TEMECULA WINE EVENTS

The wine country in Southern California's Temecula Valley recently had its annual Spring Barrel Tasting weekend, which they call the World Of Wine.  It provides an opportunity for wine lovers to travel from winery to winery, checking out some of their best wines paired with some tasty food, and get a sneak peek at future releases sampled right from the barrel.

Peggy Evans, the Executive Director of the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association, said the event was a big success.  "We sold about 1400 tickets, which was great, and we had all 33 member wineries participate, so it was a great turnout."

More fun is in the works for Temecula wine country after the summer, says Evans.  "We won't be doing any big events until September, when we celebrate California Wine Month.  We do passport tastings for the whole month,and then we also do a big showcase event called Crush, which we'll be doing the second Saturday of September.  That's the only time during the year that we have all our wineries in one location.  Then we have another barrel tasting in November, so we have three primary fundraisers a year."

Any time is alright, though, for a trip to Temecula for wine tasting in Southern California.

UNEXPECTED GRAPES FROM UNEXPECTED PLACES: TEMECULA

The recent Wine event, "Unexpected Grapes From Unexpected Places," gave a throng of wine industry and media types a chance to sample the wares of some grape growing regions in California that are considered "off the beaten path," at least for the average wine consumer. 

Temecula may be off the path, but they are quickly blazing one of their own just east of the I-15 Freeway.  After exiting the freeway, you may feel the urge to stop and gamble at the casino.  Continue east, though, and in just a few miles it's a sure bet you'll find some wines you like.  You won't get those kind of odds at the casino.

I was a little disappointed at first that Hart Winery, a favorite of mine in the Temecula Valley, was not represented at the tasting table.  Even without Hart, an admirable array of very good wines were assembled and it seemed to me visitors to the table were leaving happy, and maybe a little surprised.

Peggy Evans, Director of the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association, was kind enough to pour some very good wines for me while singing the praises of the grapes and wines of Temecula.

Baily Winery Dry Riesling 2008 - made to commemorate 150 years of Temecula - crisp, with pears and floral notes

Palumbo Rosato Secco - 100% Sangiovese rose - dry, with cherry and a flinty edge and good acidity

Miramonte Grenache Rosé 2009 - a little residual sugar - pink and sweet

Danza del Sol Tempranillo 2009 - smokey, brambly nose - very earthy and delicious

Wilson Creek Mourvèdre 2006 - not very dark and kinda bright - "mourvèdre lite" - fruity, tasty, dry

Cougar Montepulciano 2006 - "Full Monte" - funky nose, brambly palate, dry

Robert Renzoni Vecchio Fratte "Old Friar" 2007 - 90% Lagrein, 10% Merlot - big, rich, 21 months in French Oak - very dry with full mouthfeel - deep, expressive nose - coffee notes

Leonesse "Melange de Reves" 2007 - Syrah, Cinsault, Mourvèdre, and Grenache - smells and tastes darker than it looks - full of fruit

Stuart Cellars White Port NV - late harvest Muscat and Chardonnay - reminds me of vermouth - herbal and spicy - quite good

Tomorrow we head into Ventura County.