Stay at South Coast Winery in Temecula For A Magical Winecation

Anyone visiting Temecula knows that this beautiful region is dotted with award-winning wineries. But what makes a visit to this sun-kissed Southern California wine country even more special is staying at one of its lovely winery hotels. If you are looking for a magical Winecation in Temecula, South Coast Winery & Spa is a fantastic choice.

After an afternoon of wine tasting, it’s great to come back to your room to change and refresh before heading out to dinner. But it’s also magical waking up among the vines.

South Coast Winery and Spa

Situated on 38 acres of lush rolling vineyards, South Coast Winery Resort & Spa offers guests not only an amazing wine country experience but an ideal location for exploring Temecula Wine Country, its historic downtown and fascinating environs.

Located right off Rancho California Road, Temecula’s main wine route, the family-owned operation gives guests a true-blue resort experience set among the vines.

Home to more than 40,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting spaces, South Coast is a great venue for couple’s getaways, girl and friend get-togethers, family reunions or bachelor and bachelorette parties. The resort also provides a stunning backdrop for a wine-country wedding or vow renewals. It’s also the perfect setting for corporate events.

South Coast’s Amenities

The myriad of amenities alone makes South Coast one of Temecula’s top-booked properties. You’ll look far and wide to find a more beautiful and picturesque setting. 

Though you’ll sense a vibrant, buzzing ambiance at this Tuscan-inspired resort, the layout of the property allows for plenty of serenity and relaxation. Our group of lady travelers absolutely loved our early morning strolls through the arbor-lined tranquility garden walkway surrounded by the late-harvest vines. You’ll also find overlooks offering magnificent views of Temecula’s mountains, hills, and vineyards.

GrapeSeed Spa and Heated Pool

South Coast’s pretty-as-a-picture spacious heated outdoor saltwater pool heated to 84 degrees year-round is open from 7:30 am to 9:00 pm for resort guests, where you’ll find plenty of lounge seating and umbrellas around the pool deck. Cabanas are available for an additional charge.

GrapeSeed Spa offers a variety of healing spa services ranging from rejuvenating massage and body treatments, facials, nail care and more. The Spa includes a range of treatment rooms and two tranquility lounges.

Guests can relax before and/or after their treatment on oversized lounges on a veranda overlooking wine country. A fitness club is also accessible for those wanting to stay fit during their stay.

Dining at South Coast Winery and Resort

South Coast’s signature restaurant, The Vineyard Rose Restaurant, is a fine-dining venue located in a richly decorated wooden-vaulted elegant room that includes a wine bar and terrace.

Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the restaurant serves contemporary California cuisine sourced from the region’s freshest seasonal ingredients. 

Breakfast Favorites:

Not being a huge breakfast eater, I enjoyed the Yogurt and Granola with vanilla yogurt, berries, and a drizzle of honey.  

Other group favorites included the Avocado Tartine, a grilled sourdough ciabatta with za’atar, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and arugula. The Farmer’s Market Frittata was another winner with spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, asparagus, and goat cheese.

Dinner Recommendations:

Come evening, The Vineyard Rose transforms into a romantic, candlelit setting. The menu includes openers, soups, salads and main entrees from the land and sea. Of no surprise, the wine menu is extensive and heavily focused on Temecula’s South Coast and Carter Estate wines, along with other California varietals and favorites from around the globe. Even cocktails here are creative and impressive.

Top winners? Wild Alaskan Halibut prepared with a fava bean-okra succotash, corn puree and bacon lardon. Meat lovers will enjoy the Filet of Beef with a Boursin leek pave and asparagus topped with bearnaise sauce.

If you save room for dessert, delightful offerings include a Warm Peach Crisp, Brown Butter Tarte, Passion Fruit-Coconut Panna Cotta, Chocolate-Espresso Semifreddo, Gelato, Ice Cream and Sorbet.

Prices range from:
Breakfast: $12 to $22  
Main lunch entrees: $15 to $36
Dinner main entrees: $34 to $140 (40-ounce Tomahawk ribeye for a group)  

Other On-Site Activities

Surrounded by over 60 acres of vines, rich Southern California soil, generous sunshine and cooling evening ocean breezes, South Coast Winery is renowned for its award-winning varietals.  

Wine tasting is available daily from 11 am to 6 pm, extending to 8 pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

Friday evenings also bring the amazing experience of Stargazing with an Astronomer from 8 pm to 10 pm as guests can take in the star and planet-filled night sky on the resort’s spacious front lawn.

Accommodations

The resort offers 132 beautifully appointed villas and suites ranging from 490 to 1150 square feet and with amenities such as a gas fireplace, soaking tubs, and plush bathrobes.

My villa featured an incredibly comfortable king bed with soft Egyptian cotton linens, a separate living room area with a sofa bed, a fireplace, a spacious marble and granite bathroom, and a private patio overlooking the vineyards along with a refrigerator, wet bar, and a Keurig coffee maker.

Villas are located in numbered buildings throughout the property, allowing for tremendous privacy. Some have Italianate fountains in the center of the courtyard, another serene and soothing advantage for staying in a villa room.

Located in the elegant 3-story hotel tower over the main lobby, oversized suite accommodations offer incredible vineyard views with a patio or balcony, a king or two queen beds, fireplaces, and granite baths with double tubs.

Additional amenities include:

Free Wi-Fi
42-inch Smart TV
Designer toiletries
Complimentary bottled water

Guests can also book packages that feature Bed and breakfast, Romance, Wine Tasting & Spa, Wine-Lovers, Hot Air Balloon, Horse & Carriage, Grapeline Wine Tours, and more.

Doesn’t that sound dreamy?

Things to Do Nearby

With 50 wineries now located in Temecula, wine tasting is still one of the top reasons visitors flock to this beautiful destination along with wining and dining at the valley’s tantalizing winery restaurants. 

But there’s a myriad of other not-to-be-missed activities in Temecula that are definitely some of my favorites.

Horseback riding through the vineyards is an amazing adventure offered by both California Ranch Company (CRC) and Wine Country Trails by Horseback.

Temecula Carriage Company offers wine country tours via a horse-drawn carriage or horse-drawn trolley ride.

And no visit would be complete without a hot air balloon flight over the lush vineyards and rolling verdant hills of the Temecula Valley at sunrise.

The historic downtown is just a 10-minute drive from South Coast and so worthy of a visit. Here, you’ll find unique boutique shopping, incredible restaurants, and museums celebrating Temecula’s fascinating past. 

Best Time to Visit South Coast Winery & Spa

Temecula weather typically features warm sunny days and cool evenings; however, summer temperatures can skyrocket in this inland location. If the heat doesn’t bother you, any time of the year is a good time for a visit.

Each May, the Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival welcomes almost 40,000 people during the ever-popular festival weekend.

But perhaps the most fun time to be in Temecula is during the grape harvest season when the town offers its annual events such as the Temecula Valley Crush and Harvest Family Fun.

So, whether you come for the wine tasting or to enjoy Temecula’s other treasures, instead of making it a day trip, plan to stay to play and dine in this picturesque Southern California dream destination and stay at the picturesque South Coast Winery Resort & Spa.

South Coast Winery & Spa Review was written by Noreen Kompanik for San Diego Explorer. As customary in travel writing, the hotel provided a stay free of charge. This has not influenced their opinion and the content of this article.

Last Updated on March 11, 2024 by Maria Haase