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.

Oh, and thanks for expanding our PALate. No, really. Sincerely. Love, Me.

QOTD: Ohio State 94, Northwestern 2

Football? Got nothing.
Nice show, anyway!

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.

Didn’t know California had an east coast… 😉 – J/K, Great show!

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.

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.

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.

Meh show, more overpriced cali juice.

QOTD: Don’t really know anything about Temecula.

QOTD: Dirty phish 26 and the ocean gulls 13

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

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.

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.

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

My prediction:
Dolphins 28, Seattle 7

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

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

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.

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/

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/

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.

Should check out Baily Vineyard & Winery
http://www.bailywinery.com/
Because of flight baggage limitations this is the one winery I brought a bottle back from. None of the others “did it” for me either….

Great Show. Was just up at Temecula a few weeks ago and ironically I’m taking my parents there tomorrow.

I really liked the wines at Callaway. My favorite was the 2005 Old Vine Zinfandel which had this really strong Raisin taste and smell.

Also the Southcoast Ruby Cuvee smells like sweaty berries…it literally smells like berries covered in human sweat. Tasted good…but what a weird smell.

QOTD= How can I get my feakin green wrist band???

I have been to Temecula on one of my many California trips and did not like any of the wines I had at the tastings and the prices were extremely high. You review of these 3 wines wasn’t much different from what I tasted.

The “south-east coast of California”?
Where is that – the Salton Sea?