Exploring temecula
In Temecula, California, the humming hills have two cows – wine and golf. Over the past ten years, the region’s repertoire of wineries has expanded and flourished. The slopes are not dominated by neat rows of vines – each pole supports the grapes and their livelihood. Among fifty wineries, Carter Estate Winery and Resort bubbles to the top with its delightful, win-win Méthode Changenoise Sparkling Wines and still wines.
South Coast Winery Resort is Carter’s sister property across the street and guests are shuttled between the resorts to enjoy all the amenities. It holds a Rhythm in the vine The concert series and our stay at the Carter Estate Winery and resort coincided with the Queen’s performance. Their music still rings in our ears: “We are conquerors” – Befitting of South Coast and Carter Estate Eastay and Resorts. The Queen’s tribe found plenty of “someone to love” there.
The bungalow experience
After the music ends, we return to our bungalow, one of sixty at the Carter Estate Winery and resort, each solid and decorated with a cozy tub. The most pleasant place was on the terrace, the steps from the vineyard, towards the handle of the mountains covered with early morning snow. Morning coffee came with the sight and whisper of hot air balloons filling, lifting and landing. His design for the Carter Estate hit the ground running within its 112 acres.
Wine tasting and dining
We were taken back from those acres of vineyards and entered the olive section of the tasting room of the carter property, where the large windows reveal sweeping views outside and the Hum of winemaking activities inside. The tasting room offers Glore gifts, a full bar, snacks and a five-glass tasting for $30. The extensive selection of eight varieties makes it difficult to choose but since the glow is their specialty, at least one glass is a must. Alice’s favorite sparkling was a rut rosé, Christmasy and refreshing on a sunny afternoon, while Danny chose Prestige Cuvée. We both said Oui, Oui, Que Amyra, Syrah in the sayrah.
After the tasting, guests can relax in the pool and plan from the grill or cross the road to the VineED ROVELY restaurant at the South Coast Resort and Spa fine dining. The slow-seared short ribs were tender with a creamy sauce and pickled veggies, and the filet was cooked to perfection. Both were well paired with their bottle of Cabernet Sauvign Revete Reapteried, which we carried in the Wine Club Veranda for the concert.
The joy of golf
Besides winning, dining, and balloons, golf beckons at PeChanga Resort or Temecula Creek Golf Club. The course of Pechanga’s journey was closed to the attraction, but we remember its proper name years ago – a fun ride through rough holes and rivers.
Temecula Creek Golf Club offers three different nines: trees, oak, and stone. The Creek course warms warmly while the Oaks ooze nasty litters. Stonehouse, however, loves or hates a challenge – and we loved it from start to finish. Watching the golfers face the ninth green while waiting for the first tee box to clear is entertainment itself.
Stonehouse is a roller coaster ride on the sixth hole that cuts through a deep chasm from the raised tips that split the par 3 up two clubs that play two clubs and still continue. Each hole tells its own story, reaching the historic room the seventh green house – a bunkhouse for gray miners from the 1880s, which is now attractive for weddings and events.
The Stonehouse course was up, down and around all the fun with our Murietta Mimbrings Jim and Denise who recently discovered the joys of couple golf after fifty years of marriage. During the drive, we met another couple from Padre Island to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. They preferred the Templa Wine Valley in Napa and after talking about “Freddie Mercury” himself, he invited him to a vow renewal before buying tickets for his country Queen concert. Coincidentally, we danced the night away at the same event – our own Teecula gamaddy.
