At most wineries in Temecula, it’s possible to book a tours of the grounds, but these winery experiences offer a little something beyond a standard vineyard or production room visit. On this page you’ll find adventures like a tasting of wine made in the style of ancient Greeks, to a wine blending lab where you bring home a bottle of your own creation, to a private, poolside hang with the winemaker. Please note, these are all special experiences that require advanced booking.
Somerset Vineyard & Winery Amphorae Wine Tasting
The use of terracotta clay vessels in winemaking can be traced back around 8,000 years to ancient Georgia where they were called qvevri (KEV-ree). Smaller terracotta vessels, called amphorae, were the first vessels used by Greek and Roman winemakers to age and serve wine. The clay doesn’t impart any flavors or textures to wines like oak barrels do, which leads to creamier wines that are lower in tannins and astringency.
Somerset Winery started experimenting with amphorae and qvevri vessels imported from Italy seven years ago, and has added a new varietal to their amphorae collection every year since. The tasting experience includes an owner or winemaker-led tour of the barrel room for an up close look at the handmade amphorae. You’ll learn about this ancient style of winemaking, then head to a private room for a guided pairing of wine and light bites. Weekends only, book ahead.
Danza del Sol Winery UTV Vineyard Tour and Tasting
A favorite Temecula wine country experience, this private UTV and Tasting tour starts with glass of bubbly in Danza del Sol’s tasting room. Then you’re off into the 40-acre vineyard in a UTV, stopping along the way to taste wines in their vineyard of origin and at the top of a hill that overlooks the entire estate and surrounding rolling hills. The experience concludes back at the winery with a small bites food pairing. By appointment only, book ahead.
Miramonte Winery Sunset Sips
Every month, Miramonte Winery selects a different varietal for a festive blind tasting event called Sunset Sips. Winery owner Cane Vanderhoof or perhaps a staff sommelier guides guests through the tasting, giving clues about each wine so you’re not guessing completely blind. The wines poured are not limited to Miramonte or even Temecula. At the Sunset Sips that was focused on Pinot Noir, guests were presented with multiple wines from Sonoma Valley and Russian River Valley. It’s a lively affair held in a private area with vineyard-view cabanas. Tables are set with white table clothes and personalized menus. Sunset Sips are held the first Friday of the month. Advance reservations required.
Corbeaux Wine & Tea House Wine Pairing Dinner
Corbeaux Wine and Tea House is owned by Maison du Bois Vintners. Both are helmed by Regan Schneider, Temecula’s youngest winemaker. The laid back fine dining restaurant offers a wonderful wine pairing dinner that includes a combination of house label wines and others hand-selected by their sommelier. The menu is designed by Chef Gimeno who comes from Michelin star restaurant Orchard City Kitchen and dinner always exceeds expectations.
Oak Mountain Winery Cave Tour and Tasting
Oak Mountain Winery is home to Southern California’s only mined wine cave. Book a tour to explore the cave and taste wines along the way. The tour finishes with a guided charcuterie pairing. If you don’t want a tour, but are interested in experiencing the cave, make reservations for the Oak Mountain’s Cave Cafe and dine amongst the barrels inside the cave. Oak Mountain also has distillery on property where you can try a custom-made cocktail or a flight of one of their private-label spirits. For all experiences, be sure to book ahead of time.
Bottaia Winery Winemaking Lab
Bottaia Winery is one of the few wineries in Temecula that specializes in Italian styles wines. They offer quite a few tasting experiences — a traditional tasting, a guided wine and charcuterie pairing, wine flights on the vineyard-side deck, and sips by the pool. But the most unique one is their hands-on wine blending lab, where you’ll be taught wine blending techniques and come home with a bottle of your own custom-designed red wine. The experience is casual and fun with personal lab coats and plenty of time to experiment with different combinations until you discover a blend that you love.
Briar Rose Winery Luxury Picnic Tasting
Tasting at Briar Rose Winery is a unique experience unto itself. The winery is a life size replica of the dwarves cottage in Disney’s Snow White. It was even built by a former Disneyland artisan who lovingly created it for his wife who dreamed of a bed and breakfast in Temecula. It has new owners today who have turned the grounds into an outdoor wine tasting garden, where guests are surrounded by whimsical figurines, draping vines, and the largest olive tree in Southern California. Tastings are by appointment, but same-day appointments are available. You can also arrange for a 2 hour custom luxury picnic designed just for you and your party.
Briar Rose also has wonderful themed special events, so check their website to see what’s happening the weekend you plan on visiting.
VOUX Wines Private Poolside Wine Tasting
Voux Wines is a private winery where tastings are all by appointment. Your party is the only one on-site during your tasting, so it always feels a bit special. They have three tasting options. One is a simple pour of three wines inside the stylish clubhouse with their staff sommelier, but where you want to be is poolside with a vineyard view. So opt for either the wine linen tasting for a table with a view, or the vineyard and production room tour with the winemaker for the complete experience. Tour or no, having a winery to yourself for a few hours makes for a pretty unique afternoon all on its own. Read our review of Voux Wines.
Check out our Upcoming Events page for our curated list of unique things to do in Temecula.
