Having been voted “Best Restaurant” for 2007-2012 by readers of Inland Empire Magazine, the Pinnacle Restaurant at Falkner Winery continues to impress and improve. Beginning early May this beautiful hill-top, Wine Country restaurant launches their new Spring/Summer menu.

PRESTIGIOUS SOUTH COAST WINERY RECEIVES OUTSTANDING AWARDS FROM INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION IN MEXICO

Free Jazz on Sundays is Back at Falkner Winery Starting April 1st

On February 12th and 14th The Pinnacle Restaurant at Falkner Winery will host romantic evenings with Valentine’s Wine Dinners in their award winning restaurant in Temecula. The dinners will be wonderful four course meals with individual wine pairings of the Falkner’s best wines in this panoramic, hill-top location. Both dinners will offer the same great food, wonderful wines, entertainment, and first class service. All food will be prepared under the direction of Executive Chef Gianni Ciciliot who was recently voted “Best Chef” by readers of Inland Empire magazine for the second year in a row. Seating for these wonderful and memorable events will be at 7pm on each evening.

TEMECULA, CALIFORNIA -- December 16, 2011 – South Coast Winery Resort and Spa announces the opening of the Carter Reserve Room, a private room showcasing nearly 60 leading wines from the winery’s award-winning history.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA -- December 05, 2011— Lavish 5-Star South Coast Winery Resort & Spa tops the wine competition charts at the“CINVE’2011” INTERNATIONAL WINE & SPIRITS CONTEST in Spain. South Coast Winery Resort & Spa located in the heart of Temecula Valley Wine Country took home 5 awards including the prestigious Gran Medalla de Oro (Grand Gold) for their 2008 South Coast Winery Wild Horse Peak Mountain Vineyard Syrah.

Changes are in the air as The Grapeline Wine Country Tours announces that their own Emily Flapappino will be taking over the helm as the new General Manager. This transition comes at a time of corporate growth and is a major mile stone in taking the locally owned and operated company to that next level of success.

The Restaurant at Leoness - De Portola Wine Trail's Exclusive Eatery

TEMECULA, CA - Once again Leoness Cellars is enhancing the Wine Country experience with exciting new tastes

This weekend the winery will open The Restaurant at Leoness, a great way to enjoy vibrant, fresh, Italian and French provincial cooking in a spectacular al fresco setting.

Visit Falkner Winery & their Pinnacle Restaurant over Labor Day Weekend and enjoy a great lunch special as well as Free Jazz in the outdoor lawn area on both September 3rd & 4th. As part of this weekend celebration, Free Jazz will be performed on both Saturday and Sunday from noon to 3pm. There will be two wonderful jazz performers: the flamenco & Latin jazz group Sombra Quieta Trio featuring Diego on acoustic guitar performing on Saturday and saxophonist and recording artist Jason Weber perform on Sunday. There will be freshly prepared Barbeque on both days in the lawn area along with wine sold by the glass, bottle, or carafe. Several new release wines will be available and on sale like the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2007 Merlot, the 2007 Amante Super Tuscan, and the 2009 Viognier.

Ray and Loretta Falkner, owners of Falkner Winery in Temecula Valley, announced that they are conducting a weekend Anniversary Event from July 2 – July 4 to celebrate their 11th year in business. The public is invited to a lively weekend that includes Jazz performances Saturday and Sunday, winery tours, huge sales, hourly raffles, outdoor barbeques, lunch specials in their Pinnacle Restaurant, and other fun events. In order to help make room for some new releases available that weekend, selected wines will be offered at up to 50% off case prices. This will include some of the 9 wines on the tasting menu that have won Gold Medals in this year’s wine competitions. Selected gifts will also be on sale at up to 30% off. Wine will be “raffled” off each hour (11am -5pm) with the winner able to purchase the bottle for only $1. Also, with seven new wines just being released, all tasters will receive a free extra taste of any one of the new wines.

As the Pechanga RV Resort celebrates its 11th Anniversary in May, the facility will debut a number of upgrades on its premises including 27 Premium sites and 3 Luxury sites.

The beautiful new Premium and Luxury sites are surrounded by oversized grassy areas, as well as various amenities including patio areas with picnic tables, lush landscaping and shady pergolas complete with estate fencing.

Beginning Sunday April 3rd Falkner Winery will kick-off their popular entertainment venue called “Free Jazz on Sundays”. The Falkner’s conducted this last year and now, based on popular demand, they are restarting it and will run the jazz through October. Performances will be 3 hours beginning at noon and going until 3:00pm and be held in their outside lawn area adjacent to the tasting room. As the name indicates, every Sunday afternoon live jazz performances will be available to winery customers at no charge and with no reservations required. Performing on most Sundays will be recording artist and local favorite-saxophonist Jason Weber. Jason’s lively, contemporary jazz saxophone performances have been enjoyed by aficionados throughout Riverside, San Diego, and Orange Counties for years. Performing at least once a month will be the Sombra Quieta Group whose Rumba Flamenco and Latin style music has excited audiences in Temecula, San Diego, and LA for years. Falkner Winery’s lawn area is located on a hilltop that offers spectacular views of the surrounding hills and valley. Chairs and tables will be provided for the audience. Freshly prepared barbequed food and wine by the glass, bottle, or carafe are available for each performance but cannot be brought on premise. For those seeking a fun and relaxing way to enjoy a Sunday afternoon, Falkner Winery offers the best venue.

Galway Downs organizer Robert Kellerhouse is working closely with Ken and Tina Smith, who purchased the Southern California Equestrian Center in late October of 2010, in preparation for the Galway Downs International Horse Trials on April 1-3.

Falkner Winery was recently honored by being the only winery with wines poured backstage in the green rooms at the 2011 Grammy Awards held February 13th at the Staple Center in Los Angeles. These wonderful, award winning, local Temecula Valley wines were made available to all nominees and presenters at the nationally televised award show. The show honors top musical talent throughout the year including artists such as Lady Gaga and Mick Jagger. The wines selected included the recent “Best of Class” award winning (2011 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition) Falkner 2009 Sauvignon Blanc and the Falkner 2007 Luscious Lips™ red wine. The Luscious Lips™ wine was chosen because of its bright red lips on the label that complemented Valentine’s Day. The Luscious Lips™ is commonly served during cooler weather including Valentine’s Day and served warmed with the addition of mulling spices and termed “Hot Lips”. Pictures at the Grammy’s will be placed on the winery website once they are available. To learn more about these wines and other Falkner Winery wines, visit their website at www.falknerwinery.com or contact them at 951-676-8231.

One thing Temecula Valley Wine Country never lacks for is an abundance of special occasions. They come, they go and we're all the better for them.

Terri Pebley Delhamer, owner of Keyways Winery, is an inspiration to businesswomen. She is a strong and gutsy woman. Through a variety of twists and turns she ended up owning Keyways Winery.

It seems that every year around this time the craziness of life ramps up to a whole new level. Our barely manageable “to-do” lists become downright overwhelmed with added tasks of decorating the house inside and out, mailing holiday greetings to everyone (hopefully we thought of everyone – yikes!) and buying presents for loved ones near and far. The holidays quickly begin to feel like just another item to check off our list and we lose sight of the spirit of Christmas. I submit that a perfect antidote to the parking lots, shops, lines, etc. does indeed exist: take time to gather with the ones you love. Eat, drink, reflect on the past and carry forward the holiday traditions that carry meaning for you

A few months ago, The Temecula Insider got to know the man behind the wine, winemaker David Raffaele. He was on hand tonight to talk about the five wines being paired with each course. Fairly new to Keyways, David had his hands full when he took over as head winemaker in late 2009. Though he had his hand in the making of all the wines we tasted, he is really excited for the plans and ideas he has for future harvests.

On February 12th, 13th, and 14th The Pinnacle Restaurant at Falkner Winery will host romantic evenings with Valentine’s Wine Dinners in their award winning restaurant in Temecula.

The award winning Pinnacle Restaurant at Falkner Winery will be participating in the January Restaurant Month offered throughout Temecula and the State of California. This great lunch only restaurant specializes in American/Mediterranean food with many dishes consistent with a “Mediterranean diet”. Having been voted “Best Restaurant of 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011” and Executive Chef Gianni Ciciliot voted “Best Chef of 2010 & 2011” by readers of Inland Empire Magazine, the Pinnacle Restaurant at Falkner Winery continues to impress and improve. The Restaurant Month offering consists of appetizer, entrée, and includes a non-alcoholic beverage all for $20.