I N N C O U R T E S Y I nn At E uro pa V i l l a g e ; W I N E C O urtesy Pointe E S TAT E W I N E ; D U S K P H OTO C O U R T E S Y O F S O U T H C O A S T W I N E R Y R E S O R T & S PA ; T E M E C U L A VA LL E Y : Lei g h C aste l l i P H oto g ra p hy
Sip wine in Temecula Valley Though California’s most famous wine regions along the Central Coast are worthy of recognition and worth the trip, you don’t have to return year after year to raise a glass to an authentic winery experience. Temecula Valley, a wine region within an hour-and-a-half drive of every major southern California city, is home to more than 35 wineries, 35,000 acres of photogenic vineyards and more than a dozen wine country restaurants. What was once a sleepy area in Southern California has become a hot spot for wine-lovers, many of whom seek a weekend getaway. Most wineries have tasting rooms but, with hundreds of wines harvested here, it’s impossible to taste them all — an excuse for a return trip. To navigate the grapes, take advantage of one of the self-guided tour suggestions offered by the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association, which groups wineries into themed categories to make decisions easier. Info: temeculawines.org
It’s like: Napa, Sonoma and the Central Coast once you’ve “been there, drank that”
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