| Temecula, California, may have just 1/10th the | | | | The setting is popular with couples who choose |
| number of wineries you find in Napa, but the local | | | | the winery for a wedding backdrop, and Ponte |
| wine-tasting experience is earning high marks | | | | has a large event tent used for meetings and |
| from travelers who have checked it out. | | | | parties. |
| Located just off the well-traveled Interstate 15, | | | | With the exception of the new South Coast villas, |
| between Temecula vineyard Riverside and San | | | | most of the accommodations near Temecular |
| Diego, the gently rolling hills and scenic vineyards | | | | wineries are bed-and-breakfasts or small inns, and |
| of the Temecula wineries now are becoming a | | | | there aren't many of them. That's one reason |
| destination in their own right. Not just a gimmick | | | | that Luis and Sherry DiBernardo are enjoying |
| to boost local tourism, the wineries of Temecula | | | | early success with their new bed-and-breakfast |
| make good wine - and presumably good money - | | | | inn, the Castle. The Castle was built three years |
| turning the fruit of the Valley into wines that are | | | | ago but one wing was left unfinished in case they |
| satisfying even the most sophisticated palates. | | | | wanted to become innkeepers. In January of this |
| New wineries are coming on board every year, | | | | year, they did just that. |
| according to Linda Kissam, executive director of | | | | Guests can roam throughout their landscaped |
| the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association. Big | | | | grounds to Dibernardosenjoy the countryside |
| resorts are opening, too, such as the South Coast | | | | views that begin with the swimming pool and |
| Winery's new Resort and Spa that was estimated | | | | groves of olive trees right on the property. The |
| to cost $20 million but cost well over that. Not to | | | | Castle itself is not just a name - the European |
| worry - the resort already is on its way to paying | | | | décor and furnishings, the high ceilings and |
| off that investment with its 76 villas booked solid | | | | chandeliers all add to the medieval feeling. One end |
| on weekends even before the resort was | | | | of the Great Room has a stone wall and long |
| completely finished. | | | | breakfast table befitting King Arthur. Medieval |
| "The whole goal here," says Mark Zovic, South | | | | paintings cover another wall. The four guestrooms |
| Coast's general manager, "is for Temecula | | | | also share in this motif to one extent or another, |
| wineries to be taken seriously." With many more | | | | and most include Jacuzzi tubs. |
| visitors every year making Temecula part of their | | | | For the DiBernardos, Temecula's burgeoning wine |
| Southern California vacation plans, it seems like | | | | industry and the wide open spaces were enough |
| the area is now being taken plenty seriously. | | | | to lure them from the San Fernando Valley, |
| Zovic compares Temecula wineries to the Napa | | | | where Louis had been involved for many years in |
| Valley of 20 years ago when its tourism | | | | investment banking. The couple bought the |
| infrastructure was catching up with the growing | | | | property because they loved the 'crickets, frogs |
| popularity of the region. But one of the local | | | | and stars in the sky' and now it's like getting paid |
| winemakers pointed out there is a big difference - | | | | to have a party every weekend." |
| many of Temecula's wines are already considered | | | | Visitors to Temecula wineries will find they can |
| competitive with Napa and certainly not 20 years | | | | reasonably visit between four and six wineries in a |
| behind in the attainment of overall quality. | | | | day - most of the wineries are clustered in an |
| One vintner who feels pretty good about the | | | | area along Rancho California Road. But wineries |
| quality of his Palumbowines is Nick Palumbo, a | | | | are not the only attraction in town - the city's |
| 38-year-old grape grower who just two years | | | | Historic Oldtown is a popular day trip for people |
| ago opened his own winery, Palumbo Family | | | | from surrounding communities. A number of |
| Vineyards and Winery. Picture a 20-year-old | | | | historical buildings are highlighted in a walking tour |
| rambler farmhouse set on 12 acres of vineyards | | | | of the area, and there are many festivals held |
| and you see that the emphasis in this business is | | | | throughout the year to bring attention to the |
| on family. The oak barrels containing the 1,500 | | | | area. |
| cases of wine he produces each year are piled | | | | If shopping is your thing, about 15 miles north on |
| high in what was once Palumbo's three-car garage. | | | | Interstate 15 is the Lake Elsinore Outlet Mall, which |
| Palumbo grows the grapes and "drives the tractor | | | | includes dozens of outlet stores, each offering |
| every day" up and down his vineyard rows to | | | | discount prices on brand name merchandise. |
| make sure the four varieties of grapes he is using | | | | There are seven championship golf courses in the |
| will be the quality needed for his special wines. | | | | area, as well as lakes for fishing. And, if you want |
| He's an example of what you'll find elsewhere in | | | | to try something totally unique, local hot air balloon |
| Temecula - a vintner who is willing to stand there | | | | companies will give you an angle on the valley you |
| a few minutes and tell you how it's done. That's | | | | won't get from anywhere else - a dreamy view |
| another difference from Napa, the locals say: | | | | from hundreds of feet above the gorgeous |
| almost all of the Temecula wineries are | | | | Temecula Valley Wine Country. |
| family-owned. | | | | AT A GLANCE |
| "If I didn't have control of the vineyards," Palumbo | | | | WHERE: Temecula is located on Interstate 15, |
| says, "I wouldn't have control of the quality." | | | | about half way between San Diego and Riverside. |
| Palumbo says the reason his mom-and-pop | | | | Much of the Temecula Valley Wine Country is just |
| operation can produce wine commanding the | | | | a few miles east of I-15 on Rancho California |
| highest prices of all Temecula wineries is "I can do | | | | Road. Temecula is easily included in any Southern |
| a lot more tricks than the other guys can." For | | | | California vacation itinerary. |
| example, he can split his lots and make a big | | | | WHAT: Temecula wineries have become a |
| difference in taste by using different yeast in | | | | popular day trip for Southern Californians, but now |
| each lot and then blending the two together. | | | | is beginning to become a destination resort area |
| Over at Ponte Family Estate Winery, the | | | | with several new accommodations being built in |
| emphasis is a little different, according to owner | | | | the past couple of years. With many lodging rates |
| Roberto Ponte. "I was confused before," Ponte | | | | in Temecula still reasonable, those looking for |
| explains. "I thought it was all about the wine." | | | | cheap vacations need look no further. It's an |
| The people who visit his winery, Ponte says, are | | | | easy, no-muss, no-fuss way to visit California |
| interested Pontein a getaway experience, and | | | | wineries. |
| wine just happens to be part of that. Beginning | | | | WHEN: Any time of year. California wineries |
| with a concept of "a day in the country," Ponte | | | | generally harvest August to September and you |
| set about to create a kind of mini-theme park all | | | | can see more of the grape and wine production |
| built around his winery and surrounded by | | | | activities at that time. Temperatures are best in |
| hundreds of acres of vineyards. Opening in the | | | | the winter months. Weekends are quite busy, so |
| summer of 2003, Ponte Family Estate Winery | | | | weekdays are highly recommended. If you go on |
| offers one of the Valley's largest tasting rooms | | | | a weekend, visit the most popular tasting rooms |
| and a gift shop - similar to what you find in Napa - | | | | in the morning, about 10 a.m. when they open. If |
| and also serves gourmet California cuisine in the | | | | you're booking one of the local inns and resorts, |
| popular Smokehouse Café. | | | | be sure to ask about travel deals and vacation |
| Visitors are encouraged to stroll the grounds of | | | | packages. Sometimes last minute travel deals are |
| the winery where they will find park-like pathways | | | | available. |
| and exhilarating vineyard views in addition to the | | | | WHY: Temecula is a good place to visit California |
| many features of the winery such as the giant | | | | wineries and be able to talk one-on-one with |
| stainless steel containers, the wine storage area | | | | vintners and see how they make wine. And, like |
| ("where the wine sleeps," Ponte says) and other | | | | other wine-growing regions, it's very scenic. |
| buildings and processes related to winemaking. | | | | |