is Ponte Vineyard Inn. You’re well positioned to explore wine country from there, and the AAA 4-Diamond inn offers several amenities, including multiple restaurants, a pool, bar, complimentary wine tastings at their adjacent winery, and of course, vineyard views.
GETTING AROUND
If you like to travel in luxury, book a day with Tour del Vino. The owner is an expert Temecula concierge and will take you where you want to go in a spotless black SUV. She’ll even plan some special experiences for you.
For a more spontaneous day, reserve a seat on the new Temecula Tasting Shuttle. It’s a simple hop-on, hop-off bus that comes around every 75 minutes or so to take wine tasters safely around the valley.
