2010 March

Wine on a Dime

March 31, 2010 By Bethany Rogers Leave a Comment

Guest Writer: Jim Lilly Temecula’s newest wine store, Wine On A Dime, is owned and operated by Don and Michelle Campini. Many may recognize their names, as they are the former owners of Campini’s Deli. After 8 years of owning the Deli, the Campini’s sold it in 2006 and, in January of this year, they opened Wine On A Dime. When asked why they decided to open a wine store, Don replied, “Just like the deli, we felt it was a niche that had not been filled.” There are wine stores in the area, but Wine On A Dime is different. Don and Michelle have opened a store that has more of a warehouse … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Wineries Tagged With: affordable, beer, campini, jim lilly, warehouse, Wine on a Dime, wine spectator, wine spectator top 100, wine stores, wine tasting, Wines & Wineries

Mountains of flowers in Rainbow

March 29, 2010 By Crispin Courtenay Leave a Comment

Hidden high up in the mountain mists of Rainbow is one of the seven flower farms managed by Protea USA. It's a unique operation that blends so well into the landscape you would never even see it, if you did not know that it was there. The operation is Lawrence Keller's brainchild, and for this South African expatiate, it very appropriately, grows only South African flowers. Upon first meeting Lawrence, he pulled up into the parking lot of a local restaurant blowing a plastic horn that was about 3 feet long, in the most blaring horrific bleating that only a mountain sheep could love. I liked him instantly! Lawrence … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Family Tagged With: african flower, california protea association, Chip Morton, Crispin Courtenay, Lawrence Keller, Leucadendron Discolor, Leucospermum Flame Giant, Leucospermum High Gold, manly pursuit, protea farm, Protea USA, Purple Pride Waxflower, Rainbow, south african flowers

Firelight wine tasting, Milagro Chardonnay

March 29, 2010 By Crispin Courtenay Leave a Comment

With palates overloaded from bratwurst, beer, hot peppers and home-made fries our host introduced a Chardonnay, local, from Ramona. I was fortunate at this tasting to be in the company of two professional tasters; Travis Tingley and Trasier Schuyler. I like evaluating wine in a group as someone always tends to pick up on a nuance that is overlooked, and you are then able to go back in and explore the taste or aroma. Chardonnay is typically 'challenged' in Southern California, the heat tends to make thin, acrid, fruit bombs with an alcohol rating off the charts, which is why they are rarely mentioned. Milagro … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Other Tagged With: acre farm, Chardonnay, Crispin Courtenay, definite impact, floral notes, Milagro, milagro Chardonnay, peak temperature, professional tasters, romona ava, Trasier Schuyler, Travis Tingley

The Temecula Challenge, Bike Ride and Triathlon

March 29, 2010 By Crispin Courtenay Leave a Comment

Courtesy Rotary Club of Temecula Date Saturday, April 17, 2010 - Sunday, April 18, 2010 local time Address Bike Ride - Old Town Temecula & Triathlon at Great Oak High School Tri only - 32555 Deer Hollow Way (right off Pechanga) Fees See Details Below! Registration Closing Date Friday, April 16, 2010 @ 11:59 PM Individual Event Pricing Tri - $55 thru 2/10, $60 thru 3/10, thereafter $70 Tri Relay - $70 thru 2/10, $75 thru 3/10, thereafter $85 5K - $20 thru 2/10, $25 thru 3/10, thereafter $35 Kids' Fun Run - $10 Bike - 100 Mile - $55 thru 2/10, $60 thru 3/10, thereafter … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Other Tagged With: 100k, 25k, 50k, April 17 & 18, bike ride, endurance sports, kids fun, mile bike, Palomar Mountain, Temecula Challenge, Temecula Rotary, time address, town temecula, Triathlon

Easter Egg Hunt

March 29, 2010 By Crispin Courtenay Leave a Comment

The City of Temecula Community Services Department is once again hosting an Easter Egg Hunt, this Saturday for children up to 11 years old. The event takes place at the following parks: Date: Saturday, April 3rd Time: 10am start (don't be late) Locations: *Harveston Community Park (28582 Harveston Drive) Paloma Del Sol Park (32099 De Portola Road) Ronald Reagan Sports Park North/South fields (42569 Margarita Road) Temeku Hills Park (31367 La Serena Way) Look for the balloons marking your age group: Red: 1-2 years Blue: 3-4 years Pink: 5-7 years Purple: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Family Tagged With: April 3rd, City of Temecula, del sol park, Easter, easter egg hunt, egg hunt, paloma del sol park, parks, portola road, Saturday, Temecula

Inland Empire CSA

March 26, 2010 By Bethany Rogers 2 Comments

Bethany Rogers Eating well means different things to different people. To the gourmet, it means eating delicious food, full of complex flavor. To the health enthusiast, it means eating natural foods, low in fat, high in nutrition. The Inland Empire CSA provides a convenient way for both of these groups to eat well, while also answering concerns about our earth and environment. CSA stands for Consumer Supported Agriculture. Simply put, a consumer buys shares in a farm, or farms. In return for the investment, the consumer receives a box, or share of produce each week. The Inland Empire CSA is unique because … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Family Tagged With: Aguanga, bethany rogers, chemical fertilizers, Consumer Supported Agriculture, De Luz, In Defense of Food, Inland Empire CSA, Michael Pollan, nutritional value of food, row crops, sage mountain, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, tree crops

Milagro: by definition, such an effect or event manifesting or considered as a work of God.

March 26, 2010 By Trasier Schuyler Leave a Comment

Yep, that's pretty much how I see it too. Finding a good Chardonnay in this area can sometimes be challenging. Well, fret no longer my chardonnay lovers. Although you have been drawn to La Crema and the sort, I have found your local alternative and at a price that you will sing an ample praise to. I love my passion for turning people onto wine, I am fortunate to be able to write about wines that I truly believe you will enjoy every week. This week I am thrilled to turn you onto not just a wine but a legacy. A father who passed his crafts down to his son who has taken his training and will no doubt … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Wine of the Week Tagged With: AVA, bosc pear, Chardonnay, Jim Hart, Joe Hart, Milagro Farm Vineyards and Winery, orange blossom, pick of the week, Ramona, South Coast AVA, star fruit, Trasier Schuyler

Hands for Haiti Now

March 24, 2010 By Ashley & Jason Edmonds 1 Comment

For those of you reading this article some might be thinking, “ok we’ve done our part for Haiti lets move on…” or some of you even say “Why are we reaching out to Haiti so much when we have people here that need help?” You may be familiar with the phrase “for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” Human trafficking in Haiti has proved to be a formidable consequence of the country’s earthquake aftermath; particularly the trafficking of children. Reports have come in about arrests being made of people casually telling these children their parents had died from the quake and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Charities Tagged With: barona valley ranch, chef bernard, earthquake aftermath, grass roots, human trafficking

Blue Grass Music Festival

March 23, 2010 By Johanna Lack Leave a Comment

By: Johanna Lack What do you do on a bright, sunny Saturday and you have two kids and a teenage Spanish exchange student to entertain? You go to the Temecula Bluegrass Festival. Because if Bluegrass isn’t true, blue American music then I don’t know what is. And if someone is visiting from another country, it’s always fun to introduce them to America’s roots. The last time I went to the festival was four or five years ago, and though the music was fine, Old Town was almost a ghost town. I don’t know where everyone was back then, but they missed a lot of fun. However, my first clue that … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Family, Live Music Tagged With: blue grass festival. old town, blue grass music, Crispin Courtenay, fiddle, first clue, Johanna Lack, marshmallow guns, Temecula, temecula bluegrass festival, vantage point

Chef Swap

March 23, 2010 By Crispin Courtenay Leave a Comment

Two of Wine County's Top Chefs have switched jobs Although the we here at Taste of Temecula have known for sometime now, we were asked to keep this under wraps until it was official. Steve Stawinski former Ponte Executive Chef for almost seven years has moved across the street to Wilson Creek Winery's Creekside Grille. When asked about his new job after the first day, he said “I think I am going to like it here.” He should, the Wilson's make everyone feel like part of the family and have twice been ranked employer of the year. Wilson Creek's outgoing Executive Chef Clay Blake is now the new Executive … [Read more...]