Pour Temecula: A Local Wine, Beer, and Beverage Podcast

Temecula isn’t just Cab and Almond Champagne—discover how Italian reds like Sangiovese, Montepulciano, and Aglianico are thriving at Bottaia Winery and other local producers. Bold, unexpected, and so pour-worthy!

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Think Temecula is all about Cab and Almond Champagne? Not so fast—Italian reds are staking their claim, and they’re every bit as bold and complex as their Old World counterparts. In this episode of Pour Temecula, Rick DeLucio and Shannon Cole visit Bottaia Winery, one of Temecula’s premier producers of Italian varietals, to explore how classic grapes from Tuscany and the south of Italy are thriving here in Southern California.

Italy has hundreds of native red grapes, and Temecula’s warm, Mediterranean climate makes it a natural home for varieties like Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Aglianico, and Sagrantino. From the elegance of Sangiovese to the dark power of Aglianico and the tannic grip of Sagrantino, these wines highlight Bottaia’s commitment to honoring Italian heritage while giving it a distinctly Temecula accent. Along the way, we’ll dig into each grape’s origins, why they work so well in this climate, and what these wines say about Temecula’s future beyond the familiar.

Expect candid takes, stories about farming and winemaking in the heat, and of course, tasting impressions of some standout bottles. By the end, you just might rethink what Temecula should be known for when it comes to red wine.

What we tasted in this episode:

• 2020 Bottaia Montepulciano (https://www.bottaiawinery.com/product/2022-montepulciano)
• 2018 Bottaia Aglianico (https://www.bottaiawinery.com/product/2018-aglianico)
• 2019 Bottaia Sagrantino (https://www.bottaiawinery.com/product/2019-sagrantino)

Have a favorite Italian white wine from Temecula? Leave us a voice message on Speakpipe, and you might hear yourself on a future episode! Contact us on Instagram (@pourtemecula) or message us (info@pourtemecula.com)—we're always excited to connect with fellow wine, beer, and beverage lovers!

In this episode of The Short Pour, we’re heading to southern France to explore Provence Rosé— the wine that defined what dry, elegant, and effortlessly drinkable pink should be. From its ancient Greek roots to its modern-day dominance, Provence has become the global gold standard for rosé, with over 90% of its production dedicated to this refreshing, food-friendly style.

We’ll also be tasting one of the most iconic bottles in the category: Whispering Angel by Château d'Esclans. Created by Sacha Lichine in 2006, it turned Provence rosé into a pop culture phenomenon and helped spark the “rosé all day” movement. With its pale salmon hue, crisp acidity, and delicate notes of peach, strawberry, and citrus, Whispering Angel is a wine that’s as at home on a brunch table as it is on a yacht - or just chilling by the pool.

If you’ve ever wondered why Provence rosé matters, what makes it so distinctive, or how one bottle helped launch a global trend, this episode has you covered. Join us as weuncover the story of the pink wine that became a lifestyle.

What happens when you put four Temecula wine lovers in a room, hand them a glass, and ask them to draft their dream winery itinerary? In this episode of Pour Temecula, Rick and Shannon team up with Sarah from Two Days in Temecula and Karagan from Temecula Passport to construct the ultimate four-stop wine-country adventure. Recorded live at Humble Somm over a few pours, this friendly competition blends local insight, strategy, and plenty of laughs. Once the draft is done, it’s up to you—listeners can vote on which itinerary reigns supreme through our social media channels.

Think you can organize a superior tour compared to ours? Leave us a voice message on Speakpipe, and you might hear yourself on a future episode! Contact us on Instagram (@pourtemecula) or message us (info@pourtemecula.com)—we're always excited to connect with fellow wine, beer, and beverage lovers!

Rick and Shannon taste Bottaia’s 2024 Verdicchio, the classic white grape of Italy’s Marche region. Does this land as a Dump It, Try It, Pour It, or Buy It?

In this week’s bonus mini-episode of Pour Temecula, Rick DeLucio and Shannon Cole explore Verdicchio—a crisp, citrusy, almond-tinged white wine beloved in central Italy—now being grown right here in Southern California. Their pick is Bottaia’s 2024 Verdicchio, a small-lot Temecula bottling that brings Italian elegance to local vineyards. Rick and Shannon dive into Verdicchio’s Marche heritage, what makes it stand out among Italian whites, and how Bottaia is interpreting the grape in Temecula before sharing their tasting notes and final rating on the show’s Dump It, Try It, Pour It, or Buy It scale.

Think you know Temecula wine? Beyond Cab and Almond Champagne, Italian whites like Falanghina and Pecorino are quietly thriving—and in this episode of Pour Temecula, we’re at Cougar Vineyard & Winery to uncover the crisp, surprising wines you’ll want to pour this weekend.

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Italy may have hundreds of native white grapes, but did you know many of them are thriving right here in Temecula Valley? In this episode of Pour Temecula, Rick DeLucio and Shannon Cole head to Cougar Vineyard & Winery, pioneers in introducing rare Italian varietals to the U.S., to explore how grapes like Falanghina, Vermentino, and Arneis are making their mark locally. From award-winning Pinot Grigio to exciting pours of Pecorino, these wines prove Temecula’s climate is more than a match for Italy’s classics.

Along the way, we’ll break down what makes each grape unique, share tasting impressions from Cougar’s lineup, and give a few shoutouts to other local producers working with Italian whites. Expect some candid takes (yes, we’re side-eyeing $40 Pinot Grigio), plenty of stories, and a few detours into legacy vineyards, volcanic rosés, and what Temecula can learn from Italy’s wine culture.

If you’ve ever wondered what Temecula should be known for beyond Cabernet and sparkling Almond Champagne, this deep dive into Italian white grapes might just change your perspective.

What we tasted in this episode:

• 2023 Cougar Vineyards & Winery Vermentino (https://cougarwinery.orderport.net/product-details/0534/2023-Estate-Vermentino)
• 2022 Cougar Vineyards & Winery Falanghina (https://cougarwinery.orderport.net/product-details/0533/2022-Estate-Falanghina)
• 2024 Cougar Vineyards & Winery Malvasia Bianca (https://cougarwinery.orderport.net/product-details/0579/2024-Estate-Malvasia-Bianca)

Have a favorite Italian white wine from Temecula? Leave us a voice message on Speakpipe, and you might hear yourself on a future episode! Contact us on Instagram (@pourtemecula) or message us (info@pourtemecula.com)—we're always excited to connect with fellow wine, beer, and beverage lovers!

Rick and Shannon taste Lost Ranch Winery’s 2023 Nero d’Avola, Sicily’s “Black Grape,” now thriving in Temecula. Does this bold, volcanic-soil red land as a Dump It, Try It, Pour It, or Buy It?

In this week’s bonus mini-episode of Pour Temecula, Rick DeLucio and Shannon Cole pour a glass of Sicily’s signature red grape—Nero d’Avola—grown right here in Southern California. Their bottle of choice is the 2023 Nero d’Avola from Lost Ranch Winery, a tiny-production Temecula wine made from organic, volcanic-soil vineyards in nearby De Luz. Known as the “Black Grape of Avola,” Nero d’Avola thrives in hot Mediterranean climates, making it a natural fit for Temecula’s bold, sun-drenched style. Rick and Shannon dig into its Sicilian roots, why it’s gaining traction locally, and of course, share their tasting notes before giving it a final rating with the show’s Dump It, Try It, Pour It, or Buy It scale. Cheers!

In this episode of Pour Temecula, we sit down with Ryan and Katie Shumacher, the passionate husband-and-wife duo behind Shumacher Wines, a boutique wine business focused on quality grapes and winemaking. They share how their love of wine grew into a bold decision to launch a label without first establishing an estate vineyard, instead sourcing fruit from premier regions across California. We dive into how they define their brand identity, the careful process of selecting vineyard and winemaking partners, and the hands-on role they play in shaping each bottle. Along the way, they open up about the challenges of the custom crush model, the excitement of winning Platinum at the Critics Challenge for their 2023 Sonoma Valley Sangiovese, and what’s next for their growing portfolio. From intimate dinners to building a community of wine lovers, Ryan and Katie show us that boutique wine isn’t just about the glass, it’s about passion, connection, and vision. Cheers!

Join Ryan and Katie for an upcoming event at Two Travelers in Temecula: https://twotravelerswinebar.com/upcoming-events/

What we tasted in this episode:

• 2023 Lost Ranch Winery Nero d'Avola, Temecula Valley (https://www.lostranchwinery.com/products/2023-nero-d-avola)
• 2020 Feudo Maccari Nero d'Avola Saia, Sicily

Ever tried Nero d'Avola? Leave us a voice message on Speakpipe, and you might hear yourself on a future episode! Contact us on Instagram (@pourtemecula) or message us (info@pourtemecula.com)—we're always excited to connect with fellow wine, beer, and beverage lovers!

What happens when a rare French grape shows up in Ramona? Rick tastes Old Julian’s 2024 Picpoul Blanc and finds out.

In this bonus mini-episode of Pour Temecula, Rick explores one of the rarest wines you’ll find in Southern California: the 2024 Picpoul Blanc from Old Julian Vineyards in the Ramona Valley wine region. Best known in France’s Languedoc as the crisp, citrus-driven white of Picpoul de Pinet, this grape has only a handful of plantings in the United States—including tiny acreage in California white wine country. Rick shares the history of Picpoul in the U.S., how it made its way to Ramona, and why sommeliers love its “lip-stinging” acidity. You’ll hear detailed tasting notes, classic food and wine pairings (think oysters, ceviche, and goat cheese), and Rick’s final verdict using the Pour Temecula rating system: Dump It, Try It, Pour It, or Buy It. Perfect for wine lovers curious about Temecula wine, Ramona Valley vineyards, and adventurous local wine reviews. Cheers!

Temecula meets Ramona! In this episode, I return to Ramona’s charming, rustic, hilly, and twisting roads to talk to Kim Whalin, Chairwoman of the Ramona Valley Vineyard Association’s Wine Competition. We’re diving into everything about Ramona Valley: what makes this AVA unique, the wines and grapes that thrive here, how the region has evolved since its establishment in 2006, tourism, where the AVA is headed next, and a fun comparison of wines from Ramona and Temecula. Whether you’ve never heard of Ramona Valley or you’ve been curious about exploring Southern California wine beyond Temecula, this is your guide to one of California’s younger and most quaint wine regions. Cheers!

In this episode we taste the following wines:

• Old Julian Vineyards & Winery 2020 Tre Sorelle - a red blend of of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec.
• Oak Mountain 2021 Vino Leon - a red blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Petit Verdot, 9% Malbec, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Merlot

Ever visited or tried wine from Ramona? Leave us a voice message on Speakpipe, and you might hear yourself on a future episode! Contact us on Instagram (@pourtemecula) or message us (info@pourtemecula.com)—we're always excited to connect with fellow wine, beer, and beverage lovers!

 

In this episode of The Short Pour, we delve into the fascinating world of hybrid grapes—unique and resilient varieties that are making a significant impact in North American wine. We’ll discuss why grapes like Vidal Blanc, Marquette, and Chambourcin are becoming popular from Vermont to Southern California, especially as winemakers face challenges like plant diseases and climate change. These wines are more than just everyday choices; today’s hybrids are flavorful, enjoyable, and able to grow in places where traditional grapes struggle to thrive.

Speaking of Vidal Blanc, we’ll also be tasting something exciting: Aldi’s Canadian Icewine. Priced at just $15 for a half bottle, it offers a delightful combination of rich sweetness and bright acidity, showcasing excellent quality from the Niagara Peninsula. If you’re curious about icewine or want to learn more about hybrid grapes, this episode is perfect for you. Join us as we uncover the stories, science, and delicious flavors in just 15 minutes!