Cathy Hendrie
PassPort to San Diego
Looking to please your palate beyond a basic wine-flight offering? A seated wine-tasting in the elegant Cellar Room at Wiens Family Cellars is the perfect next-level experience. I enjoyed such a delight recently at the Temecula winery, known for its “Big Reds and Crisp Whites.” Wiens is a family-owned operation celebrating 20 years of wine production and education at its gorgeous property — which is surrounded by lush vineyards and citrus groves with stunning views of the mountains.
The Cellar Room, an oak-barrel lined space where enthusiasts share reserve wines in a working production cellar environment, was immediately impressive. Roomy and airy, the space still evoked an intimacy, with its dark woods and tables for up to eight, as well as a handsome mahogany bar off to the side. In a nice touch, the classic sounds of Sinatra overhead added to the atmosphere.
A quick primer on “reserve” wines: The term “reserve” is one that the winemaker has deemed to be of exceptionally high quality and/or has been aged for a lengthy period of time. With that:
The afternoon consisted of delicious reserve selections ranging from a light-bodied chardonnay to a full-bodied cabernet sauvignon. Gourmet cheeses were paired with most wines to accentuate the wine flavors, along with gourmet charcuterie, olives and crackers.
The reserve Chardonnay — well-rounded with tangerine, honeysuckle and vanilla cream notes — was poured first. My wine-tasting companion, Carolyn, and I, loved the fresh taste as well as being able to converse with our knowledgeable server about each flight. Next up came a reserve Primitivo (a variant of Zinfandel) – with characteristics of blackberry cobbler, gingerbread and a long finish, paired with Swiss cheese. We were definitely enjoying this savory adventure!
The Primitivo was followed by a reserve Malbec, richer than the first two with notes of red plum, vanilla shortbread and a velvety finish. The Havarti cheese served alongside amplified the robust tannins of our Malbec.
With the first three fantastic flights complete, Wiens somehow topped itself with the final two. The winery’s 2019 Chateau Grand Rouge, a proprietary Bordeaux-style blend with Emperor’s Plum, toasted coconut, and an elegant full finish, quickly became our favorite. Our server explained that this vintage’s composition of 48 percent Cabernet Franc and 52 percent Cabernet Sauvignon would make for a harmonious blend. We agreed! The Chateau Grand Rouge was paired with a Manchego, a Spanish cheese known for its delicately balanced buttery, tart, sweet, and nutty flavors.
The final fight, a reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, had the deep, full-bodied taste we had hoped for — a blend of black currant, Bavarian cream and mocha notes. Toma cheese from Northern Italy accompanied our Cab, the perfect end to a splendid experience.
Fun Fact No. 1: Regarding the Chateau Grande Rouge: Wiens sells it in a Jeroboam size, the equivalent of four standard bottles of wine. We had no idea there were wine bottle sizes beyond the standard 750ml bottle, but the Jeroboam of Chateau Grande Rouge could be purchased for $520.
Fun Fact No. 2: At our request, we also got to try the winery’s signature Amour De L’Orange, a savory sparkler with a citrus twist. Delicious, light and refreshing, we understood why this is another of Wiens’ showstoppers.
Fun Fact No. 3: We enjoyed a surprise tasting of a Futures varietal straight from the barrel to our wine glasses. The advantage of tasting wine as a future is to buy before it’s bottled, released and sells out.
If you go: Seated Tastings are available to non-member guests at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Thursday – Sunday for $40 per person. The fee is included for Winemaker’s Select Club Members and up to three guests 6 times per year. Reservations are required.
Wiens Family Cellars is open daily 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is seven miles east of Interstate 15 on Rancho California Road. Turn at 35055 Via Del Ponte in Temecula. Call (951) 694-9892, email info@wienscellars.com or visit wienscellars.com.
Enjoy a Two-For-One Wine Tasting Here