Escondido/Temecula Wineries

We are going to be in Escondido for a week and are going to visit a few of the wineries. Any suggestions as to which ones to visit and which bottles to bring home?

Thanks

Mark, to put it bluntly, Temecula is not exactly a hotbed of premium wineries. Pierce's disease has been devastating. That said, there are a couple worthy of a quick visit. Hart Family Winery would be at the top of the list. Here is what a wine friend and writer had to say:

Our trip to Temecula started pleasantly enough. We enjoyed a wonderful barbecue with Joe Hart, owner/winemaker of Hart Winery. But the next day, things turned ugly. The first tasting room we arrived at wanted $6 to taste five wines. We quickly asked, "Is that refundable with purchase?" Sorry, but you can keep the glass. None of us had a glass shortage at home, nor did we want to haul them on the plane. We tasted our wines and left. At the second winery, it was the same deal: $6 for five tastes. And keep the glass. The third stop was more of the same but with a twist: All of the wines were badly oxidized, and the person behind the bar was wearing heavy perfume and didn't know a Petite Sirah from a white Zinfandel.

Angrily, we gave up and headed back toward L.A. Tasting fees - and mediocre wines - had left bad tastes in our mouths.

FWIW...

Second on that. A once-promising area has been reduced to a desert of stretch limos and knotty-pine tasting rooms. Joe Hart is a gem amidst the dross.

Welcome to the forum Mark. I agree with Randy and Stuart. In addition to Hart, I would add Mount Palomar. They have some very nice reds as well as whites. Most of the rest in town is dreck.

hart is really good - but you might not think to try the hidden gem -- the dry rose! i've heard several writers refer to it privatly as the best in CA

Thanks for the tips. Is the Orfila winery in Escondido worth visiting?

There is a place in Temecula that makes sparking wine, Methode Champenoise. I think it is in Temecula. Anyone familiar with that?

There is a place in Temecula that makes sparking wine, Methode Champenoise. I think it is in Temecula. Anyone familiar with that?

Thornton Winery


I visited Temecula in 2002. I am sure a lot has changed, but my pick of the wineries is here http://www.winelabels.org.arttem.htm

There is a place in Temecula that makes sparking wine, Methode Champenoise. I think it is in Temecula. Anyone familiar with that?

Thornton Winery


I visited Temecula in 2002. I am sure a lot has changed, but my pick of the wineries is here http://www.winelabels.org.arttem.htm

Thornton..that's the one. I went there in the mid 90's. And I thought you only knew about Pinotage.
Thanks Peter.

There is a place in Temecula that makes sparking wine, Methode Champenoise. I think it is in Temecula. Anyone familiar with that?

Thornton Winery


I visited Temecula in 2002. I am sure a lot has changed, but my pick of the wineries is here http://www.winelabels.org.arttem.htm

Thornton..that's the one. I went there in the mid 90's. And I thought you only knew about Pinotage.
Thanks Peter.

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