Longshadow Winery has been thriving in Temecula for 18 years. Ostensibly it is a working winery/ranch. The owner of the winery stopped in while we were enjoying our tasting — he is the winemaker too.

On the tasting menu were a number of delightful reds.

Notable for the descriptions: Wildfire red — named after the song by Michael Martin Murphey, she ran calling “Wildfire.”

Estate Syrah — a full bodied big red for the seasoned wine lover. Well, you know I came home with a bottle of this.

We were treated to a boot shooter — dark chocolate in the shape of a boot, topped with port. I was supposed to sip the port, then taste the chocolate, I tried both at the same time. Needless to say, it did not go well but was great fun.

Best story so far — Longshadow winery rescues, fosters, and rehabilitates Clydesdale horses. After the horses are rehabilitated, socialized, healthy, and ready for a wonderful new life, they go to a ranch in San Diego. That ranch is a camp for children with autism.

Things I learned at this winery:

Cabernet Sauvignon is a grafted grape from Cab and white sauvignon. The term “adoption” came from this process of one varietal adopting the other.

All Cabs come originally from a Cabernet Franc. A Ruby Cabernet is a fruit forward varietal.

Brandy is made from grapes. It is colorless. The color comes from the barrel.