Thornton Winery is no stranger to the landscape of the Temecula Wine Country. John Thornton started the winery in 1988, but he didn’t run the business until years later. Today it is very much a family operation, with son Steve running the day to day operations. I met with wine-maker Don Reha, who guided me [...]

When we launched WINEormous, I honestly had no idea just how many stories were right in our back yard. Last Friday, after a stop at The Wine Company in Temecula, Laura and I joined our friends for dinner at Gourmet Italia in Temecula. It had been a while since I had been there, and I [...]

I’ve paid several visits to Briar Rose Winery and have enjoyed their wine on many occasions, but it wasn’t until I spent some time with co-owner Dorian Linkogle that I discovered what a fascinating history this unique winery has. In the 1980s, Dorian and her husband Les lived in Orange County. They were looking for [...]
">Orfila Vineyards and Winery in EscondidoI only recently heard of Orfila Vineyards and Winery in Escondido, but they have a rich history. In 1973, the San Pasqual Winery started growing grapes and producing wine there. The winery was later purchased by Thomas Yaeger Winery. In 1994, Alejandro Orfila bought the winery, retaining Yaeger’s winemaker Leon Santoro who had been their [...]
">Fallbrook Winery – Off The Beaten Path
I paid a visit to Fallbrook Winery in Fallbrook. This charming winery is located about twenty minutes south of the Temecula Wine Country. Upon my arrival I was introduced to owner Ira Gourvitz, who moved to Fallbrook from Sonoma in the ‘90s. Ira took his wine-making skills with him and began producing his first Fallbrook [...]
">Winemaker Dinner – Lilly LoCascio of Tasca d’Almerita
Alessio and Francesca Di Sabatino have been bringing in some incredible winemakers to Francesca’s lately. It’s been their good fortune that Wine Spectator has been holding their 2009 Grand Tour, bringing more than 200 of the world’s finest winemakers on a three city tour. Lilly LoCascio from Tasca d’Almerita was the special guest last night [...]
">Leaving Foote Prints In Temecula
There really aren’t that many wineries in the Temecula Valley (though the number is growing) so it’s always a treat for me to visit a winery here I haven’t been to before. I called Deane Foote a few days ago and he invited me to come visit his small winery. When I arrived, he and [...]