Certified Sustainable.

This winery overlooks San Jacinto and San Bernardino/Big Bear ranges. It is the first sustainable certified winery I’ve been to. They just planted a new grape for this area, Tanet, from the South of France. When bottled they are looking for an inky tannin. One of the son’s of the owner is an artist. He designs their Cellar Dweller label each year. They have a children’s book about farming at the winery. The mom wrote the book and her son illustrated.

Things I learned at this winery:

First winery established in Temecula in this order — Callaway, Cilurzo (now Bella Vista,) Filsinger (now Danza de Sol,) Hart, and Baily. 

Audrey Cilurzo is somewhat the matriarch of Temecula’s wineries. If she is speaking, go, you will learn a lot. She is a great story teller.

To reach a Sommelier level 1, you only need to take a test. 

Sparkling wine starts still. 

If a wine is labeled “natural,” it is as dry as it gets.