California is well known for its wine country in Sonoma and Napa Valley. Many people don’t realize that there are numerous wine vineyards throughout the state in many different regions. Temecula Valley Wine Country, for example, is in Southern California. It is located in Riverside County above San Diego and just below the Orange County area. Because this wine country is not as popular, the experience at each winery is much more intimate, it is far easier to build a relationship with the vineyard owner(s), and there are less people getting in the way of your tastings. These perks may not last too long, because the wine in Temecula is absolutely stellar and the word is spreading quickly!
Today’s spotlight is on Cougar Vineyard and Winery…
Cougar Vineyard and Winery began over 17 years ago in Texas where the wine was originally bottled under the Ironstone Winery label. Opportunities for growth landed the winery in Seattle, where their Semillon wine won 3rd place in 1998 and was then bottled under the Cougar Mountain Winery label. The winery finally landed on California soil in Fallbrook, where the owners joined the San Diego Winemaking Society and won a Bronze medal in the Orange County Fair for their Sauvignon Blanc in 2003. The owners now bottle under the Cougar Vineyard and Winery label as of 2005, when their current property was purchased in Temecula.
The Cougar Vineyard opened to the public in 2006. The winery specializes in 100% Estate Italian varietals. The vineyard consists of approximately 17 family acres planted with Sangiovese, Aglianico, Montepulciano, Vermentino, Primitivo, Malvasia Bianca, Arneis, Pinot Grigio, Sagrantino, Lambrusco, Brachetto, and NegroAmaro. The winery also offers an exclusive wine club with a pronounced amount of benefits at a reasonable price.
Touring Cougar Vineyard and Winery…
Upon my arrival to the winery, I instantly felt the cozy “home on the range” attitude when I saw one of the owners walking along the vineyard road with the family dog. The winery itself was nothing elaborate, but the experience was invaluable. The wine tasting was lovely, the outdoor area and views of the vineyard were breathtaking, and the intimate setting made for the ultimate surprise.
One of the staff members took my group and me to a private area outside for an exclusive grape-crushing experience. One of the staff members explained to us that he needed some marinade for his chicken that night, so he needed some help crushing some grapes. Without hesitation, I was ready to take my shoes off. To my surprise, there was a very old-fashioned barrel waiting for us. I had the honor of pouring the tiny fresh-picked green grapes into the barrel, as directed. Wood boards, about 2” by 4” in size, were placed on top of the grapes stacked to the rim of the barrel, where a metal disk was placed on top. A metal bar was screwed horizontally into the vertical metal rod that was attached to the metal disk. This rod was turned tighter and tighter causing force to come down onto the grapes where the juice poured from a spout in front of the barrel. This was such a fantastic hands-on experience, which made visiting Cougar Vineyard and Winery very memorable for me!
Complete with a made-to-order deli inside the winery, an enormous back room full of personalized barrels, and a small store featuring items used for cooking, Cougar Vineyard and Winery is definitely worth a visit! For more information, visit Cougar Vineyard and Winery’s website.
Post by Veronica Horta
