Temecula Valley wine country

What Temecula Valley is known for

Temecula doesn't hang its reputation on a single grape. More than two dozen varieties grow here, and the ones that do best are warm-climate Mediterranean grapes: Syrah, Grenache, Viognier, Sangiovese and Tempranillo. You'll also find Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, plus cooler-climate whites like Chardonnay and Riesling. Most wine is sold right at the winery or through wine clubs, so many bottles are hard to find anywhere else.

Climate and geography

Vineyards sit at about 1,400 to 1,600 feet. Days are warm and sunny, but cool marine air from the Pacific, about 22 miles away, flows in through gaps in the coastal mountains known as the Rainbow Gap and Santa Margarita Gap, and nights average around 50°F. Soils are mostly decomposed granite sandy loam that drains well. The Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association lists the AVA at 33,000 acres, with about 2,460 acres planted to vineyards.

Temecula Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA), an official U.S. wine-growing region recognized by the TTB. It was established in 1984 in Riverside County, California. It lies within the South Coast AVA.

History

1. 1820Spanish missionaries introduce grapevines to the area.
2. 1968Vincenzo and Audrey Cilurzo plant the valley's first modern commercial vineyard.
3. 1974Ely Callaway opens Callaway Winery, the start of large-scale winemaking here.
4. 1975John Poole opens Mount Palomar Winery.
5. 1984Temecula becomes an official American Viticultural Area (renamed Temecula Valley in 2004).
6. TodayThe Winegrowers Association counts roughly 40 to 50 wineries and more than 80 growers, producing over 500,000 cases a year.