Wine Tasting in Temecula Valley

2005-10-16

Updated: 2007-03-12

Nicole and Ron took us on a wine tasting tour through Temecula Valley, a place just inland of Los Angeles.

Lake Elsinore

On our way there on the Ortega Highway we went past Lake Elsinore. This used to be a run-down town, but now an effort is being made to revitalize it. The results have been mixed so far - "the only things you find here are churches and AA meetings".

2005-10-16 11:01

Temecula Valley

2005-10-16 11:01

Temecula Valley

2005-10-16 11:01

Temecula Valley

Lake Elsinore [a] is the lake to the right in the pictures.

Wilson Creek

We started at Wilson Creek [b] - which is the winery farthest away [c] from the main roads. The plan was to visit the wineries from farthest to nearest, while everyone else went from nearest to farthest.

2005-10-16 11:47

Temecula Valley

2005-10-16 12:23

Temecula Valley

Maybe it was because my taste buds were still undamaged, but I think Wilson Creek had the best wines. I ended up walking out with a box of:

1 x Almond Champagne: Simply amazing champagne, also known as the "Oh My Gosh!" champagne.
2 x Angelica Cream Sherry: Great sherry that cam be mixed with the almond champagne.
1 x 2003 Duet Late Harvest Cabernet/Zinfandel: Very sweet dessert wine. Like the sherry, this one can be mixed with the champagne.
2 x 2003 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Falkner

Falkner's pub / wine tasting house sits perched atop a small hill. Their grapes were just about to be harvested.

2005-10-16 12:43

2005-10-16 12:49

2005-10-16 13:04

2005-10-16 12:49

2005-10-16 14:23

2005-10-16 14:23

(I'm just satisfied with how that last sequence of photos ended up, despite the pictures being off-center.)

Stuart Cellars

Stuart Cellars [d] had a great vintage Port, but by now our taste buds were beginning to go into a state of shock, which meant that most wines tasted alike - acidic.