Oak Mountain – Temecula Hills Review

Address: 36522 Via Verde Temecula,California 92592.
Phone Number: 951-699-9102
Tasting Hours: 11:00-5:00

Region: South Coast and S. California, Temecula Valley AVA, California
Reviewer: Tara Torres
Review Date: 6/11/2013
Reviewer: Tara Torres
Rating: 4

The Review

Sitting high on a hill overlooking a valley of vines, Oak Mountain Winery provides one of the best views in Temecula wine country and produces some nice wine. Unfortunately, the customer service, at least during our visit, didn’t match the view.

The Place: &nbspOak Mountain Winery provides splendid views of the De Portola Wine Trail area. The covered cement veranda is perched above the vineyards, providing a wonderful place to enjoy a glass of wine. The event pavilion sits next to the veranda; its glass doors make the most of the scenery and provide an outdoor feel. The fireplace-equipped event room is perfect for year-round events. The tasting room is basically a Quonset hut and isn’t nearly as grand as the event area. Doubling as the barrel room, the bar area is to the right as you walk in with a small gift shop setup. There is an avocado oil and balsamic vinegar tasting station set up as well.

The Experience: &nbspAsending the winding driveway surrounded by vines, I knew I was in for a special treat. Prior to entering the tasting room, we spent some time walking around the grounds and reveled in the views. We walked to an empty area at the bar where a blond woman was washing glasses. Apparently we interrupted her, but she eventually took our money in exchange for poker chips (used to keep track of wine pours). Fortunately, a younger man soon approached and welcomed us with a smile to Oak Mountain. This was more like it! He poured us our first tastes but then went back to helping other customers. After almost losing my pen to our less-than-friendly hostess and, surely accidentally, having chips removed without receiving a pour, the gentleman interceded and recovered both my pen and the missing poker chips!

The Wines: &nbspOak Mountain Winery has an extensive wine selection filled with peppery reds. The two page tasting menu offers two sparkling wines, four white wines, six red wines, and one port. The wines range from $19 to $45 per bottle, while most are in the $25 to $30 range making it one of the more affordable options among Temecula wineries. Of the white wines, the 2012 River Rhodes caught my attention with its unique peppermint finish. For the reds, the 2010 For Pete’s Sake with its dominantly earthy flavors and a hint of black licorice, was my favorite. A portion of the For Pete’s Sake is donated to the “Cause for Paws” foundation which helps diabetic animals. The wine was named for the winery dog, Pete, who passed away after suffering from diabetes.

Insider’s Tip: &nbspThe Oak Mountain wine club has three options to choose from and allows you to swap out the wine if you don’t like what you get. The winery features live music on the pavilion every Saturday and Sunday from 1-5pm. They also offer wine tasting classes and cooking classes. Oak Mountain offers a variety of dinners from BBQs to winemakers dinners, and even dinners for you and your dog. The winery also holds fundraisers for the Cause for Paws foundation.