THE TEMECULA VALLEY'S QUALITY QUEST

Surrounded by the tens of millions of fun-loving Californians from Los Angeles to San Diego, many Temecula Valley wineries historically emphasized tourism functions like bridal showers, vineyard weddings and on-site restaurants, hotels and spas, rather than what’s inside their bottles.

But a growing cadre of winemakers has been upgrading Temecula’s vinous profile through quality craftsmanship to compete with more established regions to the north. These producers dial in viticultural techniques, experiment with new cellar technologies and explore the area’s many microclimates. In particular, they’re delving into De Luz and La Cresta Hills to the west, which offer higher elevations, more varied geology and closer proximity to the cool coast than the often scorching valley floor.

Palumbo Family Vineyards and Winery

From Glories to Grapes

Nicholas Palumbo went from SoCal beach bum to bassist in a “three-piece, melodic, heavy post-grunge” band called the Morning Glories, which rocked New York City during the mid-1990s. Palumbo also worked in several kitchens and took culinary classes with