Temecula Valley
Temecula Valley is Southern California's premier wine destination — 41 wineries tucked between the Santa Rosa Plateau and Mount Palomar, cooled by Pacific breezes through the Rainbow Gap.
About Temecula Valley
Temecula Valley Wine Country sits at 1,500 feet elevation in southwest Riverside County, just 60 miles from San Diego and 90 miles from Los Angeles. The Rainbow Gap in the Santa Rosa Mountains funnels cool Pacific marine air into the valley each afternoon, moderating what would otherwise be desert temperatures.
Temecula's wine history began in 1968 when Brookside Winery planted the first commercial vines. By the 1990s, the region had established itself as a serious wine destination, known for Bordeaux varieties, Rhône blends, and Italian varietals that thrive in its warm, sun-drenched climate.
The De Portola Wine Trail and Rancho California Road host the majority of Temecula's wineries, many offering estate dining, concerts, hot air balloon rides, and luxury accommodations alongside their tasting rooms.