Discover South Coast Winery Resort & Spa in Temecula—a pet-friendly, award-winning winery offering luxury stays, sustainable practices, and unforgettable wine country experiences.
Escape to the heart of Temecula Valley at South Coast Winery Resort & Spa, where award-winning wines, serene surroundings, and pet-friendly hospitality come together in perfect harmony. This inviting resort offers a luxurious yet laid-back atmosphere, with a strong commitment to sustainability woven into its winemaking and daily operations, making it a getaway you can feel good about.
South Coast Winery features a hotel, spa, winery, and restaurant. Upon entering the property, one is taken by the landscaping, including the 63 acres of rolling vineyards. My first trip to South Coast Winery and Resort occurred in the spring, but this visit was in the fall. The vineyards were bursting with autumn colors of red, orange, and yellow. Although the flowers were not in full bloom, walking through the arbors in front of the tasting room was enchanting.
South Coast Winery Arbor. Photo by Cori Solomon
What is impressive is that with all this excellent landscaping, one of the main focal points of this sustainable winery is water. Since California has been experiencing a drought, it is essential for wineries, which are highly dependent on water, to be very conscientious. South Coast Winery prioritizes the use of minimal water while maintaining the highest quality in its wines and other products and services. Energy efficiency is another aspect of sustainability that the South Coast concentrates on.
Walking a Saluki on the grounds of South Coast Winery & Resort. Photo by Cori Solomon
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History of the South Coast Winery Resort
The resort was founded by Jim Carter, who purchased his first vineyards in the Temecula Valley over 20 years ago. The winery was established in 2003, but its first wine was produced in 2001. Eventually, Carter built the area’s first full-service winery resort. The resort opened in 2006. Today, South Coast is owned and operated by Carter Hospitality, led by Jeff Carter, Jim Carter’s son. It includes South Coast Winery, Carter Estate Winery and Resort in Temecula, and Carter Creek Winery Resort & Spa in Johnson City, Texas. The latter is located in the Texas Hill Country wine region.
South Coast Winery & Resort Villa. Photo by Cori Solomon
The Villas
Staying at the Resort is a must. Accommodations include 82 villas and 50 suites in the tower. The resort is about 20 minutes from Old Town Temecula. I stayed in a villa with a patio overlooking the vineyards. My villa was quite comfortable for my dog, Bree, and me. Bree, being a Saluki, likes to sprawl out. Besides the bed, a spacious sitting area with a sofa and chairs was perfect for her canine needs. For humans, a fireplace adds to the ambiance and creature comforts you expect in a luxury hotel.
Bree is enjoying the Pet-Friendly Accommodations at South Coast Winery and Resort. Photo by Cori Solomon
Pet-Friendly Accommodations
The property is ideal for walking dogs, and the Villas have perfect pet-friendly accommodations with outdoor patios. The pet fee per stay is $150, which includes a basket of gifts, also known as a sWag bag, for you and your pet to take with you. The basket features a metal skid-free water and food bowl, blanket, treats and poop bags.
South Coast Winery & Resort’s sWag Bag for Dogs. Photo by Cori Solomon
Vineyard Rose Restaurant
The Vineyard Rose Restaurant is another location where sustainable practices are evident. They support local farms and fisheries that practice sustainability, humane, steroid-free raising techniques, and pesticide-free growing environments. The use of locally grown ingredients highlights the restaurant’s contemporary California cuisine.
Vineyard Rose Restaurant Sign. Photo by Cori Solomon
One must try the Hummus with Seasonal Crudité. The presentation is inviting. I enjoyed the Gnocchi, a gluten-free entree created with Vegetable Bolognese, Elsinore Mushrooms, Broccolini Pistou, Wilted Greens, and Parmigiano.
Vineyard Rose Restaurant Hummus with Seasonal Crudité. Photo by Cori Solomon
Don’t miss the S’mores Brownie created with Caramel-Pecan Brownie, House Graham Whipped Mallow Brulée, Chile Ash Salt, and Goji Berry.
Vineyard Rose S’mores Brownie. Photo by Cori Solomon
Winemaker Jon McPherson
Winemaker Jon McPherson is very passionate yet humble and modest about his creations. He grew up in a family that pioneered the standard and put Texas wine on the map. His father, Clinton “Doc” McPherson, began experimenting with grapes in Lubbock, Texas, in the late 60s.
McPherson graduated from Texas Tech with a degree in food science and chemistry. In 1986, he relocated to California and assumed the role of winemaker at Culbertson Winery. There, he made a name for himself as a sparkling winemaker. Due to his passion for sparkling wine, the winery, now known as Thornton Winery, earned the title “America’s Most Honored Sparkling Wine Producer.”
McPherson’s Texas roots and training bring a slightly different outlook to California wines. He joined South Coast Winery in 2003 and today works in an environment that allows him to be very creative in his winemaking process. There is a lot of experimentation with blends and varietals, especially with sparkling wines, making it fun to taste the wines and discover something new.
South Coast Winery Winemaker Jon McPherson. Photo by Cori Solomon
The Vineyards
In addition to the 63 acres at the South Coast property, Carter Hospitality owns another 400 acres at Wild Horse Peak Mountain Vineyards. At this vineyard, 130 acres are planted at a higher elevation.
Sustainability and Certification
The winery and vineyard’s sustainable aspects are evident in the use of a drip irrigation system and owl boxes for pest control.
To be certified by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance as a California sustainable winery, South Coast Winery had to meet standards in various areas of best business practice, including viticulture, wine quality, ecosystem management, energy management, water conservation and quality, and material handling.
In addition to being certified sustainable, South Coast Winery is a member of the Wine Institute.
The Wines
The extensive portfolio of wines and the winery itself are the essence of South Coast. With McPherson’s background in sparkling wine, South Coast is known and has an extensive sparkling program.
The sparkling program is different at South Coast Winery versus Carter Estate. At Carter Estate, they utilize the Méthode Champenoise, a method that involves secondary fermentation in the bottle. The average aging time is 5 to 6 years. The grapes are typically chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot blanc.
My favorite sparkling wine at this tasting was the South Coast Natural Sparkling Wine, created from pinot noir, chardonnay, and pinot blanc. I found a dry yet fruity sparkler.
South Coast Winery Natural Sparkling Wine. Photo by Cori Solomon
At the South Coast, the Charmant method is used. Secondary fermentation takes place in a steel tank and lasts between six months and one year. This method creates a fruitier and fresher sparkling wine. McPherson often uses riesling, gewürztraminer, pinot gris, and muscat grapes.
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McPherson feels the Rhone varieties grow well in Temecula, although on my visit, my palate leaned toward others. In whites, my favorite was the pinot blanc. A rosé not to miss is the Grenache Rosé Noir. The aromas immediately hit you that it is grenache. This crisp wine delivers hints of strawberry. In the reds, my favorites were Tempranillo-Monastrell, with its flavors of blackberries and dried herbs, and TNT, a blend of touriga nacional and tempranillo that delivers dark berries and mocha on the palate.
South Coast Winery Pinot Blanc. Photo by Cori Solomon
This wine grabbed my attention due to its name, Group Therapy, and the Manet painting image on the label. I discovered a unique blend of grapes from Wild Horse Peak Vineyards, primarily zinfandel with malbec, merlot, touriga nacional, mourvèdre, and cabernet sauvignon. This blend is the perfect wine for any social event with friends, as meeting with friends can be like a group therapy session, depending on the friends.
I found the price point of the wines very reasonable.
South Coast Winery Group Therapy
Visiting South Coast Winery Resort
South Coast Winery takes pride in providing consumers with the best accommodations for humans and pets, gourmet cuisine, and wine-tasting experiences. Their commitment to sustainability practices and reducing their carbon footprint enhances this.
Cori And Bree in the South Coast Winery Gift Shop. Photo by Andy Harris
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