Temecula Valley

Temecula Valley is like that quiet neighbor kid from down the block who suddenly came back from college looking fine. The quaint weekend getaway location has always been nestled a bit more inland between Los Angeles and San Diego and every Angeleno has heard of it but have they been there? Most likely not… but they should because it’s poppin’ off in that “responsible adult” type of way.

Old Town Temecula

This place is just one main street of shops, restaurants, and bars, and don’t worry about running out of things to do because everything there is amazing, delicious, and entertaining. You don’t really go bar hopping here, you just go menu tasting. Apparently, the chefs all know each other and when one has a new dish or is trying a new ingredient, others take it as a friendly challenge to step up their game. So this meant that when I ordered a dish from the menu, it was so mouth-wateringly delicious, I thought it was a fluke and ordered something completely different that also turned out equally delectable. I was actively trying to find something that I didn’t like and I lost that game but my taste buds and belly won. You can read about my tasting journey here.

Afterward, I strolled through the night version of Old Town which varies from the day version. At night, there are livelier crowds, busy restaurant bars, and music coming from all around. However, it never felt rowdy, or unsafe. It’s wine country so lots of drinking is taking place but it seemed everyone was peacefully happy with each other, rather than looking for a night to blackout. It’s like if Las Vegas grew up and learned how to handle their alcohol.

Wineries

You can down wine until the horses come home. You can also ride horses while wine tasting. Basically, this place is a wine mecca for SoCal. The first wineries popped up about 20 years ago and now the area boasts of award-winning bottles with a wide variety of options. However, I am not a wine connoisseur and this trip was not about wine. This is about all the other things you can do while drinking wine.

Fazeli Cellars 

This winery has been operating for over a decade by a gentle and proud Persian man and his family. Yes, their wine is delectable, but the hearty and rich Persian meals they serve rival Raffi’s in Glendale. (IYKYK) A trip to this winery won’t be short and sweet, it’ll be long and luxurious. This is a winery, wedding venue, and restaurant so with your dinner, expect a show as the sommeliers detail the history of each bottle’s ingredients. It should also be noted they have a line of wines called “Embrace the Chaos” which I felt was on par with what we all went through this year. Let them crack open a bottle as you reflect on the dumpster fire that was in 2020.

Europa Village

If you were hoping for a European vacation but have a tight budget, Europa Village is your spot. They have three separate Spanish, French and Italian wineries that remind me of tiny villages where you can walk through the vineyards to the tasting rooms and markets/restaurants. The idea was to have the best of Spain, France, and Italy all within walking distance of each other. So spend the morning in Italy, then lunch on the France side then contemplate a dinner of paella on the Spanish side of the property. The entire property is still being expanded and eventually, guests will be able to stay at their European-inspired villas. For now, only two of the wineries are fully operational, but I say still worth the trip.

Active Wine Tours

Saddle Up Wine Tours

I bet you didn’t believe me, but yes you can ride a horse while wine touring. You can choose between one, two, or three winery stops all the while making friends with your trail buddy. The horses are all very mellow but they also provide the option of a helmet. I’d always opt for the helmet.

Sidecar Winery Tours

If you want to experience the cool, fall wind in your hair after a round of wine tasting, riding in a sidecar will hit the spot. You can choose how many wineries to visit and you get to be chauffeured in these pretty awesome custom sidecars that fit two people plus your driver. This was my favorite thing on the entire trip because there was nothing to worry about. Our drivers wrangled us up at the wineries, got us going, gave us history lessons of the area, and were simply fun people to be around.

More Drinks Other Than Wine

1882 Cantina

This restaurant is actually in the Pechanga Casino with a Mexican-themed menu. Out of everything, I was a fan of the drinks. Everything from the mangoneada with the tajin and chamoy rim to the tamarindo agua fresca. The crowning jewel is that the bar carries 18 types of mezcal and 34 types of tequila. Salud!

Be Good

This place looks like a typical sports bar because of all the TVs but it feels more upscale and once to get to know the atmosphere you realize it’s actually an entire experience. On certain nights you can walk into a pop-up piano bar and on others, animal handlers are walking around allowing patrons to pet exotic lizards. On the night I went, it looked like a regular bar, but the plates are each delicious and artfully served. (This wasn’t a special night, it’s just the norm) I felt like I was invited to an old college buddy’s place; while expecting chicken wings and beers, I got fresh shrimp ceviche and a smoked old fashioned which was basil Hayden’s bourbon smoked with cherry wood, agave, angostura bitters, and an orange peel. All their drinks looked like they were painstakingly arranged by a mixologist, some were almost too pretty to drink. If you have a hard time choosing a drink, no fear as they are known for their flights of margaritas, micheladas, and old-fashioned drinks.

Devilicious

Bacon-wrapped mac & cheese balls. That’s it. That was what they fed me that won me over. That is just a sample of the type of terribly delicious food they serve here. There is no such thing as self-control when you see things like Butter Poached Lobster Grilled Cheese, a Pork Belly Melt, or five different options of fries. Think it can’t get any better? This is also home to a speakeasy.

Apparition Room

This speakeasy is true to the theme with a hidden door, walls of alcohol, and jazz playing when you walk into the relatively small back room. It’s not advertised at all so most people only hear about it through word of mouth. I don’t want to say more or I’ll ruin the fun. You do need a reservation to get in and the only way to get one is by texting this secret number (951) 541-6332.

Breweries

Refuge Brewery and Stone Church Brewery

There is also a thriving brewery scene here that’s pretty laid back. The taprooms do close early at 9 pm so check ahead if you plan to stop by for a nightcap. After making a few stops, I noticed hardly any spots carried any sours and I learned it’s because the breweries mainly cater to locals who aren’t big fans, and apparently sours are an “L.A. thing.” So if you visit, be prepared to drink like a local with lots of IPAs on tap.

Non-drinking Activities

Temecula Creek Golf Club

I guess one could drink at the country club, but instead, I took golf lessons. I’ve never been golfing and I did want to learn but was pretty intimidated honestly. After talking to my instructor, I felt confident about how to swing, knew the basic course etiquette, and was able to improve enough to beat my brother at the driving range. He had tagged along for the trip and my favorite memories of us will always be of him slicing at the air as I kept landing on the green. That’s golf speak for being overall better and kicking his ass. The country club lowered their price for a round of golf to make it more accessible. They also offer private lessons for $100. I say it was totally worth it and now I’m a golf fan.

Temecula Lavender Co.

This place is a little shop in Old Town Temecula and you have to walk, at the bare minimum, just to smell everything. Lavender is calming, so buying something here to enjoy as you battle the traffic back to LA is almost mandatory. If you call ahead, you can make reservations to visit the lavender fields which make for epic Instagram photos.

Old Town Spice and Tea Merchant

If you like teas, there’s a whole wall of them here. If you like spices, there is another whole wall of that here. If you like fresh brewed iced Temecula berry tea, definitely come here. This is a pretty famous spice shop and local chefs actually sell their spice recipes here. All you have to do is ask the lovely shopkeepers which chef is behind which blend to bring a bit of that Temecula cuisine home.

E.A.T. Marketplace

The magical, marvelous woman who runs E.A.T. used to work in the film industry and after doing a documentary on the whole organic farm-to-table movement before that became a term everyone flippantly used. She was so enamored she jumped ship and opened the marketplace and cafe. She works closely to vet every produce provider and artist who supplies items. The care and attention to every carefully stocked item shows.

The cafe is another experience in itself. Have you ever walked through a garden and resisted picking every brightly colored thing in sight? That’s how your plate looks when it’s delivered to your table. The edible flowers come from local farmers, everything is essentially clean, locally sourced, and organic. They also have award-winning coffee to die for and the pastries are the bomb. They served me the best gluten-free donuts I’ve ever tried with flavors ranging from your maple bacon to mixed berries. Not a fan of donuts? Their blueberry yogurt muffin is just as yummy. E.A.T. changes out their menu seasonally so nothing ever grows old. Come here to nourish your body as well as feed your soul with good people and a delectable menu.

Temecula Valley is the place to go try, see, and do! The locations and activities are all very conveniently contained so you avoid all the headaches of traffic, parking, and planning. Simply visit to eat, drink and be merry!