Ramada Old Town Temecula

Temecula Balloon and Wine Festival

by GinGinCoo

A tradition since 1983, the Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival welcomes guests from all over Southern California, The festival is held near Lake Skinner where you can also camp.

Over 50 colorful balloons launch from the grassy fields of Lake Skinner Regional Park Saturday and Sunday mornings. Enjoy a flight over Temecula's Wine Country during the vineyard's spring bloom. Or, take a sample "tethered" ride where you soar 100 feet above the Festival Crowd.

Dancing Balloons Glows
The crowd encircling the main launch field waits patiently for the starlit night sky. Anticipation heightens as night falls and the feeling of a colorful party intensifies. The Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival is the only ballooning event known to produce "dancing balloons" during evening balloon glows. Watch as the balloon pilots, with perfect synchronization, ignite their balloon burners to a musical beat of rock and pop tunes illuminating the pitch black sky with brilliant color.

Wine Garden and Gourmet Demonstrations
The International Wine and Cheese Garden at the Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival is one of the most popular attractions.

The festival features Temecula Valley's finest premium wines, including sparkling wines. Food demonstrators and samplings include gourmet cheese, hors d'ouevres, and specially prepared foods.

MAURICE CAR'RIE WINERY VICTORIAN FARMHOUSE

by travelgourmet

Visiting the Temecula Wine country on the weekend and you can't miss the Maurice Car'rie Winery with all the white tent canopies near the parking lot by Rancho California Road. This is the Arts & Crafts Fair that takes place from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturdays and Sundays on the front picnic grounds of the winery. Before or after you go in for wine tasting, you can browse the different vendors with hand made jewelry, maybe finding a nice necklace in wine country as a reminder of your visit. All types of arts and crafts are displayed and most are hand made.

Okay, so now the real reason you stopped in the parking lot of the white tent canopies is to have a little wine tasting at Maurice Car'rie Winery. Just behind the tents sits a Victorian-style farmhouse that is the winery. It has a feel of coming home to apple pie, but no, this is the time for wine. Inside the front doors you are treated to a gift store of wine glasses, wine racks filled with bottles of wine, accessories for wine picnics and your home bar. So, where is the wine tasting bar? In the back, behind all this paraphernalia that is a distraction from the reason you are here. I felt it was a little over kill. I came for wine tasting and if I enjoy your wine then I may purchase some or I may look around to see what you are displaying for me to maybe pick up. Not the other way around.

Finally at the wine tasting bar. Must admit it was busy, so I was looking forward to some excellent tastes. I found two wines to my liking and with all the ribbons and awards the winery has won, I was a little disappointed in only having two wines that made me want more. They were a 2008 Riesling and a blush wine made from Cabernet Sauvignon called Sara Bella 2008. In fact, the 2008 Riesling was the first semi-sweet Riesling I have enjoyed in a long time. I usually like my Riesling dry. The winery, itself, is a nice walk-around with the wrap around veranda. The Maurice Car'rie Winery is located at 34225 Rancho California Rd Temecula, CA and is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm.

TEMECULA, WINE AND DINE DESTINATION

by travelgourmet

"OLD TOWN TEMECULA, A GREAT WEEK-END GETAWAY"

Temecula, California is located south of Corona and north of San Diego on the I-15 highway. Easy to reach by car, this is one city that is growing by leaps and bounds. Becoming famous for the wine that is produced in the Temecula Valley, the city also has a wonderful part called "Old Town" that was established in 1859.

Many motels, hotels, B&B's are located in and around Temecula as are Indian Casinos, Pechanga and Pala, for those that want a little Las Vegas with their wine country tasting tour. Pechanga is a mega resort with eight restaurants and over 2000 slot and video gambling games. Old Town grabs the old west and antique stores get the attention. Restaurants and bars line Front Street for a little relaxing time in Old Town.