LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.  Ideally situated between Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange and Riverside Counties, Temecula Valley is within about an hour’s drive for more than       30 million Southern California residents.

With its ocean breezes, expansive rolling hills, unique microclimate and granitic soil, early vintners in the late 1960’s thought the terroir the perfect setting for prized vineyards.  Turns out they were right!

What was once a sleepy little town with a few Chardonnay and Cabernet rootstocks, has attracted a new generation of vintners and winemakers interested in planting a wider variety of grapes including Syrah, Pinot Grigio and Barbera, who are passionate about producing top-quality wines that rival the world.  Today, there are over 30 wineries in the Temecula Valley turning out award-winning wines, earning favorable reviews and drawing visitors to their tasting rooms. 

On July 11, 2008, history was made at the California State Fair; the most prestigious wine fair in the country.  For the first time in 50 years, the Golden Bear “CALIFORNIA WINERY OF THE YEAR”, top-prize honor was bestowed not upon a Napa Valley winery but on a Temecula Valley winery.  And the awards kept on coming. In total, over 39 additional California State Fair awards went to Temecula Valley wineries.

IN 2007, TEMECULA VALLEY ATTRACTED 2.5 MILLION VISITORS WHO SPENT MORE THAN $600 MILLION DOLLARS.  Visitor attractions not only include Temecula’s Award-Winning Wineries but, also Championship Golf Courses, Hot-Air Tours, the Pechanga Casino and Historic Old Town Temecula. 

Temecula’s ideal, year-round weather and beautiful scenery make it a recreational paradise for golfers who have eight courses to choose from.

Hot-Air Balloon Tours rise high above Southern California Wine Country offering guests a beautiful, birds-eye view year-round, weather permitting.

The Pechanga Resort & Casino is a luxurious Four Diamond resort complete with a 200,000 square foot casino, 522 rooms & suites and 7 restaurants, attracting headliner acts that rival Las Vegas.

Historic Old Town Temecula is rich with charm and history.  Dating back to the 1800’s when the California Railroad came through the region, the timeless old west atmosphere with historic buildings and wooden boardwalks guide history buffs and shoppers through specialty boutiques, art galleries and antique stores.

A “NEW VISION” FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY.  The time has come.  With its fine attributes of a distinguished Southern California location and rich terroir, along with a solid infrastructure as a top tourist pick, Temecula is now primed to go to the next level…and Riverside County is on board!

On July 23, 2008 Supervisor Jeff Stone of the Third District of Riverside County, unveiled the County’s 3-Year “New Vision” plan to take Temecula Valley from a “boutique” location to a global destination.  Part of the “New Vision” plan includes the establishment of a new “Wine Country” division that will handle the multitude of proposals the County is receiving to open new wineries and build mega-resorts.   A big change will be the creation on one “Master-Plan” that will cover all Environmental, Transportation and Zoning studies for all of wine country.

Beautification is another aspect of the “New Vision” plan. Improvements include modifying standard wine country intersections with European round-a-bouts, widening streets to allow for pedestrian, biking and horse trails, re-styling of streetlights and lamp posts to reflect a more elegant, sophisticated look and the designation of a trail system throughout the vineyards.

With the interest of the high-end investment dollar and the region’s new found “legs” as a player in the wine world, there comes a concerted effort to raise the bar esthetically for these new projects.  The County realizes the importance of showcasing the Valley’s sophistication and is doing so by requiring future business designs to go beyond quaint, rustic charm and encompass the Old World European elegance that will define the Southern California Wine Country region.

Over a HALF A BILLION DOLLARS in Future Projects is already in progress including Europa Village and the expansion of both Mount Palomar Winery & Resort and South Coast Winery& Resort.

Europa Village triple-winery and European Village reflecting the culture and style of the major wine-producing countries of France, Italy and Spain. Europa Vineyard Estates will feature 50 2.5 acre estate sites, three 10-acre estate sites and five large vineyard estates of approximately 26 acres each.  A central piazza will offer a luxury spa, shopping, restaurants and specialty food stores.

Mt Palomar Winery is building a new winery and tasting room as well as a 136-room hotel, forty-two casitas, eighteen home lots ranging in size from 2 ½  to 25 acres, citrus groves totaling 136 acres, a chapel that will also offer  restaurants and boutique shopping.

South Coast Winery and Resort is expanding their resort.  The new building will feature 220 rooms as well as boutique retail shopping.

 Preservation of the vineyards is essential to prosperity.  To secure the Temecula Valley as an A.V.A. (American Viticulture Area), a Citrus Vineyard zoning policy was created in 2003 as a development ordinance.  The policy mandates that 25% of a land parcel can be developed and the remaining 75% must be planted with vineyards.  In 2008, in response to the growing wine region, this policy was amended to expand the Citrus Vineyard zone as far east as Hemet and as far south as San Diego, thus securing Temecula Valley wine country in perpetuity.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY WILL BE A GLOBAL DESTINATION.  Southern California is the second most-visited destination in the United States.  Theme Parks, historic landmarks and the picturesque California coastline draw big interest and big dollars from all over the world.  Not to be overlooked, Southern California Wine Country is making a name for itself as yet another local attraction.  The Temecula Valley is perfectly positioned geographically, yields an abundance of touristic assets, has the political will to take wine country to the next level and is home to many prize California wines.  With so much to offer, Southern California Wine Country will be a global destination.

VILLA OLIVA VINEYARDS
AN EXCLUSIVE ESTATE RESORT

Duayne & Tiffiny Webster
36685 Glen Oaks Road
Temecula, CA 92592
(951) 326-5809/ FAX (951) 695-3204
dwebster@villaoliva.com