Temecula Valley wineries pairing vintages with Valentine’s dinners
Temecula Valley wineries market themselves as romantic destinations year-round, but on or around Valentine’s Day they ramp it up with three-, four- and five-course prix fixe dinners, heart-shaped pizzas and chocolates, nearly all of it with wine.
Here is what several of the nearly 50 wineries in southwestern Riverside County have going this year. A few are marking Galentine’s Day as well with female bonding events.
Reservations are nearly always required, and some events have sold out already.
Prices listed here are for nonmembers and don’t include fees or taxes. Wine club members often get discounts.
AKASH WINERY » Chocolate and wine pairing sessions start on the hour from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday. $49 per person. 39730 Calle Contento, Temecula. 951-888-1393, akashwinery.com.
AVENSOLE VINEYARD & WINERY » A Galentine’s brunch for $18 will take place 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. On Wednesday, the restaurant will serve a threecourse dinner for $85 per person. 34567 Rancho California Road, Temecula. 951-252-2003, avensolewinery.com.
BAILY VINEYARD & WINERY » Valentine’s port tastings with cheese and chocolate will take place Saturday and Sunday in the Estate Tasting Room at 36150 Pauba Road, Temecula. $60 per person. 951-676-9243, bailywinery.com.
CALLAWAY VINEYARD & WINERY » A fourcourse meal, including the choice of chicken breast, grilled salmon or filet mignon, will be offered 4 to 7:15 p.m. Wednesday. $125 per person. 32720 Rancho California Road, Temecula. 951-676-4001, callawaywinery.com.
COUGAR VINEYARD & WINERY » “Sweetheart Special” lunch for two costs $75 and includes heart-shaped pizza, salad, wine or beer and triple chocolate Ghirardelli brownies. Available 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday. 39870 De Portola Road, Temecula. cougarwinery.com.
DOFFO WINERY » A Valentine’s Day Reserve Cabernet vertical dinner at 6 p.m. Wednesday features a five-course meal with filet mignon and a live violin performance. $159 per person. 36083 Summitville St., Temecula. 951-676-6989, doffowines.com.
EUROPA VILLAGE »
L’Amour Dinner in the winery’s new Italian village, Vienza, takes place at 6 p.m. today. $129 per person. A six-course meal in Bolero on Feb. 16 is sold out, according to the winery’s website. 41150 Via Europa, Temecula. 951-506-181, europavillage.com.
FALKNER WINERY » Valentine’s lunch Wednesday is $79 per person with choice of pasta or steak. Dinner costs $149 per person and features chateaubriand steak or Chilean sea bass. 40620 Calle Contento, Temecula. 951-6768231, falknerwinery.com.
FRANGIPANI ESTATE WINERY » A Valentine’s dinner catered by Gourmet Your Way! will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday, according to an Instagram post. Entrée is choice of red snapper almondine, chicken cordon bleu, beef tenderloin or vegetable lasagna. $150 per couple. 39750 De Portola Road, Temecula. 951699-8845, frangipaniwinery.com.
INN AT CHURON WINERY » Five-course Valentine’s dinners are offered at 5, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. $155. 33233 Rancho California Road, Temecula. 951-694-9071, innatchuronwinery.com.
LEONESS CELLARS » A three-course Valentine’s
dinner takes place 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday with reservations on the half hour, according to an Instagram post. Entrees are filet mignon, pistachio-crusted diver scallops or wild mushroom risotto. The cost is $85 per person with a $35 add-on for wine pairing. 38311 DePortola Road, Temecula. 951-302-7601, leonesscellars.com.
LORIMAR VINEYARDS & WINERY » A Valentine’s dinner with steak and lobster takes place 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday. $250 per couple. 39990 Anza Road, Temecula. 951-694-6699, lorimarwinery.com.
MONTE DE ORO » Steak Diane is the entree for a four-course meal at 6 p.m. Wednesday. $135 per person. 35820 Rancho California Road, Temecula. 951-491-6551, montedeoro.com.
MOUNT PALOMAR WINERY » A five-course dinner in the winery’s lakeside restaurant features beef tenderloin tournedos. Doors open at 7 p.m. Wednesday. $180 per couple. 33820 Rancho California Road, Temecula. 951-676-5047, mountpalomarwinery.com.
OAK MOUNTAIN WINERY » Tickets are on sale for both a four-course Valentine’s dinner and an anti-Valentine’s party at roughly the same time Wednesday. The dinner runs 5 to 8 p.m. in the Cave Café. $120. The party is 6 to 9 p.m. on the Vine Terrace and features a DJ. 36522 Via Verde, Temecula. 951-6999102, oakmountainwinery.com.
PELTZER FAMILY CELLARS » A Galentine’s event with dancing, shopping and food trucks will take place 5 to 9 p.m. today, according to an Instagram post. “Love Is Blind,” a blind tasting with three mystery wines, will take place noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday. $18. 40275 Calle Contento, Temecula. 951888-2008, peltzerwinery.com.
PONTE WINERY » Valentine’s dinners are Saturday and Wednesday. The entrée is filet mignon Oscar, but there is a separate menu for vegetarians with roasted eggplant and vegetable moussaka. $141. 35053 Rancho California Road, Temecula. 951-694-8855, pontewinery.com.
THORNTON WINERY » A three-course dinner with choice of filet mignon, chicken breast or pan-seared Chilean sea bass costs $110 per person. It is offered 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday. 32575 Rancho California Road, Temecula. thorntonwine.com.
WIENS CELLARS » There will be wine and chocolate pairings at 11 a.m. and 1:30 and 4 p.m. Wednesday. $65. 35055 Via Del Ponte, Temecula. 951-694-9892, wienscellars.com.
WILSON CREEK WINERY & VINEYARD » A four-course dinner takes place 7 to 10 p.m. Wednesday and includes a bottle of wine to take home. The entrée is filet mignon. $150 per person. 35960 Rancho California Road, Temecula. 951699-9463, wilsoncreekwinery.com.