Good wineries?
Aug 9, 2005 | 2:55 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newport Beach, CA, USA
Programs: AA Gold, Husband AA EXP (yeah!!) Hya Dia, Marriott
Posts: 1,885
You probably really need to drive. There's some south in Temecula, but I don't know if I'd call them 'good.' North, up to the Santa Inez valley (see "Sideways"), are some excellent wineries & a lovely drive.
Aug 9, 2005 | 2:57 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Southern California
Programs: The usual for over 7 Million paid miles flown to date... My first paid flight was on a DC3.
Posts: 1,518
Boy, this is open to a lot of opinion... IMHO, you gotta go North, at least to the Santa Ynez Valley just over the Santa Ynez Mountains. There lie some 18,000 acres of hilly terrain that's home to almost 50 wineries... With a winemaking history that stretches back to the late 18th Century, the region produces more than a million cases of wine a year, and is best known for its Chardonnays and Syrahs, as well as Sauvignon Blancs. A nice meandering couple hour's drive North of Santa Barbara will get you to the area. Of course, a full day's drive will deliver you to the Napa Valley and some really great wineries!
Aug 9, 2005 | 3:27 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Los Angeles, CA USA; Kerry Ireland
Programs: AA EXP 1mm; DL Plt; Marriott Gold; Hyatt something or other; Hilton Gold
Posts: 761
Here are a few off the top of my head in Santa Barbara area - Foxen (try the Pinots), Daniel Gehrs (I find the port interesting - tasting room is in Los Olivos) - Zaca Mesa has a larger winery and tasting room - known for Rhone style with always a few neat limited bottlings; it's always fun to swing by Fess Parker; Qupe and Au Bon Climat also very good -
Aug 12, 2005 | 10:46 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Winnetka, CA
Programs: UA Premier, SPG Gold, HP/US/whatever nothing :-)
Posts: 718
Originally Posted by kef0913
There are some (I can't speak to the quality myself, but they are fairly popular among some people I know) up in Agua Dulce, about 45 minutes north of LA along the 14. Might try that.
Yep, it's the Agua Dulce Winery. The wine isn't the best in the world but the people that work there are so nice and friendly and it has a great little shop. Not sure it's worth going if you are on a wine tasting tour, for that go to Santa Ynez or Temecula. But for locals you can go to the Agua Dulce Winery then do lunch at a local restaurant and then maybe check out the Vasquez Rocks park. But not in hot weather
Jun 13, 2006 | 5:49 pm
#9
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Bullhead, AZ out of McCarran (Las Vegas) International Airport
Programs: AA & SPG
Posts: 202
Originally Posted by brendamc
You probably really need to drive. There's some south in Temecula, but I don't know if I'd call them 'good.' North, up to the Santa Inez valley (see "Sideways"), are some excellent wineries & a lovely drive.
Jun 24, 2006 | 9:18 am
#11
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Orange, CA.
Programs: America Worst
Posts: 198
Temecula
Originally Posted by UNITED959
Wine quality isn't so great, but it's certainly a fun afternoon for us OCers. 
can be an adventure in itself. Temecula is OK for some reds.
Love the Port at Stuart Cellars. Also go to the top of the hill
Falkner. Always a nice breeze up there. Just stay away from the white wines
and you will enjoy. Temecula`s climate does not treat whites very well.
Sep 11, 2006 | 11:07 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Merrimac, MA
Programs: Hyatt Platinum, UMP, SPG
Posts: 265
Nice Hotel In/Near Temecula
I have some friends going to visit a friend in Temecula. They know next to nothing about the area and I'm wondering if my fellow flyer-talkers could recommend a nice hotel for them...
Sep 12, 2006 | 2:44 pm
#14
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Orange, CA.
Programs: America Worst
Posts: 198
Nice Temecula Inn
Originally Posted by turtlegirl
I have some friends going to visit a friend in Temecula. They know next to nothing about the area and I'm wondering if my fellow flyer-talkers could recommend a nice hotel for them...
This one is nice.
http://www.palacasino.com/home/
This is my favorite. Very Nice.
http://www.innatchuronwinery.com/
Budget:
Embassy suites is in the middle of town.
Last edited by bltserv; Sep 12, 2006 at 5:14 pm
