Temecula Valley Wine Country Association Hosted 23rd annual Harvest Festival draws wine lovers deep into fall wine country

A Barrel Welcome by Tanya Rogers, on Flickr

Wine lovers descended on Temecula Valley Wine Country in early November, 2013.

Participating wineries offered food and wine pairings, showed off their “stuff” in festive fall scarecrows, and educated the crowds at this universal barrel tasting through Temecula wine country.

Over 30+ member wineries took part in the two-day even of wine and food sampling. The self guided tours included a gorgeous tasting glass, as well as a detailed map of the food and wine pairings throughout Temecula Valley wine country. Here’s a glimpse of the sights, scenery, and festive fall fun from Grapevine photographers Crispin Courtenay and Tanya Rogers.

Callaway Winery

Discover Harvest Festival at Callaway Vineyard and Winery, by Crispin Courtenay

Meritage at Callaway hosted the Harvest barrel tasting and food pairing, by Crispin Courtenay, via Flickr

Denise Sutterfield poured from the barrel at Callaway, by Crispin Courtenay, via Flickr

Bel Vino Winery

Michael Chethem at the Harvest Festival in Temecula Valley, by Crispin Courtenay, via Flickr

Trading tickets for barrel tastes at harvest festival in Temecula Valley, by Crispin Courtenay

Wine paired with cupcakes at Bel Vino Winery in Temecula for Harvest Festival, by Crispin Courtenay

Wait staff at Bel Vino Temecula for Harvest Festival, by Crispin Courtenay

South Coast Winery and Resort

South Coast entertained as well as poured, featuring Erik Turner of Warrant’s Wines along with delicacies from their famous kitchen.

Erik Turner Wines at South coast winery (c) Crispin Courtenay

Erik Turner and friends at South Coast Winery, by Crispin Courtenay

Erik Turner at South Coast Winery, by Crispin Courtenay

Delectable pairings at South Coast Winery and Resort, by Crispin Courtenay

Sous Chef at South Coast Winery, by Crispin Courtenay

Waiting for delicacies at South Coast Winery, by Crispin Courtenay

Group Therapy at South Coast Winery and Resort, by Crispin Courtenay

Miramonte Winery

Photos by Crispin Courtenay.

Sage fields in full bloom at Miramonte Winery in Temecula Valley Wine Country, by Crispin Courtenay

Miramonte Winery’s rockin’ traditional scarecrow at TVWA Harvest Festival, by Crispin Courtenay

Harvest greetings from Miramonte Winery, by Crispin Courtenay

Miramonte harvest festival food and wine, by Crispin Courtenay

Sunflower at Miramonte, by Crispin Courtenay

Falkner Winery

Photos by Tanya Rogers.

Falkner Barrel Tasting by Tanya Rogers, on Flickr

Falkner hosted right out the barrel tasting for wine lovers, to taste pre-bottled wine and learn about the craft of wine-making, direct from the wine makers themselves.

Scarecrows at Falkner, by Tanya Rogers

Lumiere, by Tanya Rogers, via Flickr

Maurice Carrie

Scare Crow a la Maurice-Carrie, by Tanya Rogers, via Flickr

Once again, Maurice Carrie’s barrel room stayed a brisk mid 50-degrees while tasters left Indian Summer at their backs, and sipped from barrels of the young wines.

Out of the barrel at Maurice Carrie, by Tanya Rogers, via Flickr

Food and wine sampling at Maurice Carrie during Harvest Festival, by Tanya Rogers, via Flickr

Palumbo Family Vineyards

Though the scarecrows drew crowds, Palumbo Family Vineyards may have had the most fun with their “Miley Cy-Crow”–it didn’t twerk, but that didn’t stop the wine tasters from having a bit of fun.

Palumbo Family Vineyards “Miley Cy-Crow” the barrel wine said it all, by Tanya Rogers, via Flickr

Not twerking, but the Miley Cy-Crow was workin' it at Palumbo Family Vineyards, by Tanya Rogers, via Flickr

Not twerking, but the Miley Cy-Crow was workin’ it with new friends, at Palumbo Family Vineyards, by Tanya Rogers, via Flickr

Palumbo unwind and taste, by Tanya Rogers

Wiens Family Cellars
Celebrating with Dio De Los Muertos style, Wiens presented their skeletal scarecrow.

Wiens greeted by Skeletal Scarecrow, by Tanya Rogers

Ponte

Ponte Inn, by Crispin Courtenay

Vines of Ponte, by Crispin Courtenay

Dressed Princess Style at Ponte Family Wineries, by Tanya Rogers, via Flickr

Gorgeous food and wine pairings at Ponte Family Vineyards, Tanya Rogers, via Flickr

Lorimar Winery

Lorimar Winery, by Crispin Courtenay

Wilson Creek Winery

Tasting at Wilson Creek Winery, by Crispin Courtenay

The sun set early on the final day of Harvest Festival, as wineries prepare for the winter. Stay tuned for the next events that Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association has in store.