By Priscila Schmid and Sarah Marks
As Temecula residents, we sometimes forget that our neighboring city of Fallbrook is not only home to some of the biggest avocado growers in California, but also a place where grapevines flourish. This weekend we decided to venture a few exits down the freeway to Monserate Vineyards and Winery in the Gird Valley of Fallbrook, part of San Diego County.
Monserate sits in a valley surrounded by small hills in a quiet residential area, and is an easy 20-minute drive from Old Town Temecula. Its story began in 2016 when Fallbrook locals Jade and Julie Work purchased the land where an old golf course once thrived, with dreams of opening a high-end winery experience. They planted their first vineyard in 2016 and opened a tasting room four years later. The current incarnation of the winery was completed last summer, with a tasting room, event spaces, outdoor wine bar, and restaurant. A small gift shop near the entry offers a variety of home décor, candles, sweet treats, and they sample and sell their own olive oil. It was recently named Winery of the Year at the 43rd Annual San Diego International Wine Festival.
The Tuscan-style architecture and the beautiful xeriscape gardens give Monserate a resort-like atmosphere — it all feels luxurious, shiny, and new. The focal point is a two-story barrel room designed for hosting grand events that greets guests as they enter through an archway. The outdoor experience is built around a central courtyard where dining tables and olive trees surround a long, shallow water feature. Guests can lunch al fresco from the menu of Monserate’s Monti’s Ristorante (named Best Italian Restaurant by Restaurant Guru in 2024) or sit with a glass from the courtyard wine bar which offers gorgeous views of the surrounding hills.
Monti’s Ristorante at Monserate Winery
We had restaurant reservations for the Sunday afternoon that we visited and opted to sit outside to enjoy the 75° in March weather. The scene was relaxed, with small parties sipping and chatting at tables as a solo saxophonist played nearby. Our server walked us through Monti’s menu of charcuterie, salads, sandwiches, homemade pastas, and Naples-style pizza and helped us make selections for wine flights to accompany our lunch. Three of us shared the La Bianca Pizza with gorgonzola, arugula, and honey, and the Crisp Pear Salad with mixed greens, candied walnut, and pomegranate seeds. Both made with incredibly fresh ingredients, and the pizza had that perfectly chewy crust that only comes from a stone-fired oven. (The two dishes made for a satisfying but light lunch. Hungrier groups might add more to their order.)
The Wine
At the restaurant, wine can be ordered by the glass, bottle, or flight of three pours. We shared a couple of flights and enjoyed each pour. Our favorites were the 2023 Fiore — Monserate’s flagship white blend of Falaghina, Vermentino, Greco, and Fiano — which was floral, citrusy, and full-bodied, and the 2022 Negro Amaro, bold with distinctive black plum.
We also tried the following and enjoyed each:
2023 Sparkling Grenache – A lightly sweet sparkling rosé
2023 Cellar Select Falanghina – I had never had this varietal before, and it reminded me of a light Chardonnay.
2022 Aglianico – Full of black cherry and light baking spices.
Though we tried our wines at lunch, proper wine tastings can also be held. There is a spacious tasting room next to the entry corridor, tastefully designed in earth tones, with high ceilings and window walls that face the courtyard, allowing plenty of natural light. There are two options for tasting: a Standard for $20 (6 tastings) and $25 for a Premium (8 tastings). The tasting room is the prime spot for a vineyard view, which runs behind the winery complex on the other side of a Sycamore-lined creek, though really, it’s worthwhile taking a stroll behind the property to see two small ponds—one with a waterfall where events are held, the other with a bridge and fountain.
Monserate Winery has created a stunning escape. A place to enjoy great wine and food with friends or family. They are open Wednesday through Monday and are family-friendly on weekdays. Friday through Sunday, 21 and over. Reservations strongly recommended for the restaurant on the weekends. Trained and certified service animals are welcome.
