by tony reverditto
I have been going to Temecula wineries since the early 1980s, and the growth of the wine country is staggering. The region’s unique microclimate, with its warm days and cool nights, proved ideal for grape cultivation. New vineyards and wineries emerged throughout Temecula Valley, expanding the region’s viticultural footprint.
Today, Temecula Valley Wine Country is home to nearly 50 wineries, spread across 33,000 acres, making it the largest in Southern California. The wineries offer a variety of experiences, including tasting rooms, tours, dining and a multitude of events.
Now that I live nearby, I have visited most of the wineries. And while narrowing down my favorites was next to impossible, I have compiled my favorite Temecula Valley wineries that have restaurants, and they are listed in no particular order.
LEONESS CELLARS & THE RESTAURANT AT LEONESS
While Leoness Cellars is well known for its vineyards and winemaking, the founders’ roots were originally in avocado and citrus farming. Multiple wines have been rated 90+ points by Wine Enthusiast Magazine and other major wine publications.
The Restaurant at Leoness has been voted Best Winery Restaurant by the USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards for two consecutive years.
I have dined at the outdoor restaurant several times and have enjoyed it. However, in 2017, a complete renovation of the indoor restaurant took place. The goal was to create a French-style interior, and they achieved that beautifully.
I usually visit wineries early in the week, and since it is only open on Fridays through Sundays, I never paid much attention to the building. I figured it was an event space. When I walked in for the first time, I was blown away by the incredible transformation that had occurred from the previous open space.
Executive Chef Johnathan Gelman blends classic French cooking techniques with modern Californian cuisine, consisting of seasonal selections ranging from vibrant salads to entrees packed with an array of complementary flavors, including seafood, steaks, pastas, unique flatbreads and decadent desserts meant to pair beautifully with their wines and the décor. We were immediately greeted by Adrian, our handsome server/sommelier, and we put in an order of Truffle Fries and Bluefin Tuna Tartar.
He recommended a perfect wine pairing. The presentation of the sumptuous tuna tartar was visually stunning, with a quail egg that we drizzled over the creation, along with black garlic mayonnaise. For our entrées, John ordered the generous portion of Shrimp Scampi Linguine and I chose the Pasticcio Crusted Scallops, served atop creamy turnip puree. Both were cooked to perfection and plated beautifully, and we loved every bite.
Their beautiful wine tasting room features a large gift shop and offers phenomenal wines. The wine tastings have been one of my favorites for the past few years. I am very consistent in ordering the Premium Red tasting journey. There is everything to appreciate when you visit Leoness, including their guided tasting tour with panoramic views.
Leoness Cellars, 38311 De Portola Road, Temecula 951.302.7601 leonesscellars.com
RENZONI WINERY & MAMA ROSA’S TRATTORIA
Aside from the phenomenal wines, scrumptious food and glorious vineyards, the reason Renzoni Winery is near and dear to my heart is the incredible history of winemaking in the Renzoni family, which dates to 1886. Robert Renzoni’s great-grandfather, Federico, began working in the vineyards near Fano, a small Italian village on the shores of the Adriatic Sea.
While working in the vineyards, Federico and his father began making wine for family and friends. Federico emigrated to New York in 1914, where he entered into the wine and cordial business with his brother-in-law, Romeo Battistoni. They were forced out of business by the advent of Prohibition in 1918. In 1934, Robert’s grandfather, Domenic, joined them and they began importing wines from Italy and France.
Born in Buffalo, New York, Robert began his career there and is one of the few vintners in Temecula who has dedicated his entire professional life to the wine industry. In 1989, he became the fourth Renzoni generation to pursue a career in the wine business. The family was once again reunited when Robert and his parents moved to Temecula in 2004. They purchased a beautiful property on De Portola Road, and the rest is modern history in the making.
The striking wine tasting room is huge and they keep it chilly to keep the wine at the perfect temperature, so be sure to bring a sweater if you are sensitive to that. A private dining room upstairs, called The Buffalo Room, is available for special occasions. We have enjoyed dining up there in the past, and it is delightful. They also have a new outdoor picnic area with various games on-site.
Mama Rosa’s Trattoria is named after the matriarch of the family, Rosa, the mother of the family who owns the vineyard. The eatery named in her honor features her recipes and Italian charm, and it is the only place in Temecula Wine Country where you will find a kitchen with a brick oven.
This one is the most casual of my choices, as it is not a full-service restaurant and is outdoors. After placing your order at the counter, they deliver the food to your table and leave you alone to relax and enjoy. I have been here on a couple of occasions when they have had live music, and it is quite enjoyable.
Part of the reason the food is known far and wide is that they import the flour from New Jersey. The menu features pizzas, sandwiches, pasta, salads and appetizers. Par for the course, we ordered a BBQ Chicken Pizza, shredded mozzarella, roasted chicken, in-house made marinade, jalapeños, red onions and barbecue sauce. It definitely had a spicy kick of deliciousness.
John opted for the Traditional Gnocchi, tossed in a choice of marinara, Bolognese, spicy arrabiata or Robert’s way, which was John’s way, with gorgonzola cream sauce. It melted in my mouth when I tasted it. Per usual, I ordered my favorite, the Spaghetti Bolognese, finished with Parmigiana and fresh basil, and had to add one of their yummy meatballs. All of this was thoroughly enjoyed on a beautiful, breezy afternoon with a memorable view.
Renzoni Winery, 37350 De Portola Road, Temecula 951.302.8466 robertrenzonivineyards.com
OAK MOUNTAIN WINERY & THE CAVE
At 104 feet underground, the enchanting Oak Mountain Winery features Southern California’s only subterranean mined wine cave. The wine caves, a key feature of Oak Mountain, were built by tunneling 9,000 square feet into the Pauba formation soil. This provides an ideal environment for aging wines and also serves as a unique venue for captivating wine tours, tastings, dining and events.
On May 17, 2022, after working his way up in the ranks in the winery world over the years, Johnny Leon purchased Oak Mountain. Exactly three years later, after a romance that Hallmark movies are made of, he married Karena on May 17, 2025. Since then, the dynamic duo has continu
ed to build the empire by creating new concepts, such as an outdoor dining and recreational area called The Lawn between the Vines. They have also created Temecula’s only distillery at a winery, and this reimagined space is sexy and super cool.
The Cave Restaurant and the event space are ideal for any type of party or celebration. A 90th birthday party was taking place on the Monday we visited. We have dined at The Cave many times over the years, and the menu continues to evolve and elevate.
We ordered wine and appetizers, starting with two new items: the Mango Poke Tuna, consisting of mango, roasted red pepper, green onions, miso sauce, topped with avocado mousse with cucumber slices and wontons for dipping and Breaded Calamari Steak Strips, paired with blistered shishito peppers. Plain and simple, both were excellent.
We had the privilege of having Karena and Johnny join us for dinner. John had the Chilean Seabass, cooked to perfection and placed over creamy risotto, seared baby bok choy, edamame, sundried tomatoes and miso sauce. I went for the ultra-tender Filet Medallion, with Southwest mashed potatoes, garlic green beans with a yummy mushroom peppercorn sauce.
Karena and Johnny shared the Poblano Linguine, with a mixture of corn, asparagus, poblano pepper sauce and Parmesan cheese, topped with salmon. This was truly a sensational meal.
The winery’s commitment to its community is also evident through its contributions to many charitable organizations. Check out the website for a multitude of upcoming events, including dance and comedy performances.
Oak Mountain Winery, 36522 Via Verde, Temecula 951.699.9102 oakmountainwinery.com
TRUFFLE PIG WINERY & DOMENICO’S ITALIAN CHOP HOUSE
A new restaurant and winery in town grabbed my attention because there has been a lot of hype. Formerly known as Avensole, and under new ownership, it has been rebranded as Truffle Pig Winery.
The reason for the excitement is that the new owners are no strangers in town, Robert Renzoni and Domenic Galleano, both from winemaking families with deep roots in California’s wine industry. The two closed escrow on the 21-acre historic property at the end of January 2025. Robert’s other winery and restaurant is one of my other favorites, previously mentioned in this article.
The first thing that I was curious about was the premise for the name. According to the winery’s website, Truffle Pig Winery’s name refers to “the keen instinct of a truffle-hunting hog — uncovering hidden treasures beneath the surface. … Just as the hog detects the finest truffles, we cultivate our vineyards with precision, allowing the land’s character to shine through in every bottle.”
The property includes a restaurant, a tasting room called The Pig Pen, and 15 acres of planted vineyards.
They decided upon the name Domenico’s Italian Chop House. Domenico is named after multiple men in both families: Robert’s grandfather and Domenic, along with his dad and great-grandfather. Along with Executive Chef Taylor Israelsen, they have been creating and tweaking the Amalfi Coast-inspired menu, which is still being tested.
I am the first media person to review this astounding undertaking and labor of love. For only being open for one week, the property and food were quite impressive.
Upon arrival, a lot was going on. A wedding on a Monday, construction on the redesigned tasting room, and wine tastings in the temporary Pig Pen, which in the future will become a full bar lounge with live entertainment.
Being part of the soft opening of Domenico’s was an exciting experience. We were greeted by the Property General Manager Richelle Woodard. She was gracious, well informed and quite busy, but took the time to give us a tour after the meal.
While the menu is still a work in progress, we had some delicious cuisine. Sampling the Calamari Frito Misto is a must and they use thinly dice
d calamari steaks. I was informed that they have tweaked the coating four times in their first week until they got it just right. For entrées, I ordered the Petite Lobster Tails, which consisted of two 4-ounce tails accompanied by divine truffle butter.
John had Taleggio & Pappardelle, house-made pasta, chef’s blend local mushroom mix, mushroom cream, truffle dust, and grated Parmesan. We savored these dishes with a side of Truffle Sprouts prepared in sherry vinaigrette, dried cranberry and goat cheese.
They have an impressive list of Chophouse Steak selections, including a Beef Wellington that is rumored to outmatch Hell’s Kitchen’s version. The food, wine and ambiance are great, and their future looks bright.
Truffle Pig Winery, 34567 Rancho California Road, Temecula 951.584.0000 trufflepigwinery.com
See more of Tony on the Town’s latest adventures at the Festival of Chefs, back in Newport Beach!