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Frangipani Winery and Vineyard Review

Frangipani Winery and Vineyard Review

Address: 39750 De Portola Road Temecula,California 92591.
Phone Number: 951-699-8845
Tasting Hours: 10:00-6:00

Region: South Coast and S. California, Temecula Valley AVA, California
Reviewer: Tara Torres
Review Date: 7/8/2013
Reviewer: Tara Torres
Rating: 5

The Review

Slightly off the beaten path of the DePortola Wine Trail, you will find Frangipani Winery‘s modest tasting room, beautiful vineyards and excellent wines; all of which will make you want to come back for more.

The Place: &nbspA dirt driveway bordered by a white wood fence and symmetrical Italian cypress trees winds its way up to the tasting room through the vineyard. The tasting room will not be winning any architectural awards anytime soon, but it is cozy and comfortable. You pass through two stone pillars to enter the outside patio where you will find tables and chairs inviting you to sit, sip and enjoy the vineyard views. A rust-colored tarp provides shade. Bocce ball courts are located next to the wedding pavilion which sits below the tasting room in the middle of the vineyard. Inside the tasting room, visitors can take a seat at the round tables with purple table clothes or find a spot at the long, wooden bar. Barrels line the back wall.

The Experience: &nbspDuring the short drive up to the tasting room, my friend and I debated how to pronounce “Frangipani”. I suggested it was pronounced with a heavy nasal sound with “pani” sounding more like “panty”. My friend argued it was grander sounding than that, with “pani” pronounced like “pawnee”. We later learned my friend was right. Upon parking at “Frawngipawnee”, we were immediately greeted by a dog, whose name was Frani and seemed to have accepted too many treats from guests. Before she went inside through her doggy door, she gave us a look as if beckoning us to follow. We did and were rewarded with a welcoming blast of air conditioning. There were a few other people there and only one bartender, but this did not slow down the service. In fact, the bartender managed to keep up banter with all of us while sliding back and forth to fill empty glasses. We left having enjoyed our time at the winery, and the wines we tasted ensured that we would be back.

The Wines: &nbspOur group quickly reached a consensus that Frangipani had the best wines we tried that day. Frangipani offers varietals less common in Temecula, such as a Riesling and a Malbec. My favorite of the white wines was the 2011 Viognier. The reds were all quite good, including the 2010 Cabernet Franc which is a varietal that is normally not my favorite. Frangipani also produces a couple of blends such as the NV D’vino, which is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and the not-to-be-missed 2010 Estate Claret, which is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. Wines run from $16 to $38 per bottle. Wine tasting is $12 for six tastes.

Insider’s Tip: &nbspFrangipani has two different options for wine clubs with the difference being the number of bottles of wine you will receive and the number of complimentary wine tastings you can enjoy. The winery also hosts events, such as cigar night, sporadically.