Wilson Creek

I must admit that I always felt a certain stigma toward this popular southern California wine country destination. Wilson Creek is probably one of the best known wineries of the Temecula Valley. The reason I turned my nose up at Wilson Creek was that scores of the infamous Almond Champagne plague the shelves of retailers everywhere in southern California; people buzzing left and right about its sweet and nutty goodness. Typically, that just isn't my style. Being a snob, I've got my own ideas about what makes a quality sparkling wine. A bubbly is something more than just a beverage to be chugged at parties, right? But people are very smug in their ignorance. Regardless, I always avoided the winery when exploring Temecula Valley wine country.

However, on one particular October afternoon I decided to check it out. I had been tasting in the valley with a girl friend of mine who usually prefers wines on the sweeter side. Thinking that Wilson Creek might be a good stop for her and feeling adventurous, I pulled into the dusty parking lot. The grounds are spacious and gorgeous, which houses both the tasting room and the restaurant Creekside Grille (and then some). The staff was welcoming and generous, which included two golden retrievers. There were knick-knacks and trinkets galore available for purchase around the tasting room. The tasting fee is $12 per person on weekdays and $15 per person on weekends. This gets you a taste of 5 different wines of your choosing. (We were both lucky enough to receive an additional complimentary taste of their rose). I was pleasantly surprised by the selection on their wine list; there were white, red, sparkling and dessert wines to choose from. There were also some unique wine "cocktails" to choose from (for an additional charge each). For example, Wilson Creek offers the Almond Champagne mixed with their "Decadencia" Chocolate Port in a little edible chocolate cup for a nominal fee.

 Between this friend and I, we tasted all four of the sparkling wines Wilson Creek had to offer. This includes the Grand Cuvee Champagne, Almond Champagne, Peach Bellini sparkling wine and the Orange Mimosa sparkling wine. The Almond Champagne is a slightly sweet sparkling wine with almond flavoring added. The Grand Cuvee Champagne is more traditional in style; it is crisp and mostly dry. The Peach Bellini and Orange Mimosa sparkling wines are two new additions to the Wilson Creek wine list. Both are a combination of said flavoring combined with almond. Both are unique and delectable, although I was particularly partial to the Orange Mimosa sparkling wine. The wine is zippy with its citrus flavors up front and subtle almond on the back palate. A real guzzler!

Amongst the white wines, I found the White Cabernet Sauvignon to be the most interesting. Upon first glance at the wine list, a person might assume this wine to be a slightly sweet pink wine. The wine is indeed slightly sweet, but it is as clean and clear as any white wine. A red wine earns its color only by fermenting on the skins, since nearly all grape varieties have clear pulp. Therefore, any red grape may be used to make a white wine, so long as it is immediately pressed and separated from the skins. This is exactly how Wilson Creek produces its White Cabernet Sauvignon. It is light and elegant, aromatic and fruity. This would be perfect for spicy food and hot summer days. Of course, Wilson Creek also offers drier white wines to taste, such as chardonnay and viognier.

The extensive red wine list runs the gamut from light and juicy wines (like the 2009 Grenache Noir) to heavy and bold wines (like the 2009 Reserve Estate Malbec). Some are blends of different grapes (like the 2007 Meritage) while others are 100% varietal (like the 2008 Winemaker's Select Estate Zinfandel). Wilson Creek does also offer a handful of their "reserve" wines to taste. Most are dry wines.

The dessert wine list currently includes four wines: the 2009 Late Harvest Chardonnay, the Late Harvest Zinfandel Port, the "Decadencia" Chocolate Port and the Angelica Cream Sherry. All are very sweet and suitable for either drinking alone after dinner or for pouring over ice cream.

Overall, my experience here was very pleasant, and though cliche, I have learned to never judge a book by its cover. Each winery has its strong points and something unique to offer. I even brought home a bottle of the Orange Mimosa sparkling wine as a souvenir. Whether or not a wine is considered "good quality" (an extremely sensitive and subjective matter) should have no bearing on a wine's ability to be enjoyed. I most definitely will be returning to Wilson Creek in the future. I recommend visiting Wilson Creek Winery and Vineyards for yourself the next time you find yourself in the Temecula Valley, keeping in mind that the winery is a tourist spot and can become very busy at times. I doubt that you'll regret it. For more information, check out www.wilsoncreekwinery.com