Stay and Experience Visit Temecula.org “What’s New for 2013” at 16 Destinations in Temecula Valley

Thornton Winery Photo: Maralyn D. Hill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Kimberly Adams, President and CEO

Temecula Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau

951/491-6085, Kimberly@TemeculaCVB.com

Stay and Experience VisitTemecula.org’s “What’s New for 2013” at

16 Destinations in Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country

TEMECULA VALLEY Southern California Wine Country, December 27, 2012 – “In 2013, 16 gracious, friendly destinations in Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country will welcome individuals, couples, family-and-friends, as well as tour, travel, corporate, and association groups with good and great things, new and of-note. From newly expanded facilities for enhanced guest experiences; and new ‘made-in-Temecula’ products (premium wines; fresh, flavorful olive oils); to new seasonal-menus, concerts, classes, cooking demonstrations, musical entertainment; and newly upgraded spa services,” announced Kimberly Adams, Temecula Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau president and CEO. “Quality of experience and value will likewise be found midweek, Sunday-through-Thursday, with better-than-weekend nightly room- and group-rates at Temecula hotels-motels-and-resorts. Less-busy weekdays also make for more personalized attention, and potential opportunities to converse with winemakers, winemaking family-members, and local merchants and artisans.” With natural gifts of climate and geography, and bolstered by Pu’eska Mountain, the Rainbow Gap, and Santa Margarita Gap, the casual, picturesque boutique-destination is 1-hour from San Diego, Orange County, and Palm Desert; 1½ hours from Los Angeles. Temecula hotels-motels-and-resorts are conveniently located minutes – even steps – from Downtown Old Town Temecula; Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country; and Pechanga Resort & Casino.

Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country (TVSCWC)

Temecula Valley Wine Country is considered the only major American Viticulture Area (AVA) in Southern California. The relaxed, enjoyable region – with sister-attractions, Old Town Temecula and Pechanga Resort & Casino – recently received Trip Advisors’ Travelers’ Choice “Best U.S. Wine Destination: Top-10” award based on millions of travelers’ reviews and opinions for local wineries, restaurants, attractions, and accommodations.

1-Lorimar Vineyard & Winery

The Sunset Patio at Tuscan-inspired Lorimar is a newly “happening environment” with the recent addition of lighting, sails, fireplaces, and outdoor heaters. Friday and Saturday evenings, and Sunday afternoons feature live-music. Pairing nicely with Lorimar’s handcrafted wines are hand-tossed, cooked-to-order pizzas.

2-Thornton Winery

Newly expanded with old world charm and grace are the tasting room and gift shop at the French-style Thornton chateau. The winery is much admired for its award-winning Methóde Champenoise sparkling wines, and recently debuted a line of Chocolate Wines including “Kiss of Chocolate,” “Milk Chocolate Kiss,” “Caramel and Cherry Kiss,” and “Kiss of Strawberry.” Jazz concert fans can look forward to the March 1 announcement of the 2013 Champagne Jazz series line-up (concerts, May through October) including both new artists and classic favorites.

3-Leoness Cellars

Producer of fine, handcrafted wines, Leoness Cellars has a new, comprehensive website scheduled to be online in mid-January. Features will include a new blog, restaurant details, library wine information, enhanced wine-store, and more personalized services for wine-club members.

4-South Coast Winery

For groups and tours, South Coast Winery is scheduled to open its newest additions by spring 2013. Enhancements include an additional tasting room, as well as breakout meeting-rooms, consistent with South Coast’s comfortable wine-country luxury.

5-Cougar Vineyard & Winery

With an all-Italian-varietal vineyard, Cougar will open their new tasting room in early 2013. The new space will include panoramic views of the valley, indoor fireplace and lounge area, and a patio with outdoor seating. A deli with seasonal menu items opens in spring.

6-Wilson Creek Winery & Vineyards

Fun, family-winery Wilson Creek will be expanding the popular tasting room and gift area in 2013. Also in the coming year, a new sparkling wine will join the Wilson Creek suite of “sparklings” that now includes Almond, Orange Mimosa, Peach Bellini, and Cuvee Rouge.

7-Oak Mountain Winery

With hillside vineyards and views of its namesake, Oak Mountain plans to feature the first, “mined” wine-caves in Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country by the end of 2013. The 9,000-square-foot, subterranean space will include a private tasting-room, banquet room, and tunnels lined with barrels.

8-Robert Renzoni Vineyards

Planted to classic Bordeaux and Italian grape varietals, Robert Renzoni Vineyards will start construction of a new, main tasting room in 2013. The boutique winery is located along the valley’s majestic De Portola Wine Trail.

9-Lumiere Winery

An architecturally dynamic arbor now adjoins the tasting room at Lumiere, home of old-vine, estate-grown, Bordeaux-style wines. New parking lots are also complete and a hilltop patio with panoramic view is in-progress; a grille and theater are planned.

Beside the Rainbow Gap

The hallmark of TVSCWC’s natural gifts of climate and geography is the Rainbow Gap. Along with its sister Santa Margarita Gap, these features at the valley’s southwest corner, channel morning coastal-mist and afternoon ocean breezes from the Pacific just 22 miles away. These dynamics distinguish TVSCWC’s Mediterranean climate and temper the midday sun. Adjacent the Rainbow Gap on 350 acres of rustic, natural beauty is TVSCWC’s original, prestigious golf resort, Temecula Creek Inn.

10-Temet Grill at Temecula Creek Inn

New Executive Chef David Fuñe and his inspired, new Temet Grill menus using fresh, local ingredients are the big news at Temecula Creek Inn. Menus are designed for sharing with small plates and large plates – facilitating the joyful feasting of communal dining. Chef David has also brought new life to group menu offerings, utilizing local and fresh ingredients. Temet Grill’s new menus are the inspiration for a restaurant renovation planned for 2013.

At Pechanga Resort & Casino

With architecture reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright, the Pechanga Resort hotel tower is the centerpiece of 400+ acres of relaxed harmony. To the east, the sun rises; to the west, mountains’ granite boulders glisten in the sunshine after winter and early-spring rains. Companion to the hotel are the largest casino in the western U.S.; expansive Spa Pechanga; 9 award-winning restaurants; and the highly rated Journey at Pechanga golf course.

11-Spa Pechanga

New upgrades and an all-new menu and treatments at Spa Pechanga make for intimate indulgence with high-end offerings. Featured are paraffin (warm-wax) treatments; firming sea-clay body-wraps; derm-renewal peels; and Asian-themed bamboo-massage as well as couples’ serenity soaks; couples’ massage; and hot stone pedicures.

Downtown Old Town Temecula

TVSCWC’s dining-shopping-entertainment district is Downtown Old Town Temecula. With all shops, restaurants, and wine-tasting rooms independently-owned-and-operated, Old Town’s 12 pedestrian-friendly blocks provide experiences that are genuinely individual and authentic.

12-Temecula Olive Oil Company

With sustainably grown, 100%-California, 100% extra-virgin, fresh, pure and flavorful olive oils, Temecula Olive Oil Company (TOOC) will also feature a new Grilling Salt for 2013 as well as line of handcrafted, glass jewelry (pendants and earrings) made from recycled olive oil bottles. “Cooking with Flavor” and TOOC’s popular “Lunch-in-the-Loft Cooking Demos” by co-owner Catherine Pepe are now also available as breakfast-events for groups. Catherine dishes up quick-and-clever suggestions like tangy-balsamic-vinegar-splashes on fresh fruit and baking with Blood Orange Olive Oil for moist cakes and muffins. Also new for 2013 are a series of “Un-Cooking Classes” for raw-vegan dishes with Leslie Keegan, certified holistic health coach. The first class, “Healthy New Year,” is January 10.

13-Old Town Spice Merchants

Popular for creating customs blends, at Old Town Spice Merchants, re-purposed, 100-year-old barn beams support the shelves laden with fine herbs, spices, sea-salts, and teas. Monthly “beyond-the-basics” classes are planned for 2013. Inspired by more than 100 different, loose-leaf teas and new-teas-all-the-time, “tea-to-go” is also, newly planned: hot-tea in cool weather; iced-tea as the weather warms.

14-The Bank Mexican Restaurant

Located in the historic First National Bank of Temecula, The Bank Mexican Restaurant will debut new menus February 23, 2013, for owners’ Craig and Christy Puma’s sixth anniversary. Throughout the year, diners are invited to call-ahead to dine in The Vault.

15-Temecula Lavender Company

Family-owned-and-operated, Temecula Lavender Company (TLC) handcrafts locally grown-and-produced, pure, natural, and healthful, lavender products for the bath, body, and home. With weekend-dates to-be-determined (approximately mid-May to mid-June 2013) visitors will be able to stroll and admire TLC’s 1-acre lavender field-in-bloom adjoining the family’s merlot vineyards in TVSCWC. Also planned when the lavender field is in-bloom are lavender cookies, lavender lemonade, and a lavender farm-stand with fresh-lavender bouquets and other products.

Uptown Temecula

North of Old Town Temecula adjacent Jefferson Avenue is Uptown Temecula. The popular corridor is home to “Temecula Hotel Row” where visitors find the sincere conveniences and consistencies of branded hotel properties including (from north to south): Quality Inn, La Quinta, Fairfield, Extended Stay America, Holiday Inn Express, Best Western, Springhill, and Hampton Inn.

16-Holiday Inn Express

Newly completed at Holiday Inn Express are a new lobby, fitness room, and meeting room. There is also a fresh, new breakfast-area where complimentary, hot breakfast is available to overnight guests each morning.

*Information is believed accurate but may be subject to change.

The Temecula Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau, the region’s official tourism marketing organization and resource for visitors is online at VisitTemecula.org; “Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country” on Facebook; and @Visit_Temecula on Twitter. The Temecula Valley Visitors Center in Downtown Old Town Temecula (Third Street and Mercedes, adjacent Temecula Civic Center) is open 7 days. For visitor information and assistance, please call 888/363-2852 or 951/491-6085.

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