Now Is the Time for Fruit of Vine

North County and Temecula winery owners, scrambling to beat the recent sweltering heat, are harvesting their grapes earlier than usual this year so they don’t ripen too quickly and become unusable for winemaking. Fermented grape fanciers accustomed to trekking to wineries in mid-to-late-September will have to come early to catch the harvesting and crushing activities that are annual traditions.

Tastings and tours remain on regular schedules despite the heat. Here is a list of wineries and any harvest activities being staged in North County and Temecula Valley during the next two months.

BAILY

The husband and wife team of Phil and Carol Baily run this Temecula winery, which primarily produces white and blush wines. By early September, however, a couple of red wines also will be available for free tasting.

The Baily’s new tasting room offers seven wines and is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. The winery itself is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. weekends only.

The Bailys will host a harvest dinner Sept. 19, featuring a six-course meal and a different wine with each course. Live classical guitar music will accompany the dinner. Tickets are $50 a person, plus tax, and may be purchased by calling the winery.

Tasting room at 33833 Rancho California Road, Temecula. Winery at 36150 Pauba Road, Temecula. 714-676-WINE

BERNARDO WINERY

San Diego County’s oldest winery is also one of its smallest, producing only 2,000 cases of wine annually. The public is not invited to view harvesting or crushing because they take place before the winery opens. However, the winery’s tasting room is open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, and people can sample dinner wines--red and white--fruit wines and dessert wines. Tastings are free.

13330 Paseo del Verano Norte, Rancho Bernardo. 487-1866 CALLAWAY

Callaway’s crush began earlier this month, but will be in full swing by Sept. 2 and should end by Sept. 20, depending on the heat and humidity, a winery spokeswoman said. Crush does not occur every day and it is usually over by 11 a.m., so visitors are encouraged to call the winery first and to arrive early to catch a glimpse of the harvest process.

During harvest, between 100 and 160 pickers working in teams of 14 or 18 are in the vineyards at any given time.

Callaway Vineyard & Winery, owned by liquor giant Hiram Walker & Sons, produces 190,000 cases annually. In business 18 years, Callaway currently grows nine varietals, and this year introduced its newest wine, a Cabernet Sauvignon in a bordeaux-style with a black cherry and currant flavor.

Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Muscat Canelli, Pinot Gris, Mourvedre and Viognier are among the wines available for tasting. Tastings are $2 per person and include four tastes and a souvenir glass.

Tasting and winery hours are 11 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. weekends. Regular winery tours are at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. weekdays, and every hour on the hour from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

32720 Rancho California Road, Temecula. 714-676-4001

CILURZO

Breaking tradition, Vince and Audrey Cilurzo will not throw one of their well-known harvest festivals this season, but visitors are still welcome to watch the harvest, which is expected to last through the first two weeks of September. Persons interested in viewing the crush should call first to see if the activity is taking place that day.

Audrey Cilurzo said people interested in picking grapes can call the winery and have their name put on a volunteers’ list. Cilurzo tries to work everybody in, and those who do volunteer, are invited to a swim party and barbecue at the end of the day.

The Cilurzo’s started their first vineyard in 1968 and opened their winery in 1978. Annually, they produce 10,000 cases of 11 different wines, including Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Merlot and Vincheno, a light red, fruity blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Chenin Blanc. All are available for tasting.

Wine tasting is conducted from 9:30 a.m.-4:45 p.m. daily. Cost is $1 to taste all the wines, but that price is refunded if you purchase a bottle of wine. Free winery/vineyard tours are conducted, and a picnic area overlooking a lake is available to visitors.

41220 Calle Contento, Temecula. 1-800-783-5250

CULBERTSON

Twenty-five tons of grapes were pressed earlier this month, making it the winery’s first crush on their own turf. As in years past, Culbertson still buys grapes from other wineries in the region, but now has the capability of doing its own crushing.

Specializing in sparkling wines, Culbertson offers four tastings (about 2 glasses) for $6 per person, including winemaker’s notes. Tastings are conducted every hour on the hour from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Free winery tours are also available.

Culbertson will host its fourth annual jazz concert series beginning with the Rippingtons on Sept. 13; David Benoit on Sept. 20; Dave Koz on Sept. 27, and Bobby Caldwell on Oct. 11. Tickets are $30 per person for festival-style seating, or $55 per person for reserved seating on the patio, which includes a three-course gourmet supper and wine.

Tickets are available through TicketMaster outlets or by calling the winery’s gift shop at 714-699-3021.

32575 Rancho California Road, Temecula. 714-699-0099.

DEER PARK

The annual crush was completed earlier this month, so it’s business as usual at Deer Park. A harvest festival has not been planned for this season.

Memorabilia from the 1950s and 1960s can be found in the winery’s museum, which is open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. Admission is $4 for adults, $2 for senior citizens, children under 12 free. The winery’s store is open until 5 p.m. daily.

29013 Champagne Blvd., Escondido. 749-1666

FERRARA’S

Those who take self-guided tours through this winery may be able to see some of the crushing process through the early part of September. The crush does not occur every day. Visitors should call first for a schedule.

The winery is open for tours from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. weekends. Free tastings of the 30 varieties of wine produced at Ferrara’s are also offered during these hours.

1120 W. 15th Ave., Escondido. 745-7632

FILSINGER

Gewurztraminer. Say that three times fast and quench the thirst you’ve worked up by sipping the spicy German white wine that is the specialty of this winery. For the more traditional, there are nine other wines to choose from, including a Chardonnay, Fume and a Blanc de Blanc Champagne.

Tours of the winery are free and self-guided. Free guided tours are provided by appointment. Tastings are held from 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Cost for five tastes is $1, which is refunded with a wine purchase.

39050 De Portola Road, Temecula. 714-676-4594

HART

Although the winery is small--making 5,000 cases of wine a year--visitors are encouraged to wander around and partake in the $2 tastings, which average six tastes per person and include a glass with the winery’s logo.

Hart is best known for its red wines, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Six wines in all are made here.

41300 Avenida Biona, Temecula. 714-676-6300

MAURICE CARRIE

With the crush nearing its end, people are encouraged to call the winery first to see if they can still catch the seasonal event. The winery is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily and offers free tastings.

Celebrating the harvest season, the winery will host several events.

Music will fill the air this Sunday. The Sweet Adeline singing competition with barbershop quartet groups from San Diego, Orange and Riverside counties, will be held from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $10 per person and include a souvenir wine glass.

“Big Band Sounds,” live music from the Glenn Miller era, will be performed from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Sunday in the winery’s gazebo. Tickets are $5 and include a souvenir wine glass.

Barn dances are held the first Saturday of each month at the winery, with the next event Sept. 5. A disc jockey spins country-Western tunes from 6:30-10 p.m., with the first half hour devoted to country dance lessons. Cost is $5.

A harvest dinner, with winery owners Bud and Maurice Van Roekel acting as hosts and chefs, will be held Oct. 24. Tickets are $50 per person for the six-course gourmet meal accompanied by the latest vintages. The resident winemaker and assistant winemaker will attend and talk about the marriage between wine and food.

34225 Rancho California Road, Temecula. 714-676-1711

MENGHINI

The winery’s annual music and art festival Sept. 26-27 kicks off its crush and Julian’s Apple Days, said owner Toni Menghini. The free festival, which features the works of more than 40 local artists displayed throughout the Menghini’s orchards and live folk and bluegrass performances, will be held from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. both days.

The family winery produces about 4,000 cases of wine each year from an old converted apple packing shed, and specializes in premium varietals like Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. Free tastings are offered during winery hours, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Fridays-Mondays. In October, the winery stays open until 5 p.m.

1150 Julian Orchards Drive, Julian. 765-2072

MOUNT PALOMAR

Best known for its Johannisberg Riesling, Mount Palomar holds tastings from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Cost is $2 for four tastes and a souvenir glass.

Tours are held at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. weekdays and at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. weekends. To see crush or harvesting activity, it is best to call the winery first to determine if anything is happening that day.

Because of warm temperatures, harvesting began earlier this month and should be completed soon.

33820 Rancho California Road, Temecula. 714-676-5047

JOHN PICONI

Like other local winery owners trying to save their grapes from shriveling summer heat, Ben Drake began harvesting earlier this year and is picking three times as fast. Subsequently, the crush will probably end the first week in September instead of the end of October as usual, Drake said.

The winery is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Group tours by appointment.

Tasting costs $2 and includes tastes of nine wines currently being poured and a logo glass. A popular wine at Piconi’s and a gold medal winner at the Orange County Fair is a red varietal called Il Sangue Di Toro, or Blood of the Bull.

33410 Rancho California Road, Temecula. 714-676-5400

THOMAS JAEGER

The largest premium winery in San Diego County, Thomas Jaeger’s crush should continue through mid-September. Winery visitors can get a glimpse of at least part of the process if they take one of the free tours conducted at 11:30 a.m., 1:30, 3 and 4 p.m. daily.

Wine tastings are free and held from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. There are seven wines being poured right now, including white varietals, reds and at least one dessert wine. Jaeger also has a vineyard park suitable for picnics.

13455 San Pasqual Road, Escondido. 745-3553