Day Trip to Temecula Wine Country

During my visit, I stayed at the Carter Estate Winery and Resort. I found out while I was there that this is the sister property to South Coast Winery and Resort, one of the original resorts in Temecula and where I stayed over 15 years ago. Carter Estate is a smaller property on the other side of the road and it definitely has a more boutique vibe. As you drive in, the wine tasting room is on the left, but if you keep going up the drive, you will encounter a small office right before the entrance gates. The staff provided an exceptionally warm and welcoming experience, and they kindly arranged a complimentary wine tasting during my stay.

The property has a distinctive horseshoe shape, which makes it quite easy to navigate and find your specific building. My building had two bungalows connected by an entrance foyer, which I thought would be great for a family or friends trip. This setup would give you two rooms that aren't technically connected, but the private foyer entrance would allow for seamless movement and interaction between them while maintaining individual privacy.

The rooms are all private villa style with the most darling patios facing the vineyards. I stayed in the Vineyard Estate Bungalow and found it to be spacious, warm, and welcoming. They also have larger and more spacious bungalows as well.

The dining options are limited at Carter Estate, with just a Vineyard Grill for room service for breakfast, or lunch at the grill by the pool. It closes at 3 pm during the week and 4 pm on weekends, so dinner is definitely something you want reservations for elsewhere. However, as I mentioned before, this is a sister property to South Coast Winery and Spa across the street, so you can book spa services and restaurant reservations at the wonderful Vineyard Rose Restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It also serves tapas on the wine tasting patio.

South Coast Winery and Spa is a much larger property and frequently accommodates bigger events and groups, such as corporate retreats and weddings. They have everything ranging from beautiful oversized suites in their tower to villas with private patios up close to the vineyard or patio gardens. Both of these properties are centrally located in the heart of Temecula wine country and present excellent choices for either a brief escape or an extended visit.

Amenities at both properties include:

• Faux and gas fireplaces

• Soothing deep soaking tubs

• Private patios with vineyard or mountain views

• Wet bars

• Wine chilling refrigerators

• Connecting and ADA rooms available

Amenities vary based on room type and availability. A daily $34 resort amenities fee is charged, which includes bottled water, parking, Wi-Fi, in-room coffee and tea, and access to the pool area and hot tub.

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