 |
| Callaway vineyards |
The first wineries started popping up ahead of us right about the same time I began to wonder if we were ever actually going to arrive anywhere that day. We had left Long Beach more than two hours earlier. We had headed east to Corona before turning south on the 15. We were surrounded by desolate hills and a clear, blue sky.
Temecula is in Riverside County, about 20 miles inland so one doesn't have the ocean as a reference point. The air is dry and the altitude is relatively high (1500 ft) creating a rich atmosphere for growing grapes.
I was spending the day with some friends who were new to wine tasting, but who loved road trips. My friend John had discovered a Callaway sweet wine from another friend. While he and his wife preferred the sweet, my tastes lean more towards dry. Callaway Cabs are smooth and pleasant. The Dolcettos are dark and spicy. The Zinfandels are light-bodied with hints of strawberries and flowers.
 |
| Wine fermentation vats |
Callaway wines can only be purchased at the winery or
online. Their good reds aren't inexpensive, but joining their wine club does provide a decent discount.
The Temecula wine region is filled with a number of popular destinations for western winos like myself. The Rancho California Road alone is home to
Hart,
Mount Palomar,
Bel Vino and many others. The region falls deep in the shadow of the more popular Napa Valley and Central Coast regions of the state, but Temecula is a wonderful excursion point for anyone who loves beautiful scenery, good food, and discovering new wine.
 |
| Aging in oak barrels |
 |
| John and his wife and a successful haul |
No comments:
Post a Comment