A Temecula Wine Tasting

A Temecula Wine Tasting – Episode #573

November 7, 2008

Gary Vaynerchuk tastes 3 wines from the emerging Temecula region of Southern California.

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“We’ve lived in Temecula since 1996 and moved to Temecula Wine Country …” by Kirk from Temecula
“Just came back from my second trip to Temecula today, so I dialed this…” by G
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2007 Keyways Sauvignon Blanc
2005 Hart Family Meritage
2005 Thorton Estate Syrah

145 Responses

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November 7, 2008

carilius maximus
TEMECULA WINES SUCK!!!!!!!
But Temecula is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!
Avocados thrive–grapes do as well—-THAT IS THE PROBLEM!!
Perhaps if they had an elevation of 3000 feet, then they might be able to be able to compete. One could make the argument that Temecula is like Paso Robles. It has elevation and it is 25 mile from the coast. That is great, but what Temecula does not have is the diurnal (temperature swing). ..and when they do have them, it is when the vines are dormant. You can’t get something from nothing —sorry.
November 7, 2008

Ray Barnes
Nothing from this show stood out as being remarkable or not.

QOTD – I have been to Temecula but not tasted any wine there.

CFL prediction – being a resident of metro Vancouver, it pains me to take the Saskatchewan Roughriders (Regina) over the visiting BC Lions by two touchdowns. The Lions, of which I am a season’s ticket holder, normally play under a dome. On Saturday they play in what is forecast to be in the high 20s dropping to 14F, excluding the usually stiff wind. I hope to be pleasantly dissapointed, but that seems unlikely.

NFL – The Patriots/Bills game should be very close. Pats by a field goal in overtime.
November 7, 2008

MattieJ
QOTD: Anybody can beat the Rams this year, I’m pretty sure Favre can dismantle their defense.

Haven’t had a Temecula wine, but I am drinking a Malbec. The Malbec caught my I because of a WLTV I recently watched. I talk about it on my blog @ http://mattiej.com/2008/11/07/penguins-vs-oilers-postgame/
November 7, 2008

purplejuicebruce
QOTD… Well the Cards beat the hell out of the Rams so I think the Jets won’t have any problem with them either. Lets say 31-10
The only one I have had is Callaway Cab. And Merlot 85 pt wines at best.
November 7, 2008

Susan
Gary & Chris, I am sorry to say that I have not had Temecula wines yet……..soon!!!!!
November 7, 2008

steve w
My prediction:
Dolphins 28, Seattle 7

I don’t know much about Temecula, but it’s all about Washington State.
November 7, 2008

Marc
QOTD: I live close to Temecula but rarely go there. The wines are overpriced and really not memorable.
November 7, 2008

John Farrin
QOTD 1: Why do you make me hurt you almost every week Gary? Rams 24 – Jets 21

QOTD 2:I wasn’t aware that wine was produced in Temecula. Apparently it isn’t exactly the QPR center of the wine world.
November 7, 2008

thecobalt9
qotd – my wife and i go down to temecula a few times a year since we live in LA and her folks live in murietta (right next door). when people talk about how Napa is disney – i tell them they need to get down to temecula – at least there’s AMAZING wine in napa – temecula is like carmel in that there’s not a lot of substance, and the price points of the wine are what they are solely to get wealthy tourists excited about wines simply because they are expensive. period.

that being said, i’ve had some wines from temecula that showed well – i think in 5-10 years it’ll be an area to be reckoned with, but there’s so much great central coast cali juice out there for significantly less that it’s hard to justify ever walking away with a bottle.
November 7, 2008

Jimmy T
Hope you feel better soon. I can still hear it in your voice some. Now, you get on us all the time for hatin’ on the 89 pointers but the way you talked about the Hart leading up to your 89 point score is part of the reason people stay away. Go back and listen to how you talked about right before you scored it.

Again though, great show!

QOTD: Steelers 28 Colts 13
November 7, 2008

manonthemoon
Meh show, more overpriced cali juice.

QOTD: Don’t really know anything about Temecula.

QOTD: Dirty phish 26 and the ocean gulls 13
November 7, 2008

ncwinetravels
gary,
nice show. interesting wine area..maybe one to watch in the future ? I was just in san diego on business, and the (so. cal.) climate seemed amazing for wine growing. cool mornings – warm afternoons and cool again in the eves. best regards, NCWT.
November 7, 2008

Herb
Gary, finding the wines you review on your show has been a challenge for me…apart from the Yellow Tail’s and such. So far my success rate has been about one in ten. And the ones I do find are usually the more expensive wines. But that’s okay because exploring is as much fun for me as smelling and tasting.

QOTD: Who cares about the NFL this week. YOUR Tampa Bay Bucs are on bye.
November 7, 2008

Murso
The reason to plant Sauv Blanc in California is Fred Brander, Emmolo, Fiddlehead Cellars, the likes of Mike Grgich, etc., etc., and of course my favorite, Crocker and Star.
November 7, 2008

AT
Didn’t know California had an east coast… – J/K, Great show!
November 7, 2008

Jordan
You will hate me for this but go Patriots! Now that my New England roots have been exposed, I will say that I have lived in southern California for about six years now when I came out there with the Navy. I am no longer in the navy but remain in California. Temecula wines are nice. It is scorching hot there in the summer and to be honest I don’t see it cool down all that much at night. Some other good wineries in the area are Palomar mountian winery, South coast winery, Ponte family winery, and Weins. Oh I just cheated to see another comment and Wilson Creek does a very nice Almound Champagne. Maybe you could come out here and do a show or two on the area. I would definatly come and see you. I am waiting on a non oak monster and affordable California wine show in the near future. Take care and I will be watching.
November 7, 2008

JudeMurphy
Football? Got nothing.
Nice show, anyway!
November 7, 2008

Andrew Lee
QOTD: Ohio State 94, Northwestern 2
November 7, 2008

Murso
Oh, and thanks for expanding our PALate. No, really. Sincerely. Love, Me.
November 7, 2008

Kevin K
QOTD: Cal wins!
November 7, 2008

Murso
In the early 90’s, went to a few Temecula wineries, as my then girlfriend had moved out to San dee aygo. Callaway (of golf club fame) was the big winery then, and their big product was the Calla-lees, sur-lee Chard, which was always a little better than good enough, and in the fighting varietals price range. I remember buying some reds at Hart, meaning that they were good enough for me to support their industry in my small, token way, but in general, the whites were better developed throughout the AVA. I’m confident that some 15 years later, many improvements have come about with vine age, experience, and industrial standard methods always evolving.

Though grapes were grown at missions since the 1820’s, no wineries were established until the 1960’s. I don’t think they’re gonna steal Napa’s thunder, nor is that their intention, so cut ‘em (and the rest of ‘us’ in those other ‘crappy or crazy’, whatever you said the other day) some deserved slack.
November 7, 2008

JonE
I have a hard time selling super high quality syrahs from Napa and Sonoma, much less Temecula.

QOTD1: I predict I won’t watch any football this weekend.
QOTD2: I associate Temecula with Wilson Creek Almond Champagne. Not a good prediction for its future.
November 7, 2008

ex-lurkdawg
Gary, is it me or were you talking faster than usual in this episode? Too much coffee?
qotd: I don’t follow football. I’ve never had a Temecula wine, so I hope to try some soon.
I will now mention (again) my request for a Madeira show that will include a vintage Madeira. I’ll give it a rest for a while after this comment, but don’t think I’ve forgotten or given up.
November 7, 2008

Ross
Temecula is definitely “up and coming”. It pays to be selective … and focus on quality.

Just like anywhere else there are some houses trying to capitalize on the name and market market market.

HOWEVER… there are a few good houses that are focusing on growing good grapes, making good juice, and fairly pricing their products.

Check out Stuart Cellars … their Zinfandel is outstanding and their Tatria Meritage is simply sublime.
November 7, 2008

Dr. Horowitz
You should find some wine from Death Valley, CA. No branding required there!

Is Mott sick from when you made him taste your secret pack wine while he was sick?