Temecula Valley Wine Tasting
It’s so hard to believe we’re nearing almost 2 years of being Californians. After moving across the country, you’re bound to pick up a few new hobbies. Boxing isn’t the only passion I've picked up in my time here, more recently I discovered a new love and appreciation for wine tasting.
I have to admit, I never understood wine. Tasting notes, pairings, why people swirl glasses—it was all very foreign to me. Not to mention how many kinds of wine existed; reds, whites, blends and bubbly varieties. It was all too much. My previous wine preference? Anything pink or sweet.
My first real introduction to wine tasting was in Gainesville, FL, of all places. Blueberry wine, anyone? Yes, the wine was sweet, fruity and unlike anything else I’ve tried. But at the end of the day, it wasn't a pink wine. I did enjoy the experience and the idea of wine tasting, I just hadn't been sold on the actual wine part.
Southern California Wine Country: Temecula Valley
Fast forward to this year. We're now in California, a state known for its sunshine and wine. I knew if there was ever going to be a place where I could learn to enjoy wine, it was here.
So, I gave it another try. Although we've not yet ventured to the northern (or central) California wine region, we're extremely lucky to be about an hour away from Southern California wine country: Temecula.
After our first trip this past January, we fell in love. The mountains, the weather, and of course, the wineries.I really didn't know what to expect when we showed up to our first wine tasting. It was obviously very different from the tiny local winery in Gainesville. There was a certain sophistication in the entire experience. We started our very first tour - there was even a sommelier.
Now, just imagine the oddity of a non-fancy, pink-wine drinker following a trained wine expert around on a tour. It honestly should have been a sitcom episode. But, not only was tasting delicious, it was extremely informative, as well. I now understand tasting notes, proper wine tasting technique, and have some sense of wine pairings. Having spicy food for dinner? A sweet Riesling will elevate your meal. Craving pasta? If you're having a red sauce, a Grenache is the wine for you!
Our Temecula Valley Wine Picks
With about 40 wineries in Temecula, we’re just getting started. In our 3 trips, we've sampled 5 wineries. From those 5, Avensole is by far our favorite (and we've been back every time). We wanted to take the time to rank the wineries we've been to so far and give a shoutout to our favorite wines as well.
For some background—Kevin prefers red wines, fruit notes, oak, vanilla and chocolatey flavor profiles.Whereas I prefer white wines, a touch of sweetness, no tobacco or earthy flavor profiles.
Kevin's Pick: Enchante
Alexa’s Pick: Muscat Canelli
Kevin's Pick: Ed’s Red
Alexa’s Pick: Mango Champagne
Kevin's Pick: Cabernet Sauvignon
Alexa’s Pick: Baked Brie (Seriously though, this stuff is addicting. Sourdough bread, melty cheese, and garlic butter—Yes, please.)
Kevin's Pick: Uproar
Alexa’s Pick: Nooroz
Kevin's Pick: Grenache
Alexa’s Pick: Melange d'Ete
Cheers! 🥂
