WineEnthusiast: Temecula Gets Its Just Dues

Interesting article by MattKettman on the up&coming wineries in Temecula:
WE:Temecula

He, of course, tosses in a mention of the ubiquitous bachelorette parties & almond-flavored sparkling wine. But he emphasizes that the wineries are significantly upping their quality. But you have to visit the region to find those wines, apparently. They're not widely distributed.

Back in the mid-'70's, the wines made there by EliCallaway were as good as any you could find in Calif. But Temecula hit a serious slump after Pierce's disease...and even before that, in fact. So the area has a great, relatively unfulfilled potential.
Tom

I went to Temecula many years ago, before Pierces, and had some good wines and good experiences

I inetend calling in again next October

I have been to Temecula twice in recent years as I have (in-law) family there. And, as a matter of fact, I've been to Baily's, which the author at the other end of that hyperlink praises so highly. Bleh. The best wines I had there nearly make it as far up the quality scale as "average".

It is true that, by the second visit, many wineries were publishing facts about their products... clones, temperatures, yeasts, and so on. Didn't help.

Trust me, almond wine and off-dry is what you will find. And would you like to join our wine club?

Trust me, almond wine and off-dry is what you will find. And would you like to join our wine club?

Ah, but there's a winery growing and making Pinotage there

[Jenise]

I haven't been to Temecula recently, but I did used to make it in there every 5 to 10 years and watched them evolve from thinking, stupidly, that Cabernet and Chardonnay were the ticket despite their hot climate, to realizing that Rhone varietals were better suited. But they hadn't yet figured out how to deal with hot-climate storage--wines poured in tasting rooms were often pruney or cooked. The learning curve seems to be painfully slow. Here we are, about 40 years since my first taste of Temecula wine, and they remain more a novelty than serious contender.

Trust me, almond wine and off-dry is what you will find. And would you like to join our wine club?

Ah, but there's a winery growing and making Pinotage there

Oh, they're growing every variety known to man there. I went to one maker who was taking his Italian heritage very serious: he has 30+ different grapes under cultivation. I admire the bookkeeping effort most; the wines were sound but way too pricey.