A Bottle For Me, a Bottle For You

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Merry Christmas Eve! With New Years Eve next week, we'll be skipping Weekend Update next week (January 1) and resuming in two weeks on Monday, January 7. Feel free to use that week as a recap Christmas, your weekend, or both - whatever you prefer!

As for this weekend, my highlight was wine tasting in Temecula. Located just over an hour east of LA, and not too far north from San Diego, it's a great place to get away for a day. This weekend I treated my friend to a few tastings and a bottle of wine from our favorite local winery, Baily.

I used to be strictly a red wine drinker, until I tried Baily's Riesling-Dry. Now whenever I go to Temecula I go there to buy that wine. If you live in the area or visit Temecula you must try this wine!

Then we went to another winery, Frangipani, for another tasting to end our afternoon.

In other news - I need your help! This weekend I also entered in a Model of the Month contest hosted by Brooke Louise Photography. Brooke is a talented photographer, and also my IRL friend and blogger over at Chelsea Grey, and she hosts a monthly contest where one winner gets a photo shoot. To vote for me, please leave a comment on my photo here. And I get two votes if you like the Facebook page. I'm way behind so it's a long shot. Thanks so much in advance!!

What did you do this weekend? Link up with me and my co-host Sami of Sami's Shenanigans and tell us all about it. We just ask that you follow these rules:

1. Blog about your weekend
2. Add the badge (above) to your post.
3. Add the blog post link to the linkup below.

 

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And then I stepped in manure...

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Despite the title of this post, last Saturday I had quite a good time wine tasting in Temecula! And yes, I did step in manure. Here's how it all went down...

Baily Vineyard and Winery
(The policy differs online and from what I experienced in the past)
Weekends
$10/6 tastings

This is my favorite winery! Both times I have visited I've been extremely satisfied with my experience. On Saturday, Ricardo hooked it up! He's awesome! As opposed to the $10/6 pours, I got the $10/12 pours deal. I told him I enjoyed red mostly but was willing to try everything...so he literally let me try everything! As a result I fell in love with a white wine and my friend bought me a bottle of Reisling-Dry for Christmas.

The staff is very friendly and helpful. They really take the time to have conversations with you and explain their wines. Unfortunately this is unique, as the others aren't as personable.

Ponte Family Estate Winery

Weekends
$20/6 tastings/logo wine glass

This is where it all went to shit...literally. At this stop I decided to skip tasting because they specialize in sweet and dessert wines, both of which I'm not a huge fan of. After my friends were done tasting I wanted to take pictures of the beautiful red, orange, and yellow leaved vineyards. As I walked down a path my shoe boot sunk into mud all the way to my ankle. Soon after I realized, by the nauseating stench, that I had stepped in manure. Not OK.

Palumbo Family Vineyards & Winery
Every day
$10/5 tastings/logo wine glass

After I'd cleaned myself up a bit we headed to a family winery that was small and intimate. It was a bit crowded so we waiting our turn as we watched a few pups run around on the property. Once we finally wiggled our way up to the counter we were pretty much on our own tasting. Maybe because the crowd was a bit older and we look young we weren't getting much attention? Or maybe it's because i smelled like cow dung.

Maurice Car'rie Vineyard & Winery
Every day
wine: $10/5 tastes/logo wine glass
champagne/sparkling wine: $10/4 tastes/logo champagne flute

By the time we got to this winery we were definitely a little wined up so we passed on the tasting and got a snack. They are known for their sourdough bread filled with melted cheese. Unfortunately I didn't take a picture, but believe me when I say it was amazing! At some point I'll try to recreate it at home.

Callaway Vineyard & Winery
$15/6 tastes/logo wine glass

Last time I visited Temecula I purchased wine from Callaway and had a great time touring the facility so I wanted to go back for another visit. Somehow we managed to get the same rude lady that helped us on my first visit. This time around she killed it for us. Her attitude overpowered the wine and, unfortunately, as a result I probably won't go back again.

If you live in or near Southern California, or plan on visiting anytime soon, I suggest a little wine getaway in Temecula. The city is a charming town located approximately 85 miles south of Los Angeles and 60 miles north of San Diego. There are plenty of wineries to choose from - all of which are conveniently located close together. Check out the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association site for info about all of the wineries.

Wine Wednesday!

My friend surprised me with an awesome birthday present - a trip to Temecula wine country! My hometown isn't far from Temecula, yet I've only been wine tasting there once so I am super excited. Last time I went I had a blast! In addition to Temecula, I've only been tasting in Paso Robles and Sonoma, both of which were amazing, beautiful trips. Needless to say I am stoked to get ma drink on!

We planning to go early September, then back again in late November when the vineyards are a beautiful orange. It'll be the closet thing to a fall we get down here in Southern California. Until then, here are some pics to hold me over.

Source: kittensandcake.tumblr.com via Leeann on Pinterest

Source: groupon.com via Leeann on Pinterest

Source: oncewed.com via Leeann on Pinterest

Source: alovelymorning.blogspot.com via Leeann on Pinterest

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Leeann on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Leeann on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Leeann on Pinterest

What are you pinning this week? Head over to The Vintage Apple and link up with Oh, How Pinteresting Wednesday and share! You can follow my boards here, and I'll follow yours back :)

My What the Hell Wednesday portion of this post is time...why must it take so long for exciting trips/plans/moments to happen? I can be a bit impatient I guess, but fa real? Can September hurry up and get here already? Then after that time can slow down again.

What's on your mind? Let that rant out by joining the blog hop hosted by Christianna of The Girl With the Blue Bow. You'll feel better after you get it off your chest ;)

Red, Red Wine!

OK you know you love the UB40 song...if you deny it you're only lying to yourself! ;)

Recently I had the pleasure of visiting local winery town, Temecula, for a little vino consumption with great friends, my college sorority sisters. Although I've lived only an hour from Temecula for over 20 years, this was my first time touring the wineries.

We had SO much fun!

Here's a little recap of the wineries we visited, along with my review of each:

Wilson Creek Winery and Vineyards

5 tastings for $12

Definitely the most popular, thus the most crowded. They are known for their Almond Champagne which you've probably had before. And if not, head over to BevMo to pick up a bottle because it's delicious! While the winery is huge and has a little something for everyone, there were way too many people so we decided to do our tastings and move on to the next winery.

Baily Vineyard and Winery

5 tastings for $10 + a souvenir glass

This was my favorite winery as far as setting and service. The gentleman that helped us was extremely friendly - which always makes for a great experience. It was also the least crowded, which I prefer. It's no fun fighting crowds to get a taste. We decided to eat lunch here, at Carol's Restaurant, the setting is a bit eclectic but the meal was pretty good.

Callaway Vineyard and Winery

6 tastings for $12 + a souvenir glass

Originally owned and operated by the same man famous for the Callaway golf company, this winery had the most to offer. We started with a free winery tour which was really informational and enjoyable! A few of us even bought wine and my friend joined the wine club. I got the 2008 Special Selection Dolcetto which the label describes as: Aromas of dried cranberry, cherry and touches of light toast. Soft vanilla on the palate with vibrant cherry, red currants, French vanilla and cola.

Fun fact that I learned - wines with more alcohol (reds) have thinner legs that run down the glass faster.

If you live in Southern California, I highly suggest you visit the Temecula wineries. It's a great time to be had by all!