Top 10 Agriculture Tours in Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country

TEMECULA VALLEY Southern California Wine Country;“Rich with farms, ranches, rolling hills and vineyards, Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country offers groups premium varietal, farm, olive ranch, vineyard, and winery tours,” explains Kimberly Adams, Temecula Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau president and CEO. “Each ‘Top 10’agricultural endeavor is a family owned, commercial enterprise; growing in good earth, harvesting at perfection; field-to-fork, tree-to-table, and grape-to-glass. By advance reservation, groups of agribusiness professionals, academics, researchers, and interested enthusiasts are warmly welcomed to tour, taste, learn, and experience.” The casual, picturesque Temecula Valley is 1 hour from Orange County and Palm Desert; 1½ hours from Los Angeles.

Temecula, CA (PRWEB) May 29, 2012

TEMECULA VALLEY Southern California Wine Country; “Rich with farms, ranches, rolling hills and vineyards, Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country offers groups premium varietal, farm, olive ranch, vineyard, and winery tours,” explains Kimberly Adams, Temecula Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau president and CEO. “Each ‘Top 10’agricultural endeavor is a family owned, commercial enterprise; growing in good earth, harvesting at perfection; field-to-fork, tree-to-table, and grape-to-glass. By advance reservation, groups of agribusiness professionals, academics, researchers, and interested enthusiasts are warmly welcomed to tour, taste, learn, and experience.” The casual, picturesque Temecula Valley is 1 hour from Orange County and Palm Desert; 1½ hours from Los Angeles.

1–Cunningham Organic Farm
Tour, learn, pick, and sample tree-crops in-season at Cunningham Organic Farm. Citrus abounds: 13 tangerine varieties, oranges, Meyer lemons, Buddha’s Hand citron, cocktail grapefruit. There are 3 different guavas; loquats; bananas; kumquats; cherimoya; in autumn, persimmons. With Hass, Fuerte, Reed, and Pinkerton avocados, ‘alligator pears’ are almost in-season year-round. Currently planted: 60 acres.

2–Crows Pass Farm
At certified-organic Crows Pass Farm, seasonal row crops include quality baby lettuce, escarole, fennel; fresh herbs, gourmet onions; peas, beans, squash; melons and strawberries of exceptional flavor. Learn how Crows Pass operates and successfully markets itself chef-direct to upscale San Diego, La Jolla, Newport Beach, Orange County, Hollywood, and Beverly Hills restaurants. Currently planted: 20 acres.

3–Moonrise Farm
At Saturday morning Old Town Temecula California-Certified Farmers Markets, ‘certified organic and biodynamic’ are Moonrise Farm hallmarks. At the rural estate, seasonal heirloom vegetables have non-GMO seed sources over 100 years old; the invaluable tour highlights all-natural growing practices. Currently planted: 2½ acres.

4–Liberty Acres
Liberty Acres is a testament to self-reliance. Off the grid with solar and a well, this excellent, fully self-sustaining example includes a vineyard for private-label wine; fruit orchards, row crops, blueberries and strawberries for Community Supported Agriculture (CSA); and a lavender field for sachets and soaps. Currently planted: 3 acres.

5–Morning Song Farm
Morning Song Farm is a certified organic, subtropical fruit and nut, and heirloom vegetable farm. A variety of intriguing themed tours (Small Farm Livestock, Macadamia Nut, Grove and Garden, Beginning Bee Keeping) include companion activities (milking dairy goats, spinning llama fiber, learning about queens and worker bees); with or without a catered lunch. Currently planted: 20 acres.

6–Temecula Berry Company
Highbush blueberries are Temecula Berry Company’s specialty. Learn about conventional growing practices to yield sweet, flavorful berries. Afterwards, picking buckets are provided. Currently planted: 12½ acres.

7–Temecula Olive Oil Company – Olive Ranch
Only 100% California olives are used to make Temecula Olive Oil Company exceptional 100% extra virgin olive oil. At the Olive Ranch east of Old Town, tour and learn of sustainable planting, growing, and harvesting to capture unique qualities and flavors; of cold pressing to extract oil from the fruit. Then enjoy a fresh, full-flavored olive oil tasting. Tours available with or without grilled lunch. Currently planted: 26 acres.

8–Leoness Cellars
Located along the De Portola Wine Trail, Leoness Cellars has over fifty years, combined Temecula Valley agriculture and grape-growing experience. True understanding yields high quality wine grapes ultimately producing wines of incredible depth and flavor. Among tours is Touch-the-Vine-Taste-the-Wine with an informative ride through the vineyards. Sip, savor, and learn about sustainable farming, harvest, crush, fermentation, barrel aging to craft award-winning wines. Estate vineyard adjoining winery: 20 acres. Annual wine production: 30,000 cases.

9–Palumbo Family Vineyards & Winery
Small lot, handcrafted wines from varieties grown on their own small-block, sustainably farmed vineyards, garner Palumbo Family Vineyards & Winery a reputation for exceptional quality. Specializing in full-bodied, artisanal reds, offerings include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Sangiovese, Viognier, Syrah; special blends like ‘Tre Fratelli.’ The vineyard and cellar tour is informative; wine tasting, delicious. Estate vineyard adjoining winery: 13 acres. Annual wine production: 2,500 cases.

10–Callaway Vineyard & Winery
Callaway Vineyard & Winery seeks to sustain the long-term viability of the land. Vineyard nesting boxes and perches host hawks and owls. Cover crops between vineyard rows provide habitat for beneficial insects. Callaway winemaking uses unusually cold temperatures to slow and prolong fermentation, allowing wines to retain natural fruit flavors and aromas. Vineyard and winery tours are available with wine tasting, wine-and-cheese, wine-and-dessert, and wine tasting and box-lunch or luncheon buffet. Estate vineyard adjoining winery: 20 acres. Annual wine production: 25,000 cases.

*Information is believed accurate but may be subject to change.

The Temecula Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau (TVCVB) is online at VisitTemecula.org; Facebook: “Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country”; Twitter: @Visit_Temecula. The TVCVB Visitors Center is open 7 days in Old Town Temecula, Third Street and Mercedes. For assistance in including a group agriculture tour as part of your visit to Temecula Valley, please contact Leslie Mercado, Director of Sales, at 951/252-2136 or Leslie @TemeculaCVB.com.

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