At the annual Temecula Valley Barrel Tasting event, the wine-curious have the rare chance to taste wine while it’s still developing in the barrel, just as a winemaker might when he or she is checking in to see how a wine is progressing. But you don’t need to be a wine expert to enjoy the experience. In fact, most people who attend are simply enthusiasts who enjoy wine and wine country. It’s a chance to meet the winemakers, taste at wineries you’ve never visited before, and enjoy wines as they were meant to be enjoyed…with food and friends.

The valley-wide event takes place over the course of two days. The next event is on February 6 & 7th, 2027. Attendees can purchase tickets for a single day or both days. There’s also an option to purchase tickets plus transportation with Grapeline Wine Tours.

On the day of the event, guests check in at a specified winery starting location and receive a brochure with the wines being poured, along with the foods that the wineries have chosen to pair with their wines.

The experience varies from winery to winery. Some wineries offer tastings of multiple wines straight from their barrels, others offer barrel tastings plus some new or pre-release bottled wines. Many hold their barrel tastings outside, others, like Wiens Cellars, hold theirs inside the barrel room with live music. Last year, Lorimar Winery put together an interesting vertical of their popular Montepulciano. There was a taste from a barrel, a pre-release, and a current release all available to taste. At Chapin Family Vineyards, Steve Chapin himself was there to pour the wines and chat with guests.

Some wines will taste young…maybe too young, but at others you’ll find some that are surprisingly good for still sitting in the barrel. Chapin and Raul Ramirez wineries, in particular, have had very good barrel tastings several years in a row.

At all of the wineries, there will be food pairings designed to accompany the wines. Some serve small bites from their on-site restaurants, others use local catering companies to develop the pairings, and still others might just serve a family recipe of soup or simple pasta salad. The bites served will likely be printed in the brochure. The small bites don’t always accommodate all diets, so if you have specific dietary needs, it might be wise to pack a little something to snack on while you’re out and about. 

Tickets for the event can be purchased at the link below: