wineries

To kick off the autumn season, many of Temecula’s wineries uphold the yearly tradition of the grape stomp and harvest festival. Grape stomps, just as it sounds, consists of participants standing in large bushels and stomping until their feet turn purple. Just like the classic I Love Lucy episode, its good, not-so-clean fun.

Europa Village Winery once again taps into Spanish culture with their own version of the La Tomatina Festival; the decades-old tradition in Buñol, Spain, where thousands of attendees hurl the plump red fruits (yes, they are fruits) at one another; turning the streets into a big bowl of marinara.

The Full Moon Run is an evening 5K run and 1K wine walk celebrating the full moon while supporting a good cause. All proceeds support the Temecula Theater Foundation, which develops, supports and enhances educational opportunities for the performing arts.

For those who won’t have the chance to make it out to Hawaii this summer, Lorimar’s Lei’d Back Luau will transport guests to the islands, complete will all the essentials you would expect from this type of hula hoedown. Guests will be receive the traditional lei greeting and enjoy live Hawaiian music, hula dancers and other traditional island entertainment.

After years of paying their dues -playing in bars and clubs five nights a week just trying to get noticed – brothers Tom and Mike Gossin found their muse in Rachel Reinert; a fellow struggling country vocalist on the cusp of the being discovered as the next big thing. Once joining forces, the trio signed with Emblem Music Group and Gloriana was born.

Easily the biggest and most anticipated annual event in the valley, Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival packs Lake Skinner Recreation Area with tens of thousands of guests itching to partake in the festival’s culinary creations and potent potables, sunrise balloon sails across wine country and other adult as well as family activities; all while enjoying great entertainment from some of the music industry’s biggest names and hottest up-and-comers.

Mother’s Day is now less than a week away and, if you haven’t put any thought into the occasion, What’s Up? Temecula has a few ideas and suggestions that are much better than running to Albertson’s early Sunday morning and grabbing one of those pre-made bouquets (although they are better than nothing.)

Can’t make it to the Kentucky Derby this year? Well, turn that frown upside down because the Temecula Valley Dachshund Club is recreating the fun and excitement of the world’s most famous four-legged race but on a slightly smaller, and furrier, scale with their 6th Annual Wiener Fest.

It’s going to be a mild and beautiful weekend in wine country and now there is a way to enjoy the weather and get a little exercise; all while supporting a great cause. This Sunday, April 26th, Our Nicholas Foundation presents the 3rd Annual Walk in the Vines for Autism through the beautiful vineyards of Leoness Cellars.

German rock band, the Scorpions, have been rocking audiences “like a hurricane” for half a century and, after seeing them live in 1983, Jeff Ciavardini’s admiration for the band was solidified. A few decades later, Ciavardini wanted to take his love for Scorpion’s music one step further than the average fan.