January 7th, 2025

Just NE of San Diego & SE of LA, your will find the Temecula wineries. Close to urban locales but quite rural, they do not produce the “ same-ol '- same-ol' ” wines. This is because many are not the standard California adoption of French varietals. Rather, they feature the varietals of Spain and Italy in their lineups.

One of my favorites is Miramonte’s Tempranillo. Even though you don’t find a lot of this varietal in the US, Miramonte has used Temecula’s special microclimate of hot and cold daily extremes to elevate this grape to Spain’s level of excellence.

They have also managed to bring forth an interesting deep garnet hue to the glass. This contrasts with many US Tempranillos. Most have a lighter color, looking more like Pinot Noir. These also have a thinner body that goes along with it.

Not so with the Miramonte. Their rendition is quite full.

Miramonte's Tempranillo, NOT Same Ol' - Same Ol'

Tempranillo’s power in the glass is well known to wine drinkers. It can have a tongue-coating character that spreads over the palate and continues to run with a fullness that ignites a wide range of flavors. Temecula’s local terroir changes this a little, bringing out a spicy body with a zesty cranberry finish. Plus, these are barrel aged long enough to add a little cedar to the bouquet, nice.

What to pair with this varietal? Well, one whiff of this wine’s dark fruit and cedar bouquet will send you right to a grilled pork loin with Caribbean Jerk sauce. The spice of the sauce with the succulent pork works perfectly with this wine’s slightly acidic berry structure.

This pair’s spices will continue into a long finish to savor and enjoy. Such a combination as this is unique, somewhat like a Zin and barbeque pairing, but of an entirely different character.

As a winery estate, Miramonte has experienced a series of growth spurts over the past 15 years. The most recent attraction for visitors is a beautiful hilltop tasting facility that also includes their tradition of regular entertainment and tasty bites at the Flower Hill Bistro. They have also increased their acreage, and this has increased the breadth of their wine selections.

You can now enjoy the experience of tasting wine varietals from Spain, France, and Italy in one stop. Miramonte provides a wonderful tasting experience as well as a custom tour. Yes, you can easily make an afternoon of it and even extend things into an evening of entertainment.

The last time we were in Temecula, we used it as a pre-cruise stopover to enjoy for a couple days. We stayed at a fantastic B&B overlooking this unique wine country of rolling hills that was reminiscent of Italy.

By the time we left we had accumulated a couple cases of assorted wines, drove to the ship in San Pedro, checked the cases in along with the luggage, and set sail. Hey, a bottle of Temecula wine with a gourmet spread in the dining room every evening!

Such a plan, with amazing memories. Would do it again for sure.