Secret Winery Getaway in the San Diego / LA Area

It wasn't that long ago that the only place I knew to go for wine tasting or visiting a winery was all north of LA. Now with the addition of a few new wineries, Temecula is fast becoming a great place to go. It is located about 60 miles north of San Diego and 90 miles southeast of LA. Since it is inland, you can usually count on the weather being a lot warmer than the coastal spots. In the summer, temperatures can reach 100. Although the prettiest time to attend are while the vines are in full growth, other times will still be fun and relaxing.

Temecula has a bunch of wineries, most of which are worth attending. But if you are going to stay in Temecula, there really is only one place to stay; Southcoast Winery. This winery opened just a few years ago and has become my favorite winery without a doubt. Not just a winery, the hotel, restaurant, and spa all make this a destination spot instead of a day trip. The rooms are as luxurious as you are going to get with nice king size beds, an oversize tub, as well as complimentary bottle of wine with your stay. Each of the rooms has a little patio where you can sit and enjoy your morning coffee overlooking the vineyards. The spa is full service and nice pool area all make Southcoast the only choice when visiting Temecula. Southcoast's popularity has increased tremendously as noticed by the room rates. Less than two years ago, you could book a room for $149 on the weekend, now the weekends are double that. Don't let it scare you away though as there is no where nicer in Temecula.

If the price of Southcoast Winery is too steep for you, the next best choice would be the Temecula Creek Inn. This is about 5 miles away from the wineries but most of the rooms overlook the golf course which is a nice touch. There are plenty of other hotels in the area for inexpensive stays like Motel 6, Holiday Inn express, etc. But I do stress, if you can afford the Southcoast, do it. You might save some money because you won't feel the need to leave the room.

The rest of the area offers cute wineries offering pretty inexpensive tastings ranging from $5-$8 depending on the winery. My favorite restaurant is actually next door at the Ponte Winery where the restaurant is out on the back patio. The service is good and the lunch menu was well worth it. Obviously, a nice bottle of wine to go with the meal is a must.

If you are there for multiple days, there is plenty else to do. You can visit the old downtown Temecula which is a quaint strip of stores about 5 miles from Southcoast Winery. The stores all maintain their early 20th century look and feel. This is not an all day experience, but you can definitely spend a couple hours moving in and out of the stores and having lunch at one of the restaurants.

Other options include golf which there are a few golf courses within 10 miles of the wineries including Redhawk Golf Club, Temecula Creek Inn, and the new Journey Golf Club at Pechanga resort. The Journey is touted as the nicest (and most expensive). It just opened in mid 2008, so I have not been able to play. But from what I hear, it is the nicest course in Temecula. As for the other courses, Redhawk would be the second choice as it has held some professional qualifying events. It is a target style golf course that will test your ability to hit it straight. The Temecula Creek Inn is the fairest course of the bunch with some room to miss. There are 27 holes so you can play a couple rounds there.

For the adventurous, there is hot air balloons. This is not really up my alley, but if that sounds fun, it's an option. There is also the Pechanga Indian Casino which has a hotel, golf course (mentioned above), restaurants, spa, etc. This is about 10 miles from the wineries but for the younger crowd looking for late night action, this is the place. Of course, there is the gambling, but the clubs are some of the most popular not just in Temecula, but San Diego County. On the weekends, the club and casino are usually packed. It is definitely a fun atmosphere if you are up to the loud music and the under 30 crowd.

Temecula has definitely put itself on the map in the last 5 years. If you live in Southern California and have not been, it is definitely worth the trip. And if you are on vacation in Southern California, you should definitely book a night or 2 in Temecula. I don't think you could make a whole week vacation out of it, but a nice romantic weekend is really the forte of this area. Even if you believe your not a wine drinker, by the time your done tasting all the wines, you'll be sure to find one you like and want to take home with you.