The Maturing of Temecula Valley Wines

While grapes have been grown and wineries producing since the early ‘70’s in Temecula Valley, much has changed of late. The Valley itself is blessed with an ideal climate for producing high quality wine grapes: hot, sunny days; cool evenings; long growing season; and limited rainfall during the growing season. The addition of a great draining, decomposed granite soil led numerous entrepreneurs to Temecula with wine in mind. Names like Callaway led the pack with a belief and drive to “put Temecula on the map”. The goal in the early ‘70’s was to produce a commercial acceptable product and increase the awareness of this new California appellation. They succeeded and Callaway Winery became known as “The” Temecula winery.

During the next 30 years, wine growers exploded in the Valley determined to grow whatever Callaway and other new wineries were seeking. This was largely Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon since the market for these wines in the United States was excellent. However, for Callaway and others to succeed in selling their wines, the cost of production needed to be very low so that the wholesale and retail wine prices could compete effectively. Once again the Valley was successful in that goal but with it came a new problem: the perception of the wine press that Temecula wines were not of high quality. These “wine experts” cited reasons such as “it is too hot in Temecula to grow quality grapes” (even though the climate in degree days is identical to Paso Robles); that the wine growers did not understand enough about viticulture (the farming of wine grapes) to use correct methods; and that the winemakers were too inexperienced in the science of enology (the art of making wine) to be able to make an excellent grape into a excellent wine. None of these were true.

Beginning in the 2000’s the winegrowers and winemakers saw the influx of many new entrepreneurs into the Valley with the goal of making world class wines. Wineries such as Falkner, Stuart Cellars, Hart, South Coast, and Wilson Creek invested more money into wine production with a focus on quality over quantity. In short order other wineries such as Thornton, Baily, Leonesse, Maurice Carrie, Palumbo, and Keyways added to the wineries that were consistently winning Gold and Silver medals at numerous wine competitions conducted in California. One of the wineries, South Coast, even won the coveted “Golden Bear” award at the 2008 California State Fair Competition being recognized as the Best Winery in the State!

So, Temecula Valley wines have some a long way in a short period of time. Recent plantings of varietals such as Sangiovese, Syrah, Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Riesling, and Merlot have shown the region to be able to produce wines of great distinction. As an example, Falkner Winery produces a Sauvignon Blanc that 2 years in a row has won Double Gold at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition over all the Napa Valley, Sonoma, and Central Coast entries. Their Sangiovese based wine is called “Amante” and is a “Super Tuscan Style” blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc that since 2001 has won gold medals in wine competitions year after year and been recognized by wine writers as “one of their favor wines of the year”. So for those that still believe that Temecula Valley does not produce high quality wines, stop living in the past and start trying some of the great new wines from this fabulous California region.