There are over 50 wineries in Temecula. Which is the best one? Well, that depends. If you’re really just looking for the prettiest wineries, take a look at this page. A lovely winery lunch? See our recommendations here. But if you’re in Temecula for the wine, this list highlights the best of the best, and includes wines to try and the type of experience each winery offers. Wines change as the seasons change, so this list will be always be evolving.
BEST Temecula WINERIES
At a glance:
There are recommendations for white and rosé wine wines to try on this page.
Lorenzi Estate Vineyards & Winery
Varietals
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Petite Verdot, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Grenache, Zinfandel and Chardonnay.
Wines to Try
- Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
- Estate Syrah Cuvee
- 2020 Reserve French Twist (Petite Verdot blend)
- 2020 Estate Merlot
The Tasting Experience
Lorenzi Estate’s winery is located in a garden at the center of their vineyard. They have a small tasting room, but outside, overlooking the vineyard is where you want to be. Bistro tables line the patio and Lorenzi’s servers pour wine at your table. There are several tasting menus to choose from, and there’s one for all palates and budgets. Boxes of charcuterie are available for purchase. Reservations are encouraged. 21 and over. 36095 Monte De Oro Road, Temecula, California 92592
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Bottaia Winery
Italian Varietals
Sagrantino, Aglianico, Montepulciano, Barbera, Sangiovese, Nero d’Avola, Vermentino, Pecorino, Pinot Grigio, Arneis, Fiano
Wines to Try
- 2023 Pecorino
- 2023 Vermentino
- 2023 Blush
- 2022 Montepulciano
- 2018 Cartuccia Red (a Sangiovese-Barbera blend)
- 2019 Aglianico
The Tasting Experience
An Italian resort inspired the design of Bottaia Winery. There’s a chic lounge inside and a pool with an adjacent cafe sits in the vineyard behind the tasting room. The winery offers a variety of experiences including a charcuterie and wine pairing, a wine blending lab where guests blend their own bottle to take home, and a barrel room tasting. But for first-time visitors, I recommend reserving a table outside on the deck. There, you can order a flight of five wines and other light bites and relax in front of the striking vineyard view. Reservations strongly recommended for the outdoor deck and are required for any of the experiences. 35601 Rancho California Rd, Temecula, CA 92591
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Chapin Family Vineyards
Varietals
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Aglianico, Merlot, Montepulciano, Tannat, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Vermentino, Albarino, Muscat, and Sauvignon Blanc.
Wines to Try
- 2021 Petite Sirah
- 2022 Estate Syrah
- 2022 Chardonnay
- 2023 Viognier
- Both the Summit and Eclipse Red Blends.
The Tasting Experience
Chapin Family Vineyards holds seated tastings on its palm tree lined veranda, where music plays and views stretch for miles. Winemaker Steve Chapin is often around; he might even stop by for a chat. There’s a small indoor tasting bar to purchase snacks and a separate area in the vineyard where guests can picnic. On the weekends, there’s usually a brick-oven pizza vendor making pies to order. Chapin doesn’t require a reservation, but they are recommended on busy holiday weekends. Dogs and kids are welcome. 36084 Summitville Street, Temecula Valley, CA 92592
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Uys Garagiste Winery
Varietals
Uys serves natural, unfiltered wine with zero additives made from mostly French varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Mourvedre, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Roussanne, and Grenache, plus Riesling, Barbera, and Primitivo.
Wines to Try
- 2023 Pet Nat Riesling
- 2021 Grenache Blanc
- 2022 Sauvignon Blanc
- 2020 Zinfandel
- 2020 Estate Syrah
The Experience
Tastings at Uys Wines are intimate, semi-private experiences. They are held in a small barn which serves as the winery’s tasting room, barrel room, and production room. Guests can choose from two experiences led by winemaker Dirk Uys: A tour of the vineyard with a tasting of his natural wines at the end, or simply a guided tasting. Both experiences are by appointment only. 21 and over. 33605 Madera De Playa Dr, Temecula, CA, 92592
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Raúl Ramirez Bodegas Y Viñedos
Varietals
Mainly Spanish varietals: Tempranillo, Garnacha, Monastrell, Petite Sirah, Malbec, Albariño, Verdejo, Xarello, Macabeo
Wines to Try
- 2016 Estate Gran Reserva Brut Cava Style Sparkling Wine
- 2023 Estate Verdejo
- Estate Gran Reserva Don Porfirio Tempranillo from multiple estate lots.
The Experience
The tasting room at Raúl Ramirez Winery is a bright, modern clubhouse with equestrian motifs, where guests can book a seated tasting in a few different locations: The great room, which is styled like a living room, the adjacent VIP room, or outside on the patio where there’s usually live music in the afternoon. The winery is also home to an Andalusian horse farm, and the dancing horses perform at special events a few times per year. Tastings are by appointment, but walk-ins are welcome if there is availability. 32950 Marius Way, Winchester, CA 92596
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Gershon Bachus Vintners
Varietals
French red varieties: Syrah, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mourvèdre, Cabernet Franc, Petite Sirah, and Merlot, plus Malbec, Tempranillo, and Sangiovese.
Wines to Try
- 2018 Grenache
- 2018 Aquilo Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2017 Tempranillo
- 2018 Syrah
The Tasting Experience
Gerson Bachus Winery sits inside the owner’s chateau-style home at the top of a hill. His private rooms above and the barrel room and tasting room are below. The barrel room is dark and unadorned, so visit on a nice day for a seated tasting outside, where there are gorgeous views of neighboring vineyards and homes. The team is friendly and well-educated in the wines, and the seated experience is casual, with bags of chips dropped at your table to enjoy with your wine. No appointments are necessary. Dog and family-friendly. 37750 De Portola Road, Temecula, 92592
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Callaway Winery
Varietals
Mostly French and Spanish varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Syrah, Malbec, Tempranillo, Chardonnay, Roussanne, Viognier, Pinot Gris, and Sauvignon Blanc
Wines to try
If you’re able, splurge for the Library Wine Tasting. These wines are worth your time. All were exceptional, especially the 2022 Owners Private Reserve (OPR) White, a blend of Roussanne and Viognier, and the 2015 OPR Red, a Cabernet Sauvignon from Bordeaux clone #8.
If you opt for a standard tasting, be sure to try these:
- 2022 Harmonique, a blend of Roussanne and Chardonnay
- 2024 Wild Yeast Viognier
- 2022 Special Selection Tempranillo
- 2022 Special Selection Zinfandel
- 2019 Winemaker’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
The Tasting Experience
The first commercial winery in Temecula, Callaway Winery has a traditional tasting room bar lined with windows so you can appreciate the view while you taste. You’ll purchase a tasting card in the gift shop and take it to a server at the bar to begin your tasting. For a more intimate experience, reserve the new wine and food pairing option. It’s a chef-created experience of light bites that really do bring out the best in their wines.
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Wiens Cellars
Varietals
Chardonnay, Albariño, Gewurztraminer, Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Syrah, Primitivo, Petite Sirah, and Sangiovese.
Wines to Try
- Blanc de Blanc and Blanc de Rosé Sparkling
- 2024 Albariño
- 2021 Four Fold (a GSM plus a little Petite Sirah)
- 2021 Bare Knuckle Petite Sirah
- 2022 Reserve Syrah
- 2022 Reserve Merlot
The Tasting Experience
At Wiens Cellars, a few elevated tasting options can be booked in advance, but walk-ins are always welcome. With a walk-in wine tasting, you’ll sip either inside at the tasting bar or outside for a seated experience on the covered patio. Thursday through Sunday there are food trucks on site, and guests are welcome to enjoy that food with their tasting. A regular tasting starts at $20. Wiens is family and dog-friendly. 35055 Via Del Ponte, Temecula, CA 92592
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Doffo Winery
Varietals
Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Zinfandel, and Vermentino.
Wines to Try
- Paulina Sparkling
- 2023 Vermentino
- 2017 Syrah Reserve
- 2020 Salute
- 2022 Zinfandel
The Experience
Doffo Winery’s sprawling grounds are decorated with founder Marcelo Doffo’s vintage European motorcycle collection. The tasting room is small but attractive, with tile walls and stamped ceiling. There are also a couple of outdoor areas where guests can enjoy seated tastings. But the star of the show, other than the wine is the Moto Barrel Room. It’s a large barn where the one-third of Marcelo’s motorcyle collection is displayed. Walk-ins are welcome, but book a tour if you’d like to see the motorcycles. Dog and family friendly. Brunch is available on the weekends. 36083 Summitville St. Temecula, CA 92592
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Palumbo Family Vineyards & Winery
Varietals
Sangiovese, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc.
Wines to Try
- 2018 Tre Fratelli (A Bordeaux-style red blend)
- 2020 Estate Merlot
- Estate Sangiovese, they age it for five years in the style of Brunello di Montalcino.
The Experience
Palumbo Family Vineyard’s tiny tasting room sits high up on a hill next to the family home. They focus on red wines, and tastings are poured by a family member or a knowledgeable neighbor who convinced them to hire her a few years ago. Guests enjoy tastings at the indoor bar or on the patio (above) overlooking their lovely view. Tastings are walk-in only. 40150 Barksdale Circle, Temecula, CA 92592
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Masia De La Vinya
Varietals
Masia has an emphasis on Spanish-style wine, but also pour a few French and Italian varietals: Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon, Monastrell, Malbec, Tempranillo, and Syrah
Wines to Try
- 2024 Sauvignon Blanc
- 2022 Estate Chardonnay
- 2022 Orquestra
- 2022 Tempranillo
The Experience
Masia de la Vinya has walk-in tastings and a patio high up on a hill for sipping wine and enjoying the view. For a seated tasting, book the recently upgraded “Pours and Pairings” option. A server guides guests through pairings of 6 wine and small bites in a charming indoor or outdoor setting.
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Robert Renzoni Vineyards
Varietals
A mix of Italian, French, and Spanish varieties: Fiano, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Gamay, Vermentino, Viognier, Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Barbera, Tempranillo, Syrah, Petite Sirah and Zinfandel.
Wines to Try
- 2021 Petite Sirah
- 2019 Montepulciano Reserve
- 2018 Big Fred’s Red
- 2022 Sonata (A blend of Brunello and Cabernet Sauvignon)
The Experience
Tastings at Robert Renzoni Winery take place at a long standing bar that wraps around three sides of the winery’s large Tuscan style tasting room. Walk-in guests are welcome, but a reservation is never a bad idea on a weekend. Definitely make a reservation for Mama Rosa’s Trattoria, Renzoni’s casual outdoor Italian restaurant that serves brick oven pizza, pasta, and other Italian fare. 37350 De Portola Road, Temecula, CA 92592
