Help me plan a trip to Temecula!

July 10, 2015 12:06 PM

Planning on taking my wife to Temecula in mid-October for our first anniversary. I know the gist of what's available (e.g. wine, hot air balloons), but are there any specific recommendations you have?

Things we'd potentially enjoy:

Some sort of big winery tour where we can get chauffeured around -- the more rustic the winery, the better!
Horseback riding
If there's such a thing as a horseback wine tour, that would be incredible. My brother rode a WINE TRAIN in Napa recently and I am still feeling pangs of jealousy.
Nice restaurants (especially Italian!)
Great views

Also looking for accommodation suggestions -- open to airBnBs and regular BnBs, but hotels are okay too.

posted by miltthetank to Travel & Transportation around Temecula, CA (5 answers total)

A friend just spent their anniversary at South Coast Winery Resort and Spa and said it was great.

If you like hiking, the Santa Rosa Plateau a few miles down the road in Murrieta is pretty.
posted by cecic at 12:23 PM on July 10, 2015 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Check out the Orfila vineyard. Escondido, not Temecula, but close enough. I love their port. Vines won't be doing much in October, but keep in mind that there will be lots of avocados (and groves) going then all over the place, not to mention certain kinds of citrus. Apples, too, which should really, really compel you to drive out to Julian for pie. It's a renowned regional tradition (and Julian's pretty).
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 1:27 PM on July 10, 2015 [1 favorite]

I stayed at south coast winery as well for a special occasion and very much enjoyed the stay. Also went hot air ballooning departing from Wilsons creek winery.
posted by Rapunzel1111 at 2:48 PM on July 10, 2015

Best answer: I actually like the wineries in Julian a lot more than the ones in Temecula, all of which (that I have visited) seem to be going for "giant Italian villa" rather than rustic. I unfortunately just broke my glass from my second-favorite in Temecula and am drawing a blank now (probably Miramonte). I was a member of the wine club at Wiens for several years, and I encourage you to hit their tasting room if you like weird chewy smokey chocolatey reds.

(Menghini and Blue Door are two of my Julian favorites, and Witch Creek which is right in the little downtown area.)

Temecula is well-geared to tours, from organized routes to just getting a limo/town car and driver to take you around - all the wineries have bus and limo parking, and it's a Thing for hen parties/birthdays/company events. I don't know if there's quite as many options in Julian, but there will be something. (And pie.) I doubt you can do a horse tour in Temecula, it's not really safe with the buses and stuff, plus I don't think technically you're supposed to ride under the influence. I'm sure there's places to ride, but not for winery purposes.
posted by Lyn Never at 3:45 PM on July 10, 2015

There are riding and wine tasting tours. It's lovely. You do a ride through vineyards first and then go to two wineries. I don't recall the name of the company I used, but one of the wineries I went to was Wilson Creek.
posted by karbonokapi at 6:11 PM on July 10, 2015