Photos: Temecula Valley winemaking

Grape grower and winemake Nicholas Palumbo holds the Cabernet Franc grape, which is a week away from being harvested, at Palumbo Family Vineyards & Winery in Temecula.

Grape grower and winemaker Nicholas Palumbo and his son, Reed Brady (not pictured), pressed about 400 gallons of Merlot at Palumbo Family Vineyards & Winery in Temecula. They have been doing the Merlot since 2000.

Nicholas Palumbo is reflected in a puddle of water near a hose that connects the pump that transfers the wine from the press to the tank.

Reed Brady, 24, assistant to the winemaker, spends the morning with his father pressing about 400 gallons of Merlot at Palumbo Family Vineyards & Winery in Temecula.

Reed Brady, 24, left, assistant to the winemaker, and his father, winemaker Nicholas Palumbo, use a shovel and bucket to load the press with Merlot grapes. They pressed three bins at Palumbo Family Vineyards & Winery in Temecula.

The Merlot sits in bins waiting to be pressed at Palumbo Family Vineyards & Winery.

Grape grower and winemaker Nicholas Palumbo is photographed at Palumbo Family Vineyards & Winery in Temecula.

Owner and winemaker Robert Renzoni in the production barn/barrel room at Robert Renzoni Vineyards & Winery in Temecula.

Robert Renzoni’s Tuscan-styled winery in Temecula.

Assistant winemaker Olivia Bue and cellar foreman Danny Fratarcangeli work in the production barn/barrel room at Robert Renzoni Vineyards & Winery in Temecula.

Cellar foreman Danny Fratarcangeli grabs a hose from cellar master Jason Fairris at Robert Renzoni Vineyards & Winery. They are pumping the fermented juice from the bottom of the tank to the top, where the juice bleeds through the skins to extract more color.

Assistant winemaker Olivia Bue tests sugar in the fermenting juice at Robert Renzoni Vineyards & Winery.

Cellar foreman Danny Fratarcangeli disconnects a hose used to pump the fermented juice from the bottom of the tank to the top, where the juice bleeds through the skins to extract more color, at Robert Renzoni Vineyards & Winery. Owner and winemaker Robert Renzoni stands behind him.

Assistant winemaker Olivia Bue, left, cellar foreman Danny Fratarcangeli and owner Robert Renzoni close up shop after a successful day of pumping fermented juice from the bottom of tanks to the top at Robert Renzoni Vineyards & Winery.

Robert Renzoni holds up a glass of Tempranillo while the fermented juice is being pumped from the bottom of the tank to the top, where it bleeds through the skins to extract more color, at Robert Renzoni Vineyards & Winery.