I researched the most visited Internet wine sites to come up with the Web Wine Know Award for Best Temecula Wines. These are the excellent wines that people mentioned "top of mind" without any prompting. They are the most talked about wines of the Temecula Valley Wine Country.

The Temecula Valley Agricultural Viticultural Area (AVA) is located near Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, and the Inland Empire. When people find out that I've tasted all the wineries in Temecula, they ask me about the best wines. That's a tough question to answer since people have different tastes. This page is an effort to answer that question in a broader sense than my own opinion.

The results surprised me and I hope you find them as interesting.

Three wines stood out from the rest as mentioned the most. Reviewer's comments are followed by the price at the winery for non-wine club members.

1. Stuart Cellars Tatria Meritage

   Tatria meaning blend of three, this Meritage consists of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. Reviewer comments: Complex wine with a great nose. There's a great fruit forward component that is matched perfectly with a firm tannin structure that just says...DRINK ME! This wine is hands down the best red in Temecula. - $36

2. Wilson Creek Almond Champagne

   Wine connoisseurs won't admit to even tasting this Almond Champagne but after a proper bottle of wine they'll remark that it's pretty good. Reviewer comments: Sweet sparkling wine plus almonds. It's hard for me to drink any other 'normal' sparkling wine now. - $17

3. Stuart Cellars Cabernet Franc

   Reviewer comments: Outstanding with fruit forward complexity. These is not much on the mid to back palate but was quite smooth and well balanced. One of Stuart Cellars best wines. - $30

The rest of the wines were bunched together in votes so they are listed in alphabetical order.

• Callaway Winemaker's Reserve Meritage

  Bordeaux blend. Reviewer comments: Lovely purple color, good nose and depth. Musty, dark cedar notes on the nose. Very interesting complex mix. Well balanced. Nice acidity. - $45

• Doffo Malbec

  Reviewer comments: Medium body with just enough bite (acid) to cut through the steak's fat. I'm tired of big Cabs that don't match up to anything other than cheese and crackers. Light body, great balance between fruit and acidity. Perfect for fatty red meat and heavy pasta dishes. - $59

• Hart Sangiovese

  Reviewer comments: Aromas of red berries, plum, vanilla, cedar, and American oak. Medium to full bodied without a lot of complexity. Very smooth, enjoyable and easy to drink. Fresh ripe fruit and well integrated polished dry tannins that lead to a nice long lingering vanilla finish. - $20

• Hart Tempranillo

  Reviewer comments: Beautiful wine with lots of red currant and subtle integrated oak on the nose. The same is experienced on the palate with a long finish. This wine is delicious! - $15

• Palumbo Tre Fratelli

  Tre Fratelli, Italian for three brothers, is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Reviewer comments: Spicy, musky bouquet. A nice mix of flavors that is quite smooth with a very tannic finish. Wine needs to be aged. This wine is one of my favorite Meritage style blends. - $36

• Ponte Dolcetto Family Estate

  Reviewer comments: Black cherry red, nice clarity, clean aroma, clean on the palate with gentle tannins and nice acidity. Fruity, rich, and slightly sweet. This is a very approachable enjoyable wine. - $29

• Stuart Cellars Sangiovese Reserva

  Sangiovese blended with 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot known as a Super Tuscan. Reviewer comments: Lots of wood flavor that is excellent with a strong stew. - $28

More than 50 Temecula wines were mentioned at least once and four wineries led the pack. These are the Web Wine Know Awards for Temecula Wineries.

1. Stuart Cellars - 8 wines (2 in the top 10)
2. Leonesse - 8 wines
3. Hart - 5 wines (2 in the top 10)
4. Keyways - 5 wines

Whether you disagree or want to pile on, VOTE for your favorite Temecula wine and Temecula wineries.

I searched Temecula wines in Wine Library TV Forum, Cellar Tracker, and cork'd. Wines had to mentioned as exceptional or rated at 90 points or higher.

The first photo is in my back yard.