Vindemia is not the typical Temecula winery. There is no tasting room, no gift shop selling wine-themed souvenirs, or executive chef-lead restaurant. What they do have are approachable, well-crafted wines from hand-picked grapes and enviable views of neighboring vineyards and hillside homes. Tastings are poured at an outdoor bar, where they keep a refrigerator to ensure wines are poured at the correct serving temperature.
The winery was established in the early 2000s by David and Gail Bradley, owners of California Dreamin’, a hot air balloon ride company that they’ve been operating in Temecula since 1985. David Bradley started flying balloons when he was 16 and has over 3,200 hours of balloon flying time. Son Dylan is also a balloon pilot and is the assistant winemaker at Vindemia. Their house is just above the vineyard, a stone’s throw from the tasting bar. After flying over Temecula’s vineyards for so long, Mr. Bradley dreamed of starting his own winery. He and his wife decided to plant five acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Syrah, and Zinfandel. They named the winery Vindemia, a Latin word meaning grape gathering or “produce of a vineyard.”
When I drove up on a Sunday afternoon, small parties were picnicking under a tent on a large patio near the driveway. They all had glasses of wine, though it was not immediately evident where they had secured those glasses. Soon, I noticed a flagstone pathway leading to a second, smaller patio where a temporary tasting bar was concealed behind a cluster of trees and bushes. It reminded me of one of my first trips to Sonoma, where one of my tastings was outside a winemaker’s RV. Except here, the adjacent home is a large, “European-style” estate where they host weddings.
A server stood behind the bar and offered interesting — if sometimes confusing — details about the wines he poured. He explained that Vindemia’s Guy Lemon wines are named after David Bradley’s grandfather and that the name is used to differentiate wines made from grapes grown off of the estate. I tasted a 2019 Guy Lemon Grenache Blanc and a 2021 Guy Lemon Grenache Rose, both from Santa Rita Hills vineyards, and both very nice. Crisp and refreshing. He also kept referring to their popular More Cowbell a Beaujolais. Perplexing since More Cowbell is a popular unoaked Zinfandel blend they’ve produced for several years. (And yes, the name is an homage to the beloved Saturday Night Live sketch.) But either way, the overall experience was friendly and low-key. I stood at the bar, but plenty of tables and chairs were set about the grounds where one could sit with a glass.
The wines were lighter and fruitier than I’ve grown accustomed to in Temecula, and though I do love the region’s big, bold wine, it was exciting to taste something a little different. The Zinfandels had more red than black fruit flavors, and even the somewhat smokier 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2019 The Republic, a Syrah-Grenache blend, were more subtle than one typically finds here. Bradley is undoubtedly going for a distinctive style with his wines.
While I was tasting, a lively 40-something couple arrived to pick up their member allocation and told me enthusiastically about their last visit when winemaker David Bradley was pouring wine. I was told Bradley likes to hang out at the tasting bar about once a month and serve library wines not offered on the tasting menu. The couple loved the experience and the winemaker’s “no-filter” style, laughing as they said they had driven away wondering if they had just been “roasted.” Still, they were so enchanted by him that they became members and were obviously hoping that they would find him there that day.
After they left, a second couple joined me at the tasting bar and told the server that they usually drink light red wines from Lodi, CA, up the coast. After a few tastes, they went home happy with bottles of Vindemia’s 2018 More Cowbell and 2016 Estate Zinfandel Riserva. This lighter style of wine was a winner for them, as it was for me.
Vindemia is not a place for glamorous photo ops or large parties. Groups of 8 or more require a reservation. Rather, it’s a spot to bring a picnic, grab a table and a glass of wine from the stand, and relax with a view of the valley hills. It is a place for lovers of lighter, well-crafted red wines who want to sit and appreciate them.
Dog-friendly. Open Friday through Monday. At the time of writing, a five-pour tasting was $35.
www.vindemia.com
33133 Vista del Monte, Temecula, CA, United States, 92591
