Temecula Valley, a warm-climate AVA in Southern California, is known for Mediterranean varietals and a growing reputation for rosé wines. Below is a brief description of the region, along with tasting notes on a dozen outstanding rosé wines.
Temecula Valley AVA: A Rising Star in Southern California Wine Country
The Temecula Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA) is a warm-climate wine region in Southwestern Riverside County, California, located just 60 miles north of San Diego and about 90 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Nestled between coastal mountains and the desert, this sun-drenched valley has been producing wine since the late 1960s and officially received AVA status in 1984.
Although the region’s agricultural history dates back to the 18th-century Spanish missionaries and, later, Mexican rancheros, modern winegrowing began in the 1960s with the establishment of Cilurzo Vineyards and Brookside Winery. The Callaways and Harts, pioneering families, followed shortly thereafter. These early wine-makers laid the foundation for a boutique wine scene that gradually developed over the next few decades.
Today, Temecula Valley boasts over 40 wineries, many of which are family-owned, with a growing reputation for Mediterranean varietals and elegant rosés. The region is also increasingly recognized for experimentation, with Italian, Rhône, Spanish, and even Portuguese varietals finding success in this climate.
Location & Geography
Temecula Valley lies in a bowl-shaped depression formed by the Santa Ana Mountains to the west and the Palomar and San Jacinto ranges to the east. The region’s vineyards typically sit between 1,000 and 1,600 feet in elevation, offering a mix of gentle slopes and flat valley floors.
The Rainbow Gap and Santa Margarita Gap, two breaks in the coastal mountains, allow cool Pacific Ocean air to funnel inland, providing a vital moderating effect that helps balance the valley’s heat and helps to preserve acidity in ripening grapes.
Climate
Temecula has a Mediterranean climate, marked by hot, dry summers with daytime highs often in the 90s°F and cooler evenings thanks to marine air inflows. The low humidity and limited rainfall during the growing season minimize disease pressure, encouraging organic vineyard management. It also creates long hang times, allowing grapes to ripen fully and maximizing flavor development while retaining acidity.
This marked diurnal shift, the difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures, is essential for producing wines with both flavor intensity and freshness. It’s an ideal environment for varietals like Syrah, Grenache, Sangiovese, and Vermentino, producing fruit-forward rosé wines with a brisk acidic core.
Soil Types
Temecula’s soils are varied, reflecting the region’s complex geology. Generally speaking, vineyard soils consist of three main types or, depending on the vineyard’s location, combinations of the different soil types.
The valley floors consist primarily of sandy loam. These soils warm quickly and drain efficiently. In some areas, clay-rich subsoils are also present. These soils offer good water retention, which is critical during extended droughts. They are the most nutrient-rich of all the valley soils and produce the highest yields.
Decomposed granitic soils typically dominate the hillsides. Well-draining and low in organic material, these soils encourage deep root systems and naturally limit vine vigor, enhancing fruit concentration. This mix of poor, well-draining soils is particularly suited to drought-tolerant Mediterranean varietals, which flourish with minimal irrigation.
Below are tasting notes on a selection of 12 rose wines from Temecula Valley.
Bottaia Winery 2023 Blush, 13% ABV, 750 ml. $45
Inspired by Provençal elegance, Bottaia’s Blush is crafted to showcase a layered, elegant sophistication.
The Sangiovese wine is a pale salmon hue, featuring aromas of wild strawberries, rose petals, and white peach. The palate is crisp and fruity, showcasing subtle flavors of red berries, melon, citrus zest, and a refined, mineral-driven finish.
Bottaia Winery 2023 Rosé Spumante, 13% ABV, 750 ml. $50
A sparkling expression rooted in Italian méthode charmat, offering a fun and festive take on a spumante rosé. It’s a blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Vermentino
The wine features a lively mousse, with notes of raspberry, blood orange, brioche, and floral hints. On the palate, a soft, creamy mousse balances bright acidity, showcasing red fruit berry flavors and finishing with notes of red currant and crushed flowers.
Ponte Winery 2024 Pas Doux Rosé, 13.5% ABV, 750 ml. $35
Pas Doux” (French for not sweet) is a drier style of rosé wine, built for food pairing, and made with minimal residual sugar. It’s a co-fermented mix of Syrah, Primitivo, and Tempranillo.
The Merlot-based wine is brisk and refreshingly dry, featuring floral aromas of cherry blossom and rose petals, with fruit notes of melon, red berries, and green apple. The palate is tangy, with brisk acidity showcasing flavors of pink grapefruit and savory herbs.
Ponte Winery 2023 Bubbly Rosé, 13% ABV, 750 ml. $35
An easy-drinking sparkling rosé with a touch of sweetness, crafted for celebrations and casual sipping.
This Merlot wine is fragrant on the nose, featuring candied strawberry, peach, watermelon, and honeysuckle. It’s light-bodied and semi-sweet on the palate with a fine mousse and juicy red berry finish.
Wilson Creek Winery 2023 Rosé of Cinsault, 12.6% ABV, 750 ml. $46
Made from Cinsault, a Rhône varietal prized for its use in rosé, this bone-dry wine from Wilson Creek exudes a Mediterranean vibe.
The wine is aromatic, featuring notes of red berries, rosehip, orange zest, and white pepper. It has a delicate mouthfeel with crisp acidity on the palate, showcasing flavors of pomegranate, strawberries, and citrus, along with a savory, wet stone minerality.
Cougar Vineyard & Winery 2023, Rosa del Vignato, 13.8% ABV, 750 ml. $26
Italian for “Rose of the Vineyard,” this estate wine is made in small batches from estate-grown Italian varietals.
The wine has a bright pink hue, featuring subtle notes of strawberry, pink guava, and dried herbs. It’s tangy on the palate, with a vibrant acidity supporting a fruit-forward and floral finish.
Leoness Cellars 2024 Dry Rosé, 14.1% ABV, 750 ml. $32
A dry Rosé crafted from Grenache and Syrah. It’s food-friendly and easy to drink.
The wine exhibits aromas of rhubarb, strawberry, and rose petals. It’s dry and crisp on the palate, showcasing tart red currant and grapefruit, along with a subtle, wet stone minerality.
Churon Winery 2023 Ruby Rosé, 12.6% ABV, 750 ml. $33
Ruby-hued and richly aromatic, this Churon rosé presents a more robust profile, typical of the rustic style of rosé wines along the Mediterranean coast.
The wine is vibrant and aromatic, featuring notes of raspberry, plum, and hibiscus flowers. Its more robust character is balanced by tangy acidity, which perfectly complements its red berry fruit.
South Coast Winery 2024 Vineyard Rosé, 13.3% ABV, 750 ml. $16
A value-driven, estate-grown rosé crafted from Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah. It’s equally adept for everyday enjoyment or a formal aperitif.
The nose features aromas of candied watermelon, fresh strawberry and cherry, and lime zest. It’s light and crisp on the palate with a brisk acidity and a clean, fruity finish.
Altísima Winery 2024 Coqueta, 12.9% ABV, 750 ml. $44
“Coqueta” means flirty—an apt name for this bold, aromatic, and charming rosé wine.
The wine features intense notes of rose petal, hibiscus, cherry, and lychee. It’s lush and rounded on the palate, balanced by zesty acidity, citrus, and exotic fruit notes, with a lingering finish.
Robert Renzoni Vineyards 2023 Lyric Rosé, 11.3% ABV, 750 ml. $34
Named for its finesse and elegance, this Syrah rosé reflects the Renzoni family’s Italian winemaking heritage.
The wine features aromas of peach, raspberry, citrus zest, and earthy white pepper. It’s silky on the palate, with lively acidity and a long, dry finish.
South Coast Winery 2023 Vineyard Rosé Sparkling, 12.8% ABV, 750 ml. $29
Crafted from 60% Tempranillo and 40% Zinfandel, this food-friendly rosé showcases the floral and red fruit character of these two grape varietals.
The wine offers bright aromas of wild strawberry, watermelon, and rose petal. On the palate, it’s crisp and refreshing, with lively bubbles and flavors of red berries, citrus zest, and a hint of minerality on the clean, dry finish.
Still maturing but increasingly respected, the Temecula Valley AVA is now home to a growing number of award-winning wines, cutting-edge viticulture, and a diverse range of varietals. Its combination of warm climate, cooling influences, unique soils, and entrepreneurial spirit makes it one of the most dynamic and promising AVAs in Southern California. These easy-drinking, food-friendly wines, all reasonably priced, are perfect for the warm summer months.