Monte De Oro Winery Review
Address: 35820 Rancho California Rd. Temecula,California 92591.
Phone Number: 951-491-6551
Tasting Hours: 10:00-5:00
Region: South Coast and S. California, Temecula Valley AVA, California
Reviewer: Tara Torres
Review Date: 11/25/2012
Reviewer: Tara Torres
Rating: 4
The Review
At one of the grandest tasting rooms in Temecula Valley you will find a variety of wines, one of which will please your palette, and a pleasant social atmosphere.
The Place: One of the newer editions to the Temecula Wine Country, Monte de Oro went big, real big. The 2,500 square foot Tuscan style wine tasting facility is hardly a tasting room. In fact it boasts two massive bars in the main tasting area and a vast patio. Outdoor fireplaces with covered patios bookend the facility. Cathedral ceilings in the main tasting room provide a museum feel to the place and make it impossible to feel claustrophobic no matter how crowded it gets. Large picture windows allow for maximum enjoyment of the views from inside and let in ample light to the already airy tasting room. Glass panels on the floor offer glimpses into the barrel room below. The sprawling outdoor patio area is capable of hosting a very large gathering, and hosts numerous concerts. The views of the vines and mountains would be stunning, if it werent for the pesky power lines and power station marring the landscape. Dont expect to find a secluded country feeling at Monte De Oro; it wasnt designed to be cozy. It is perfect for large groups or for those times when you are looking for a winery with more of a social feel to it. It is also better equipped to handle the weekend crowds than some of the smaller tasting rooms in Temecula.
The Experience: When walking to the tasting room, it felt like we were strolling into a fancy clubhouse that was hosting a black tie event. The facility was elegant with nicely appointed touches throughout. Prior to tasting we were lured outside by the views and the immense patio. People were meandering around the grounds or seated at one of the many umbrella-covered patio tables. It’s easy to see how Monte De Oro is able to host big name concerts at their outdoor venue. Returning indoors, only one of the substantial bars in the main tasting area was open; however, the service was still efficient. The ratio between wine taster and wine pourer was almost one-to-one, resulting in fast and personal service. We were handed a menu of the wines available for tasting and their current specials. The server explained each wine as she poured and offered recommendations on which wine to try based on our preferences. She also explained the holiday specials that were currently offered, which resulted in us buying a third bottle for almost nothing.
The Wines:  The wines at Monte De Oro range in price from $16 to $70. Six white wines were offered for tasting, with my favorite being the 2010 Chardonnay. This wine was a classic California Chardonnay, full-bodied with vanilla and pear flavors. Seven red wines were available to taste. The full-bodied and slightly jammy 2007 Zinfandel was one of my favorites. A close second was the 2006 Merlot.
Insider’s Tip:  Monte De Oro offers events regularly and tickets are available for purchase on their website. They also offer a wine club with the following options: the mixed or the red only shipments, which are shipped quarterly at either $75 to $85 per shipment. Monte De Oro will either hold the shipment for pick up or will ship the bottles to your home.