Breweries near Temecula

backyard brewer · Post by **backyard brewer** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 3:56 pm

I'm going wine tasting in Temecula this weekend and I'd like to hit a couple breweries too if possible. Port/Lost Abbey is a little too far in San Marcos, but is there anything else around there that would be worth going too?

maltbarley · Post by **maltbarley** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 4:51 pm

You can get a Bud at the Stampede. Slightly better than that is Oggi's in Temecula. Other than that, I haven't got a clue.

Oskaar · Post by **Oskaar** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:33 pm

Here's my favs YMMV (take the grapeline shuttle if you can, they drive, they know the smaller more intimate places, and they can get you around in an efficient manner)

Photogenic places and ok wine:
Thortons
South Coast (has a sit down bar with draft beer)
Ponte

Unique and neat places:
Wilson Creek (get the Almond Champagne and the port in a chocolate cup)
Keyways
Briar Rose (think Snow White's cottage on Drugs)

Wine for drinkin pleasure:
Leonese
Stuart
Palumbo
Cougar (known for their Primitivo - think Zinfandel from Italy)

OK, all that said, I'm a speed taster so I can do a good 30-40 wines in a day. I'd guess you're all there to drink and enjoy rather than evaluate as many as you can in a day. So just relax and figure on 6 maybe 7 in a day if you have time. Don't press it though.

Hope that helps,

Oskaar

PMR · Post by **PMR** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 6:58 pm

I was just up there this weekend celebrating my anniversary-- not too many breweries to be found unfortunately! The spirit of Blind Pig Brewery (the precursor to Russian River Brewery) is still there, so perhaps another brewery will start up soon.

Barley & Hops (http://www.barleyandhopheads.com/) is a good beer bar in the area. Stone / Port aren't too far away, about 30 mi.

We went to a few wineries, and the best of the bunch was Hart. Fantastic wines and a very quant tasting room in their production area. I've been to Stuart before and enjoyed their reds. South Coast and Ponte are very nice places, but their wines are not too interesting. We enjoyed our lunch at Ponte.

Have fun!

Patrick

BrewMasterBrad · Post by **BrewMasterBrad** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 12:14 pm

I have heard good things about the Barley and Hops place. I think the TVHA guys meet there on a regular basis. No breweries that I am aware of. My wife really enjoys the wines at Stuart and the Almond Champagne at Wilson Creek.

lars · Post by **lars** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 12:35 pm

I haven't been out to Temecula in a while, but used to get out there a few times a year. From what I remember... Hart has been inconsistent (1st visit was great, haven't had a good wine from them since. Given Pat's post maybe they are back on it!), Palomar Mountain is consistently good (they have a good port), VanRoykel had a consistently good Vigioner (I think they've changed their name though... It is the winery with the windmill out front)... that's all I can remember right now.

Have fun!