I was recently invited to experience a getaway in Temecula Valley wine country and was quite literally blown away by what this underrated destination has to offer. I am not a wine expert by any means, but I do love wine - drinking it and learning about it. I am also enamored by the inherent beauty of wine country in general. I have explored Northern California’s Napa and Sonoma, Southern California wine country in Santa Ynez, and Italy’s Tuscan countryside. They have a lot in common but each has its own special vibe, of course, and I have thoroughly enjoyed all of them. So, I fully expected to enjoy this trip, but what I experienced was even better than I had imagined.

Per journalistic integrity, we disclose that the writer of this piece was invited on this trip by the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association, with expenses covered. However, all opinions and thoughts expressed in this piece are their own.

It started with a stay at the gorgeous Ponte Vineyard Inn. Even now, I cannot think of a single negative thing to say about this place. From a hotel aspect, check-in was a breeze and came with a complimentary glass of the vineyard’s sparkling Moscato (surprisingly not sweet and so good that I ordered a glass that night and brought a bottle home).

Well, actually, it started with riding the train from Oxnard to Oceanside, which is a perfect way to relax, enjoy the scenery, and even get some work done - with no worries about traffic, gas, or directions. There are a ton of rideshares in the area, so it was seamless to get from there to my destination.

While you may prefer to have a car at your disposal, if you do travel the way I did, you can take a variety of day tours, like this one with Grapeline Wine Tours; the vehicles and drivers are great.

Back to the real start of my experience - Ponte Vineyard Inn. The rooms are spacious, comfortable, and beautiful - full of the Old World charm that marks every inch of the property.

My room had a balcony overlooking the vineyard and tasting room. I have written about Temecula Valley being an excellent “travel dupe” for a Southern European getaway, and this place alone proves that to be true. Also, whether you stay here or somewhere else, I highly recommend an al fresco breakfast or brunch at Ponte’s Bouquet restaurant.

My room also happened to be perfectly situated to enjoy a cup of tea in my robe while watching the sunrise and the hot air balloons that drift up over the valley nearly every morning. I was not brave enough to get into one myself, or to get up at 4 a.m. in order to do so… maybe next time.

Over the course of a few days, I was able to visit several of the area’s wineries. I learned a few things along the way that truly make this a more-than-worthy contender for an epic getaway - whether a planned vacation, a spontaneous weekend, or even a day trip. Temecula Valley remains something of a hidden gem here in SoCal despite being less than two hours from San Diego, Los Angeles, and Palm Desert. When you get here, the wine region is fairly compact, though it feels quite the opposite.

There are over 45 wineries along two main roads within approximately 32 square miles. And it is unique in that several properties have their own hotels, spas, special tours, and restaurants so you can taste, eat, drink, play, explore, be pampered, and sleep right among the vines. You can even take a workshop to make your own wine blend.

One of the tours we took was called Grapes & Gears at Danza del Sol winery, where we were greeted with a glass of sparkly (I love bubbles!) and set off, glass in hand, in a UTV through the vineyard. Along the way, we saw horseback riders among the vines, which is another unique way you can experience the area.

We learned about the region and the grapes, tasted wines standing next to the very vines they came from, and enjoyed an incredible wine-and-bite pairing experience in the barrel room with this breathtaking view. Incidentally, this is a spectacular wedding venue!

Temecula wineries are all about hospitality and creating an unforgettable guest experience. I can now say that from personal experience. The on-site restaurants, like this one at Miramonte, have amazingly talented chefs and superb menus, not to mention views that only make the meal taste even better. I found equally wonderful settings at Altisima Winery, Peltzer Winery, and Leoness Cellars.

It would not have been surprising at all if there was a particular dish or restaurant that I didn’t care for, but this is just not true. In fact, some of the simplest things on the menus are worth going back for - like the hand-cut French fries at Leoness. Is it weird that one of my top recommendations in elegant wine country is fries?

This picturesque winery restaurant makes five different kinds of fries - natural, bacon parmesan, cajun, truffle, and Gorgonzola - all prepared to order, cooked in a traditional multi-step method using duck fat, and served with three different dipping sauces. Trust me, they are addictive.

At Peltzer, we were treated to a dinner by Devilicious (they have a restaurant in Old Town Temecula and a food truck that can often be found here at the winery.) Again, the food was out of this world, but it was the seemingly simple dishes that stood out - the coconut cilantro rice and the ridiculously delicious Brussels sprouts.

It is not just the scenery that makes you feel like you have been whisked off to Europe. One of the other interesting things about Temecula Valley is that the Mediterranean climate makes it more suitable for grape varietals from Southern Spain, Portugal, France, and Italy than those classically grown by other wineries in Southern California, or the rest of the state, for that matter.

I discovered quite a few wines that I never knew about. I am usually partial to red or dry sparkling wines, but I also found versions of white, rosé, and sweet wines that surprised me in the best way. When you visit, you are sure to make a few awesome discoveries of your own.

Temecula Valley wine country is the very definition of an “up-and-coming” destination with a unique combination of European charm, creative and cooperative winemakers, and stories of passion projects and family journeys. This special place has all of the warm, romantic character of any wine country, together with stunning wines, but is somehow more intimate, down-to-earth, and friendly. It is somewhere I see myself returning again and again…

Have you had the pleasure of exploring Temecula Valley wine country in Southern California? We want to hear about your experience! Looking for a little bit of a different getaway? Be sure to check out more of our favorite Southern California towns.