The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
TRAVELERS’ CHECKS
Temecula Valley Wine Country, midway between San Diego and Los Angeles, is celebrating its 50th year in the wine industry.
The first modern commercial vineyard was planted in 1968 by the late Vincenzo Cilurzo and his wife Audrey. And the first wine from Temecula-grown grapes was commercially available in 1974.
A relative newcomer to winemaking, the area is both visually and viticulturally stunning. Scattered throughout the Tuscan-esque landscape, most wineries are architectural statements poised among vineyards. Viticulturally, winemakers are taking advantage of the terroir to make full-bodied reds and aromatic whites.
With tourists discovering this once-sleepy appellation, the region is booming with growth. New wineries, lodging and entertainment options had popped up since we last visited in 2016. And more are on the books.
Temecula Valley now has
more than 40 licensed wineries, producing more than 500,000 cases — of California’s 279 million — annually.
Despite its growth, the area is still tiny when compared with wine regions such as Sonoma Valley (250 wineries) or Napa Valley (400 wineries). For perspective, the entire state of Ohio has 265-plus wineries
producing about 6 million cases annually.
We stopped by Cougar Vineyard & Winery to sample wines made from estategrown Italian grape varietals. Among those grown on the winery’s 17 acres are Sangiovese, Pinot Grigio, Aglianico, Montepulciano and Vermentino. The winemaker coaxes complex layers from them.
Given their limited production, few wineries have broad distribution reaching as far as Ohio, but they can ship to those joining their wine club to receive regular shipments by mail. A visit is the best way to taste Temecula, and harvest season, which runs through mid-September, is an active time.
On winery tours, you More information: Cougar Vineyard & Winery: Garage Brewing Co.: Pechanga Resort and Casino: 45000 Pechanga Parkway. Temecula, 888-PECHANGA, Pechanga.com
may see grapes arriving or being processed. And, while vineyards are visually stark in winter the warm, sunny weather makes the destination more than adequately attractive to those facing a Northeast Ohio winter.
In addition to wineries, you can visit breweries, try your luck at Pechanga Resort and Casino and shop Old Town boutiques and galleries.
We parked our RV at the casino in one of 206 wellmanicured sites. A recent $300 million renovation makes 1,090 rooms or suites available here, as well. Naturally, we had to check out