Temecula Valley AVA

  • Located 500 miles (800 km) south of San Francisco in southern Riverside County, California
  • Temecula” comes from the Luiseño Indian word “Temecunga,” which means “place of sun”
  • Light, sandy loam soil, comprised mostly of decomposing granite, permits water to drain easily
  • Warm region with relatively low rainfall
  • Mist often lingers until mid-morning on this 1,400-foot (430 m) plateau, located below the peaks of the local mountain range
  • The surrounding mountains average 2,000 feet (600 m) to nearly 11,000 feet (3,400 m) elevation
  • The heavy cold air that collects between the high peaks during the night drains off the heights much like water, joining cold moist air from the Santa Margarita River Channel
  • This double cooling effect causes nighttime lows in and around Temecula to be very cool
  • The cool air flowing inland through the Rainbow Gap and the Santa Margarita Gap (gaps in the Coastal mountain Range) moderates the daytime temperatures and helps to create a pattern of warm sunny days and cool nights
  • Valley growing Chardonnay, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc
  • Recently producing Mediterranean varietals like Viognier, Syrah and Pinot Gris 
  • Hotter climate is particularly well-suited to grapes such as the Rhône varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zinfandel