Wineries
Baily Vineyard & Winery
A
understated label adorns each bottle of wine from Baily Vineyard & Winery. That’s not to be confused with an understated quality. Every major competition in the state of California has awarded the winery with nothing less than gold medals. One could call gold the company’s signature color. The key to success behind the stately stone building is control. Established in 1986 by Carol and Phil Baily, the winery prides itself on involvement in each part of the wine making process. Their most recent efforts include the completion of an 8,000 square foot wine making facility that houses up to 50,000 gallons of wine
tanks, hundreds of barrels, case goods and a bottling line. But behind the state-of-the-art equipment, the Baily way is quite simple...a haiku: Wine, the gift of God, Who gives us vinegar, too. Art must intervene. In other words, detail and clean grapes yield a palate pleasing wine. Each of the winery’s 32 acres, aptly named for their physical space as well as space in time, grow specific grapes that produce specific wines. The Cabernet Savingnon and Sauvignon Blac grow in the La Serena Vineyard in a sandy clay soil for fruitful aromas, while the Riesling variety finds itself in the Mother’s Vineyard 62 ieStyle Fall 2009
(planted on Mother’s Day 1982) in decomposed granite facing southeast on a hillside for a sweet apricot finish. As though you weren’t already hooked by the rows of vines growing against the slate gray, almost Medieval-inspired property and the intricacies of the wine making at Baily, the family-owned restaurant seals the deal. Carol’s Restaurant is a lovely marriage of food and wine -- undoubtedly the world’s longest standing couple. This is a stellar ending to a day of tasting. A large room with a high ceiling and a captivating fireplace, a pergola covered patio sits between the inside seating and the Cabernet vines for that quintessential al fresco dining experience and the fare ranges from delightful salads, grilled fish and steak and pasta dishes, all created to pair with Baily’s impressive wines. No winery is complete without a club. Those who opt, get the esteemed title of “Baily Cellar Rat.” Not too bad when every other month, two bottles of a featured wine are delivered to your door along with tasting notes describing the grapes, the wine, and pairing suggestions. If that’s not the kind of club you want, don’t worry -- Baily’s Old Town (a swift jaunt to the other side of Temecula) has a nightclub, Eleven Afterdark. Golden ticket indeed. Baily Vineyard & Winery, 3340 La Serna Road, 951.676.WINE