Did you know Temecula is the only city in California to retain its original Indian name? The name comes from the Luiseno Indian word “Temecunga” and the Spanish interpreted and spelled the word as “Temecula” translated to mean “Where the sun breaks through the mist”. Temecula Valley is a wine-making country with nearly 50 local wineries and approximately 30 grape varieties. It’s located in the center of Southern California just 60 minutes from Orange County, San Diego, Palm Springs; and 90 minutes from Los Angeles, which makes it a popular day trip or weekend getaway. There are so many fun things to do with the evolving culinary scene, outdoor recreation, and entertainment in Temecula Valley. My husband and I enjoyed a Temecula weekend getaway and it was a wonderful place to relax and recharge.
Day 1
We arrived in Temecula Valley around noon to have lunch at Toast Temecula. This is a brunch spot specializing in made-from-scratch craft food, coffees & teas, craft beer, and unique cocktails. We ordered the mango shrimp ceviche, Korean short ribs, and the toasted coconut lattes. The food was delicious and the service was outstanding. This place is popular and can get very crowded on the weekends. I highly recommend making a reservation to avoid the long wait.
Temecula Sidecar Tours
After lunch, we headed to Akash Winery for a unique wine-tasting experience with Sidecar Tours. It is the world’s first and only tandem motorcycle sidecar. We got to sample a variety of different wines from Bella Vista Winery, Somerset Winery, and Akash Winery and learned about the wine-making process and how to choose the right wine for our meal.
We then headed to the Carter Estate Winery and Resort to check in. Upon check-in, we received a door hanger with a list of items to select for a complimentary continental breakfast for two. Once completed, the staff member collects it and delivers breakfast to the room in the morning. The resort features 60 beautifully designed private bungalows and suites, a luxurious swimming pool with cabanas, a poolside restaurant, a working winery, a private tasting room, and in-room spa services. How cool it was to sip our coffee on the private patio in the morning with the hot air balloons flying right over the grapevines! We really enjoyed our wonderful stay here.
After exploring the vineyard, we took a complimentary shuttle to the sister winery resort for dinner. The Vineyard Rose Restaurant serves contemporary California cuisine sourced from the season’s freshest, local-grown ingredients. The restaurant is located across the street at sister property, South Coast Winery Resort & Spa. The dining room was inspired by Tuscan with a relaxing wine bar and terrace.
Day 2
A Grape Escape Balloon Adventure
The next morning, we arrived at A Grape Escape Balloon Adventure at 6:15 AM, which was 15 minutes before the flight. A Grape Escape Balloon Adventure is a family-owned business operated since 1991 and it offers daily sunrise flights exclusively over the Temecula Valley wine country. The balloon rides include a 60-75 minute flight, private label champagne, orange juice, and a souvenir certificate of flight. Since the hot air balloon moves slowly through the air, many passengers who are afraid of heights including myself thought the flight was not scary at all. The average flight altitude for a hot air balloon is from tree top level to 3,000 feet and the flight plan depends upon wind velocity and direction.
Ponte Vineyard Inn
For the remainder of the day, we visited a couple more vineyards and relaxed at our hotel. Our first stop was at Ponte Vineyard Inn. This 90-room boutique hotel offers a slice of Italy in one of California’s most relaxed wine regions, with verdant grounds, a restaurant, and a tasting room. I would love to stay here next time when I go back to Temecula.
Fazeli Cellars Winery
Fazeli Cellars offers 20 varieties of boutique wines from Cabernet Sauvignon to Sauvignon Blanc, Petite Sirah to Mourvedre, and Viognier to Chardonnay, and its architecture is stunning.
Overall, we had a wonderful weekend in Temecula Valley. It would have been even better if we got to see the alpacas at the Alpaca Hacienda Alpacas. Unfortunately, the place was closed during my stay in Temecula. Alpacas might just be the cutest animals alive, and luckily you don’t have to go all the way to Peru to get up close and personal with some of them. This means I will have to plan another Temecula weekend getaway soon!
Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country is a perfect year-round vacation destination pouring award-winning wines as well as craft beers and spirits. Have you been to Temecula before? If not, you are now ready to plan your Temecula weekend getaway!
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Wow. Its very interesting short trip. Im going to take my son their next month.