A New Breeze Blows Over Temecula

Along with wine tasting, visitors to this valley can now eat and sleep amid the vineyards in southwestern Riverside County.

Cafe Champagne, a bistro that has received favorable reviews, and the hilltop hideaway called Loma Vista Bed and Breakfast recently joined the 11 wineries that carry the Temecula name.

Newest is the John Culbertson Winery, which produces sparkling wines by the traditional French methode Champenoise. It’s also the location of Cafe Champagne, which is run by John’s wife, Martha.

Martha first operated an eatery in Fallbrook, where the couple began making sparkling wines at their avocado ranch.

After the release of their first bubbly in 1983, the demand for Culbertson champagnes surpassed production, so they decided to relocate to the Temecula Valley.

Includes Restaurant

John Culbertson Winery reopened here last year with an impressive, multimillion-dollar complex that includes the first restaurant in the area.

You can watch executive chef Dennis Barry and his staff at work in the open kitchen. The menu varies from shrimp salad sandwiches to grilled Colorado lamb chops.

Cafe Champagne is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. For reservations, which are recommended, call (714) 699-0088.

Guests can dine indoors or out on the lattice- and umbrella-shaded patio with a view of the vineyards. Another patio is adjacent to the winery’s tasting room, where visitors can buy Culbertson champagnes by the glass or the bottle.

Ribbons and medals are displayed for awards received by six varieties now produced: Natural, Brut, Brut Rose, Blanc de Noir, Cuvee de Frontignan and Cuvee Rouge. (Non-sparkling wines from other Temecula wineries can be ordered with meals at the cafe.)

Free Weekend Tours

Every Saturday and Sunday there are free winery tours at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. After each tour there are special tastings of three champagnes with hors d’oeuvres, served only to tour participants, for $5 per person.

On weekdays, guests can view winery operation through observation windows in the gift shop. This time of year the winery is particularly busy because of its annual grape harvest, which is earlier for champagnes than for other wines.

The winery also conducts cooking and holiday hosting classes. For more information, call (714) 699-0099.

John Culbertson Winery is at the start of Temecula Valley’s wine trail, most of which is along Rancho California Road.

To get there from Los Angeles, drive east on California 60 (Pomona Freeway) to Interstate 215 south. Soon after the freeway merges with Interstate 15, exit east on Rancho California Road.

Many Wineries

The Temecula/Rancho California area is burgeoning with development, and you’ll pass construction of houses and shopping centers. After about four miles, you enter an agricultural preserve with rows of grape vines and citrus trees.

Wineries also appear along the roadsides, starting on the left with the hillside barn of Hart Winery. To the right are the fountains and stone block facade of Culbertson’s winery. And almost opposite is Callaway Vineyards and Winery, Temecula’s largest and best-known vintner.

Down the road you’ll find five more of the valley’s wine makers: Piconi, Mount Palomar, Cilurzo, Britton and Maurice Carrie. All welcome visitors.

Just past Callaway, look on the left for the mailbox and hillside sign that identifies Loma Vista, a new bed and breakfast. Former Angelenos Betty and Dick Ryan opened their six-room B&B; on a hilltop last year.

All rooms are on the second floor. Four have balconies that survey vineyards and orchards.

The valley heats up in summer, but by mid-afternoon refreshing breezes sweep in from the ocean, which is only 17 miles away. Nightly room rates are $75/$95; children and pets not permitted. Phone (714) 676-7047 for reservations.

If Loma Vista is booked, Temecula Creek Inn, an 84-room resort that’s known for its golf course and fine restaurant, is an alternative. In addition to an 18-hole golf course, the inn has two tennis courts and a swimming pool. A new nine-hole golf course, designed by Ted Robinson, is under construction. Rooms are $80/$95.

Golf costs $25 on weekends, $19 weekdays; carts are $18. Ask about the midweek golf packages. For reservations, call (714) 676-5631. Sunday brunch is available from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Temecula Creek Inn is on Rainbow Canyon Road, a short jog off Pala Road from California 79 south. It intersects Interstate 15 just beyond the Rancho California Road interchange.

Round trip from Los Angeles to Temecula is 190 miles.