TEMECULA, Calif., Oct. 22, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Join Temecula Valley winemakers on Nov. 3-4 as they celebrate the end of the 2007 growing season at the always popular Harvest Wine Celebration.
"It's one of several stellar events that the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association puts on each year," said Joe Hart, winery owner who helped organize the event. "It's a great time to enjoy the fruits of the vineyard and kitchen with winemakers and growers as the harvest winds down."
Visit 20 participating wineries over a two-day period to enjoy delicious samples of perfectly paired foods with award-winning Temecula wines.
Enjoy specially selected new and unreleased wines as well as some barrel and tank samples.
At Wiens Family Cellars sample a new Merrytage Holiday Wine, ($39 a magnum), that was created by Wiens' Wine Club members at a special blending party in July. The Bordeaux blend consists of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Verdot. This custom wines pairs well with holiday fare with its smooth, fruity and slightly spicy characteristics, according to winemaker Doug Wiens.
Sip, swirl, and taste your way through this fun harvest event as you converse with owners, winemakers, and fellow wine aficionados. Cost of $83 per person: Includes entrance to event, souvenir wine glass, wine and food at each winery.
The 2007 grape season in the Temecula Valley will be remembered as one of the longest, coolest and driest. The harvest began in August but is not expected to be completed until late October or early November, according to Hart. "It's been a long harvest," he said. "But that's agriculture." This year also was among the driest on record for Temecula growers. But that's a good thing, according to Don Reha, winemaker at Thornton Winery. Lower water tables and less water to the plant resulted in lower yields but higher concentrations of flavor and better structure with more refined phenols and tannins. He said Cabernet Sauvignon and Nebiollo grapes harvested this year are among the best he has seen since arriving in Temecula in 2004.
The Temecula Valley is the premiere winemaking region in Southern California. Over the last decade, the number of wineries in Temecula's Wine Country has doubled and more new wineries are in the planning stages. More importantly, the area's reputation for making fine wine is on the rise as local wines continue to win major awards at wine competitions that include well-known domestic and international brands.