We were delighted to join a full house at Rustico Ristorante & Pizzeria last Sunday night to celebrate their sixth anniversary with a wine dinner.  And what a dinner it was. Owners and representatives from 5 Temecula wineries were pouring tastes to compliment Chef Francesco Cusimano’s 4 course meal.  The appetizer was a choice between a crab stack with Wiens Cellars Solice white wine poured by Doug Wiens himself; or a grilled cheese short ribs sandwich and Masia De Yabar Tempranillo.  Mr. WINEormous and I made different selections and shared.

The Insalata Fantasia topped with fried honey goat cheese followed, refreshingly paired with Read more »

“We’re like what Napa was in the 50′s… what the Central Coast was in the 80′s”. That’s what Justin Mund told Ambassador Alejandro Orfila, proprietor of Orfila Vineyards and Winery. Mund is Orfila’s new winemaker. Leon Santoro passed away a few years ago and Don Reha took over as interim winemaker, stepping down earlier this year. Mund is a viticulturist at heart, and his goal is to promote the fruit and Read more »

CLANG-CLANG-CLANG WENT THE TROLLEY

I had seen the classic vehicle on the streets of Temecula for the past six months, usually in Old Town or parked at a winery on Rancho California or De Portola.  I thought it was a cute rental vehicle for private parties and put it on my “maybe someday” list.  That was until I met Amy Brewen, the vehicle’s owner and event planning mastermind behind Brewen’s Empire Trolley.

Amy is a woman on a mission to fill up the valley’s social calendar with exceptionally fun events and take the stress out of attending them.  Mr. WINEormous and I caught up with her this past week and hopped aboard for the premiere “underground night on the trolley.”  Passengers gathered at the first destination which on this tour was Read more »

Billy Strayhorn wrote the lyrics to Lush Life when he was 17 years old. It’s one of many songs inspired by Paris. It’s one of the most inspirational places I have ever visited. My wife Laura requested a visit to Paris for her 60th birthday so that’s what we did. We arrived at Charles de Gaulle airport on a Thursday mid morning. We gathered our luggage and weary travelers we, traveled by taxi to the Melia Royal Alma Boutique Hotel in the 8th Arrondissement. We dropped our bags at the hotel and Read more »

I really love living in the Temecula Valley. I cherish the small town feel, its proximity to San Diego and Los Angeles, and of course its world class wineries. I have a handful of favorites and Thornton Winery is among them. A while ago I sat down with the winemaker and tasted their latest releases, which I consider to be among the winery’s finest.

We began with the 2009 Viognier, made with grapes from Hart Vineyards and Summit Vineyard on De Portolo Road. The first thing you notice is peach and honeysuckle on the nose. This is a wine filled with delicate flavors, good acidity and a satisfying finish. I think it’s Read more »

I recently got an email from Vernon Kindred, one of the two winemakers at Fallbrook Winery. They had just bottled some of their 2008 vintages and he was anxious to have me try them. I stopped by yesterday, visited with Vernon and owner Ira Gourvitz and tasted four new wines. There are some tasty treats heading your way.

As you’ll notice in the photo to the left, these wines haven’t been labeled yet. They’re not likely Read more »

Two years ago this November, Wilmer Yabar opened Masía de Yabar on De Portola Road in Temecula. He and his partners Waleed Jouzy and Carlos Riva have now opened a tasting room in Old Town and last night they offered a sneak peek to members of the press and trade. Located on 5th Street between Delaney’s 100 Mile Market and Palumbo’s Ristoranté, the new tasting room is colorful, comfortable and a Read more »