Wilson Creek Blog
Events, News, Recipes & more!

Bouquet :  The odors in wines from fermentation, processing, and aging, especially ones that may develop after bottling.

Here’s a fun little dessert recipe from the Creekside Grille at Wilson Creek Winery.

Mascarpone Cheesecake Torte with Walnut Crust, Poached Quince & Pomegranate Seeds

This dessert is great for the holidays and can turn any occasion into a special one! Makes 11 individual desserts.

I recently returned from my vacation, which was a wine pilgrimage of sorts. We first visited a most unique and beautiful wine-growing region located on the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia. The wines were unique in many respects. Most spectacular were many of the vineyards that clung to impossibly steep limestone slopes that started several hundred feet up at the top and nearly reached the Adriatic Sea at the bottom. This is the home of the Plavac Mali Cached – SimilarYou +1’d this publicly. Undo

Grape, which is genetically identical to our California Zinfandel. The vines are not irrigated and depend on what moisture their roots can find deep in the limestone soils. The concentration of these red wines is incredible. Some are so dense that they must be blended with wines produced from vineyards located in less stressful conditions to make an approachable wine. A delightful fragrant white wine made from the Posip grape comes almost exclusively from island of Kortula. The grapes are grown on the island and shipped by boat to wineries on the mainland. Through the hospitality of our hosts, Andro Crvik and his family (Crvik Winery), we were able to visit many of the wineries in the area.

The next part of our European wine adventure was is the Rhine region of Germany. This time we were taken in and hosted by Heribert and Sybille Erbes. Their winery in the village of Spiesheim (Weingut Erbes, Rheinhessen) has been in the family since the 1600’s. I learned a great deal about German wines from Heribert. Like in Croatia the perhaps most important element in making top quality German wines results from the meticulous care of the grapes. In our travels we were treated like family by our winemaker hosts and established relationships that will last a lifetime. The most important lesson I learned as a winemaker is that no matter where you make wine, producing the best grapes is the key to making the best wines.

Etienne Cowper (lft), of the U.S., and Heribert Erbes (rt), of Germany, meet for the first time, face to face, after years, 37 to be exact, of corresponding back and forth about wine and life. Here is an article (in German) about the two winemakers: http://www.allgemeine-zeitung.de/region/alzey/vg-woerrstadt/spiesheim/12237466.htm 

In the wine world we like to think that every month is wine month, but more specifically, September is recognized as California Wine Month. What does this mean you ask? It’s your free pass to drink more wine this month, from California that is!

Here at Wilson Creek Winery, we are honoring this wonderful month by serving  a glass of  delightful sparkling wine with every entree purchase at the Creekside Grille. (Don’t see this advertised anywhere, that’s ok, just mention this to your server and they’ll know what to do) Cheers!

Check out this fun article from the North County Times about California wines, wineries and Temecula…

WINE COUNTRY NOTES: It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

What would go through your mind if you were told that in five years from now

you would be running your own winery and living in Wine Country?

Here lies the story of one South Pasadena couple and their adult kids who made a dramatic change.

In 1995, retired Gerry and Rosie Wilson were planning a move to Solvang to be closer to their daughter Libby and her husband Craig.  Their son Bill called Rosie & Gerry one day to ask them if they wanted to buy a winery, and they told him he was crazy but it sounded like fun! Bill reminded them that they made dandelion and rhubarb wine in Minnesota. Rosie’s reply was, “I don’t think that qualifies us.”  Bill found out about a small affordable winery for sale and thought it would be ideal for the Wilson family.  The family visited and emotions quickly took over. They absolutely fell in love with the concept and decided to figure out a way to make it work. They sold their homes, quit their jobs and moved to Temecula to pursue a business in which they had no previous experience. Many of their friends thought they were crazy! After Rosie & Gerry re-located, the owner of the small winery decided not to sell. Not wanting to give up their vision, it forced the family to frantically look for another winery or existing vineyard. They found and purchased an existing vineyard and “planted” a building.   They moved into “Operation Bootstraps” mode.  Gerry says, “All of us rolled up our sleeves and did whatever it took to make it happen.  Our saying was, if you are a Wilson, you only have to work half days and you can decide which 12 hours you want!”

With no real background in vineyard management or winemaking and no winery built at the time, they relied on local experts in Temecula Valley to guide them.  They hired a winemaker and vineyard consultant while Gerry and Bill enrolled in some winemaking classes at UC Davis. Bill drove the tractor and oversaw wine production and maintenance of the vineyard.  It was quite a different lifestyle than the suit and tie lifestyle Bill and Gerry were used to, but they LOVED it!
Through hard work, perseverance & determination, they opened for business in 2000. What the Wilson family brought to Temecula was a warm family environment and a history of throwing great parties. They built a winery which today is known as the “fun winery.”

Wilson Creek Winery has come a long way…
Their experience shows in the success of their numerous events: weddings, concerts and charity functions that runs right alongside of their award-winning wines. “Home of the famous Almond Champagne,” the winery has garnered numerous prestigious international wine awards, and their production has increased to approximately 50,000 cases per year. Gerry is proud that Wilson Creek is unofficially the winery of many Navy ships, including eight aircraft carriers. Wilson Creek has received several humanitarian awards and has even sparked the attention of the Hollywood film industry. Wilson Creek has been featured on the show “Radical Sabbatical” which aired on the Fine Living Network, the syndicated show “Blind Date”, as well as the MTV show “Dismissed” just to name a few.
The entire family is still involved.  You can feel the energy and personal touch when you visit the large tasting room. Visit with the family members who are always on the property.  The ambiance of Wilson Creek continues to be very warm and welcoming. Among the many guest favorites, the award-winning Chocolate Port is served in an edible chocolate shot glass for an extra special touch.
Wilson Creek is nestled seven miles East of Interstate 15 on Rancho California Road in Temecula Valley Wine Country.  A mere 75-minute drive from Los Angeles and 50 minutes from San Diego make it a destination to be fully enjoyed.

Gerry’s response when asked if he would move from South Pasadena and start a winery again: “Sure, I do miss South Pasadena. We lived there for 30 wonderful years. Yet, I love wine country. We are still learning and growing. The main thing is that we all work together, and I love the fact that all my children and grandchildren are here. My commute to work is about 200 feet, walking through a vineyard, with a cup of coffee in my hand. I am very blessed!”