TEMECULA, CA — With the days getting more crisp and the nights edging toward cold, we got to thinking: what are Temecula’s winemakers pairing with their favorite wines this year?
We’ve amassed the top five food and wine pairings from some of the most well-known local wineries in Temecula Valley to add to your family gatherings and simple wine nights. For the menu, think creamy dishes such as quiche Lorraine and seafood to more hearty braised shortribs and stews. If cooking is not your thing, each wine should do well with a charcuterie board for finger food. And, of course, look for wines below that will pair well with your leftover Halloween chocolate candies.
So now is the time to visit your local wineries to stock up on the perfect pairing for fall gatherings.
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Wilson Creek Winery 2022 “Yes Dear” Chardonnay – $30 @ Wilson Creek Winery
This classic California Chardonnay offers a warm golden color with oak-influenced flavors reminiscent of fall spices, according to the winery.
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“Notes of green apple and French oak on the nose, off-dry with baked apple, spice, and vanilla on the palate, delicate acidity, and a soft finish,” they said. The wine is the perfect bridge between a lighter white and a more robust red, which offers a bit more body and complexity compared to summer whites but not as heavy as many reds.
Carter Estate Winery 2022 Les Nobles – $33 @ Carter Estate Winery
According to the winery, this blend of Gewürztraminer, Riesling, and Pinot Gris “leaps from the glass with powerful and exotic aromatics like stone fruit, lychee, pear, jasmine, and ginger. The sweetness of this wine is offset by a backbone of juicy acidity, with notes of crisp peach.”
South Coast Winery 2019 Wild Horse Peak Il Temporale – $39 @ South Coast Winery
Winemakers describe the Wild Horse Peak Il as “a brooding Sangiovese-dominant blend with a touch of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah. It is aged for over 18 months in French oak barrels. The warm and inviting oak aromas provide the perfect tone of spicy vanilla, cinnamon and clove, giving this wine a noticeable lift of woodsy deliciousness that mingles well with fruit notes of black cherry and strawberry.”
Peltzer Winery 2019 Aged Bourbon Barrel Zinfandel – $65 @ Peltzer Winery
That’s right. Bourbon barrel Zinfandel. Peltzer’s winemaker has created what they call a “velvety wine woos as a winery fan-favorite.” This Zinfandel is locally recognized as the perfect “fireplace wine,” they say. Each sip offers notes of cherry preserves, maple syrup, and vanilla.
Wiens Cellars 2019 San Ignacio Unforgiving – $125 @ Weins Cellars
This blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Carmenere, 9% Merlot, and 5% Malbec took Gold at this year’s Toast of the Coast Wine Competition as well as Gold and 94 Points at the 2023 Los Angeles Invitational Wine Challenge, according to the winery. The bottle itself offers notes of strawberry rhubarb and white pepper, with a smooth, full-bodied mouthfeel and firm tannins, winemakers say.
What is your favorite local wine for fall? Let us know and share what you pair it with! Happy Fall!
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