TEMECULA WINERIES

Temecula boasts 15 wineries, some of them competitive with the best in California. Most grow their own grapes, all have tasting rooms open to the public. Take Rancho California Road east from Interstate 15 for only 4 mites to where the strip malls and housing sprawl abruptly give way to rolling hills dressed in mustard flowers, vineyards, and citrus orchards. Most of the wineries are clustered along the next few miles, with signs directing where to turn off, while Filsinger and Keyways hang back on side roads that branch off farther east on Rancho California Road. Not surprisingly, Temecula's three oldest wineries (Callaway, Cilurzo, and Mount Palomar) are its standouts, but a few others are gaining notoriety. Expect crowds on weekends, especially Saturdays.
BAILY VINEYARD & WINERY: Phil and Carol Baily opened their winery in 1986. They
are best known fortheir white wines, especially the gold medal Rieslings. Tastings daily 10am
to 5pm. Located at 33833 Rancho California Road; 909/676-9463; www.baily.com.
CALLWAY VINEYARD & WINERY: Temecula's largest, oldest, and best-known winery produces a very good chardonnay. Public tours daily. The Wine Terrace Cafe affords sweep-ing views from its outdoor patio, serving lunch Thursday through Sunday and dinner on Fridays and Saturdays. Tastings daily 10am to 5pm. Located at 32720 Rancho California Road; 909/676-4001 or 800/472-2377; www.callawaywine.com.
CILURZO VINYARD & WINERY: Vincenzo Cilurzo planted Temecula's first commercial vineyarel in 1968 when he moved to the valley with his wife, Audrey. Their estate grown petite sirah has been a consistent award-winner and their menots are also excellent.
Don't miss this friendly, family-run winery with its tame peacocks and hand-painted signs.
Tastings daily 10am to 5pm. Located at 41220 Calle Contento; 909/676-5250.
CLOS DU MURIEL VINEYARDS & WINERY; Ctos du Muriel buys most of its grapes elsewhere and sells its wine only by order or on the premises. Tastings daily 10am to 5pm. Located at 33410 Rancho California Road; 909/676-5400 or 877/676- 5400; www.closdumurietwinery.com.
PUSINGER VINEYARDS & WINERY: This family-owned winery makes a Temecula champagne, and it's one of the few wineries in California to grow and produce gewurztraminer. The tasting room is open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only.
Located at 30905 De Portola Road; 909/302-6363.
HART WINERY: Truly a collector's find is tiny Hart Winery, which frequently outclasses many of California's biggest players at major wine competitions. Former school teacher Joe Hart specializes in dry, full-bodied reds and premium Mediterranean varietals. The tasting room in this cute little barnlike structure is open daily 10am to 5pm.
Located at 41300 Avenida Biona; 909/676-6300 or 877/638-8788.
KEYWAYS VINEYARD: Carl Key operates a one-man operation at a handsome Mediter-ranean-style building on 28 beautiful, vine-laden acres. Key prides himself on his red zinfandel, which can be tasted along with other varietals on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, or by appointment. Located at 37338 De Portola Road; 909/302-7888.
MAURICE CARRIE WINERY; Maurice and Budd Van Roekel opened this giant, neo-Victorian California ranch manor and antique barn in 1986. The visitor-oriented establishment sells souvenirs and offers free tasting of its wines, which include some of the sweeter varietals and are available daily 10am to 5pm. Located at 34225 Rancho California Road; 909/676-1711 or 800/716-1711
MOUNT PALOMAR WINERY: Wfth 'its hilltop views, sunny orchards, soft grass, and shaded tables, Mount Palomar provides the ideal spot for a picnic. One of the valley's three original operations, it made its mark with nesting, exceptional dessert wines, and some lesser-known Italian varietals such as cortese and sangiovese. listings daily 10am to 5pm. Located at 33820 Rancho California Road; 909/676-5047 or 800/854-5177; www.mountpalomar.com.
SANTA MARGARITA WINERY: Temecula's smallest winery specializes in cabemet sauvignon, which they always age five years before release. Sitting on a quiet ridge well off the highway, the tasting room is open on weekends only or by appointment. Located at 33490 Madera de la Playa; 909/676-4431.
STUART CELLARS: Opened in 1998, this is Temecuta's newest winery. Marshall Stuart, who studied viticulture and enology at UC Davis, already :makes a fine vintage port. The tasting room is open dailyfrom lOamtoSprt; Located at 33515 Rancho California Road; 909/676-6414 or 888/260-0870; www.stuartcellars.com
TEMECULA CREST WINERY: This hilltop winery, featuring a strikingly beautiful Old West structure of stained redwood, is noted for its estate-grown whites; riesling and sauvignon blanc are big hits and they can be sampled in the tasting room, which is open Monday through Friday from noon to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday I Oam to 5pm. Located at 40620 Calle Contento; 909/676-8231.
THORNTON WINERY: Although this faux chateau feels more like a grandly financed marketing concept than a winery, their sparkling wines, formerly bottled under the Culbertson label, have won many awards. Try them at the tasting room, open daily from 11 am to 4:30pm. Located at 32575 Rancho California Road; 909/699-0099 or 800/966- 0099; www.thornton.com.
VAN ROEKEL VINEYARDS & WINERY: Budd and Maurice Van Roekel, who operate the Maurice Carrie Winery next door, purchased this facility with the intention of producing more carefully developed premium wines. They feature award-winning fume blancs and syrahs, as well as gewurztraminer, mourvedre, and others, listings daily 10am to 5pm. Located at 34567 Rancho California Road; 909/699-6961.