PREMIER BOUTIQUE WINERY
Welcome to Cougar Vineyard and Winery located on the “De Portola Wine Trail” in beautiful Southern California Temecula Valley Wine Country.
Discover Exceptional Wines
We are a family-owned, boutique winery in Temecula, California, dedicated to producing the best quality handcrafted wine.
- Rare Italian varietals
- Beautiful views and wine reminiscent of Italy
- 5 varietals recognized by the TTB in the United States
- The owners are the winemakers and the wine growers
COUGAR VINEYARD & WINERY
IS NOT OUR FIRST WINERY VENTURE
Over 25 years ago we started making wine in Texas. Making good wine in an 85 degree room (yes, the air conditioner was on) isn’t easy. Even though the conditions weren’t optimum for wine making, we managed to pull off some great wine. We bottled under the Ironstone Winery label named for our street.
An opportunity to move to Seattle was met with smiles after the blistering Texas heat. There we began making wine from grapes obtained from Eastern Washington. We stepped up the wine making operation from a small closet to a cellar dug into the hill below our home (yes, we replaced the supports to the house with two 400-lb beams just to make this room). The temperature and the grapes were much improved. We made several trips to Buhl Idaho to visit our friend Terry White. One such occasion we planted an acre of Chardonnay grapes which started us thinking about a vineyard of our own.
We began producing some very good reds and finally some whites to be proud of. We bottled under the Cougar Mountain Winery label named for our location.
Finally we moved to Fallbrook California. One of the conditions of the house we were searching for was that it had to have at least an acre that could be planted with a vineyard. We planted Brachetto and got it recognized by the TTB. In order to grow the best grapes we can and make the best wine we can, we joined the San Diego Amateur Winemaking Society (www.SDAWS.org). We were active members and enjoyed the many educational and networking possibilities that the society offers. In 2004 we became a bonded winery and bottled under the Cougar Vineyard & Winery label.
In 2005 we purchased the winery property in Temecula and planted Sangiovese, Aglianico, Montepulciano, and Vermentino since then we’ve added Falanghina, Ciliegiolo, Prosecco (now known as Glera since 2009) and Piedirosso. Next door we’ve planted Primitivo, Arneis, Malvasia Bianca, Pinot Grigio, Sagrantino, Piedirosso and Lambrusca di Alessandria. We opened our doors for Temecula Wine Tasting to the public after crush in 2006. So there you have it. We are making estate wines from our vineyards and also purchase a few grapes we don’t grow.
~ Jennifer
Our Quality Wines
We specialize in 100% Estate Italian varietals. All of our wines are produced at the property. We currently farm approximately 17 family acres.
Quality For The Best Wine
To quote a past mentor “You can make bad wine from good grapes but it’s hard to make good wine from bad grapes”. We believe that great wine begins in the vineyard which is why we grow 95% of our wine grapes and only purchase grapes from vineyards with our same beliefs.
Experience Matters
Rick, the winemaker, has been crafting wonderful wines for over 30 years.
Full Of Taste
The varietal flavors are inherit with each wine having different characteristics.
High Quality
Said often and still true...No wine before it's time.
Superior Fruit
The vineyard is meticulously cared for under the watchful eye of the winemaker and vineyard manager.
The Winemaking
A little history about this Mom-and-Pop winery from the owners and winemakers themselves.
Years Of Experience
5 Star Reviews
Fine Wines
What our guests say?
“If you are looking for a place to enjoy some good wine and deli food, Cougar Winery is the place for you!”
“My first love was their Sangio, then on to the Malbec, and a slew of other wines and grapes that I'm learning.”
"Our fav by far at this place was a peach sangria-like stuff that had a little carbonation to it."
"Gloria and I have proudly been part of your family almost since the beginning…..and will continue to be a part of it for years to come. Cougar has excellent wines, served by a phenomenal group of people. Great food too!"
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