Local Flavor: Harvest Celebration Barrel Tasting in Temecula

Swirl, sniff, and sip! Who doesn’t love to spend a cool fall day indulging in delicious wines and taking in peaceful vineyard views? As San Diegans, we may not be able to escape up to Napa Valley on a regular basis, but lucky for us, we are just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Temecula Valley wine country and its emerging wineries.

We can all agree that any day is a fabulous day to partake in a relaxing wine tasting trip, but special events throughout the year make the experience particularly exciting for local wine lovers. On November 5 and 6, the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association will host its 21st Annual Harvest Celebration Barrel Tasting Weekend where patrons can enjoy food and wine tasting at over 30 local wineries.

Whether you are a wine connoisseur or a novice sampler, this event is not one to be missed. During this event you can taste barrel and tank samples from finished and unfinished wines not available to the general public. Participating wineries include Callaway Vineyard and Winery, Hart Winery, Stuart Cellars, and Robert Renzoni Vineyards, just to name a few.

Tickets to the wine tasting fun are $99 a person, which gives you a passport to the two-day event to enjoy at your own leisure. If you are looking to really amp up your weekend, visit Temecula Valley Jeep & Wine Tours at temeculajeeptours.com to reserve your spot on a hosted tour of the participating wineries complete with transportation. This option will run you $135 a person, but is perfect for those wine tasters who plan to ingest wine concoctions rather than utilize the spit bucket.

Discounted tickets are also available for Sunday only patrons as well as designated drivers. This event is expected to sell out, so make sure you plan ahead and reserve your spot now at temeculawines.org.

Still thirsty? Check out our favorite San Diego wine bars

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