So why should you care about Temecula's best red blend wines?
Maybe you know Temecula as a place for celebrations. A place where large party buses cart giddy revelers between high energy tasting rooms. A place where music, food, and wine blend to create the perfect party atmosphere. Maybe you don't know Temecula at all. As one of California's more recently "discovered" wine regions, this SoCal patch of vines is still building a profile.
Early attempts to attract wine lovers to Temecula were hugely successful. Locals from San Diego, Orange County, and Los Angeles pour into the roughly 40 wineries on weekends year round. But the buzz around Temecula has been less about the quality of the local wines and more about the joys of hopping from tasting room to tasting room. Think "bachelorettes in paradise".
As Temecula reaches its adolescence, things are evolving. While the party continues at the tasting rooms, there are more important things happening behind the scenes. Temecula has entered the "serious winemaking" phase of development and that makes us happy.
Blessed with great weather and soil, it makes sense that Temecula can and should make great red wine blends. While almond champagne may still fill a niche, Syrah, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a range of other red varietals are the future here.
So let's dive into the best Temecula red blend wines. We fully expect more Temecula wineries to reach the quality levels of these wines, but this is a great sampling to highlight the skill of the local winemakers.
The Best Temecula Red Blend Wines To Drink Now
Winery: Fazeli Cellars
Wine Name: Pandemonium
Varietals: Cabernet Franc, Petite Sirah, Shiraz, Merlot (14.5% abv)
Description: A great example of what is possible in Temecula when you combine good fruit and great winemaking. An intense and powerful wine with inky darkness and an aroma of freshly broken earth. On the palate, expect dark fruit and spice and a nice balance with plenty of acid and tannins. The wine delivers intense flavors but avoids any hint of overcooked fruit. This wine will stand up to any grilled meat you throw at it. A truly delicious Temecula red wine.
We would expect this wine to get even better with more time in the bottle.
Cost: $38.00 at time of writing
How to buy: Visit the Fazelli website to buy this great Temecula red blend wine
Winery: Monte De Oro
Wine Name: Cuvee De Oro
Varietals: Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah
Description: This is a really fun wine. There is a subtle sweetness on the nose of this classic Rhone blend. That is followed by a freshness and liveliness on the palate that makes this a joy to drink. We picked up a lot of the classic Grenache flavors in this wine like candied fruit and juicy strawberry.
Despite an abv of 16%, this wine has good balance and no burning sensation from the higher alcohol content.
Cost: $35
How to buy: You can order this Temecula red blend wine here
Winery: Cougar
Wine Name: Bella Rosso
Varietals: Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Aglianico, and Primitivo
Description: Reflecting the great diversity that is possible in Temecula, this blend of Italian grape varietals is a standout as an everyday drinker. You'll notice scents of licorice/anise on the nose mixed with red cherry. On the palate, Cougar's Bella Rosso delivers a nice hit of bright acidity in a medium to light-bodied red blend.
A great wine to pair with pizza or just drink anytime. Another wonderful Temecula wine for you to enjoy!
Cost: n/a
How to buy: Visit Cougar Winery's Tasting Room
Winery: Callaway
Wine Name: Calliope Red
Varietals: Mouvedre, Cinsault, Syrah, Grenache, Petite Sirah
Description: A classic Rhone GSM blend with a twist. This wine hits you with a delectable savoriness that tilts over into a bit of rustic earthiness. The palate is all red fruit with a roundness that is enjoyable. The finish is brightly acidic with a final touch of sourness. A great wine to pair with a heavy cut of meat or a rich sauce.
Cost: $48
How to buy: You can order here
Winery: Chapin
Wine Name: Eclipse
Varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah
Description: The nose on this wine features a bit more pine than we would like, but it goes up from there. There is nice dark fruit/stewed fruit on the palate. We suspect these grapes were pretty ripe when picked, though the wine clocks in at a reasonable 13.5% abv.
Cost: $54
How to buy: You can order this Temecula red blend here
Winery: Lorimar
Wine Name: Tempranillo/Barbera
Varietals: Tempranillo/Barbera
Description: This wine offers nice red fruit that hints at dried strawberry and some baking spice. The wine has good structure and should improve with age. The winemaker suggests pairing with wine with Paella or an empanada. That sounds great to us!
Cost: $54
How to buy: You can order this Tempranillo/Barbera red blend here
Winery: Avensole
Wine Name: Solea
Varietals: Tempranillo, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
Description: A joyous red wine with bright red fruit. Think cherry/raspberries with a touch of vanilla rounding out the flavors. Great structure and balance that again showcases what can be done with the best Temecula wines.
Cost: $47
How to buy: You can order wines from Avensole here
