On March 3 and 4, Temecula Valley wine country will be welcoming Southern California guests for two days of barrel tasting, gourmet cuisine and more at the World of Wine Barrel Tasting Weekend. The region’s 34 wineries will open their doors to local visitors from Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Palm Springs, and the Inland Empire to share new wine and barrel-tasting selections paired with exceptional wine country cuisine.

Menu highlights include:

* Keyways Vineyard & Winery will pair their 2011 Albarino with cioppino; the 2009 Tempranillo will be paired with braised short rib and polenta bites. Their barrel tasting selection will be the 2010 Tempranillo.
* Oak Mountain Winery will pair their, 2009 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2011 Viognier with chicken dumplings in an herbes de Provence mushroom broth. Their barrel tasting selection will be the 2010 Estate Pinotage.
* Masía De Yabar Vineyard & Winery will pair their 2011 Estate Tempranillo with Spanish-style empanadas and chimichurri sauce. Their barrel tasting selection will be the 2010 Estate Syrah.
* Van Roekel Vineyard & Winery will pair their 2008 Zinfandel and 2010 Viognier with pork sandwiches and crisp coleslaw.
* Robert Renzoni Vineyards will pair their 2011 Cantata, 2010 La Rosa Rosé of Sangiovese, 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon with baked mostacciolli
* Frangipani Winery will pair their 2011 Grenache Rosé with sausage and white polenta, topped with fresh mozzarella. Their barrel tasting selection will be the 2008 Cabernet Franc.
* Callaway Callaway Vineyard & Winery will pair their 2008 Winemaker’s Reserve Sangiovese with Mediterranean lamb meatballs; and their 2009 Special Selection Chardonnay will be paired with house-cured salmon, whole grain foccacia, gribiche sauce. Their barrel tasting selection will be the 2011 Winemaker’s Reserve Sangiovese and their tank sampling will be the 2011 Special Selection Chardonnay.

Participating wineries will also promote wine cork recycling by creating art, jewelry, and other playful items made from corks for the brand-new Cork Art Competition. Guests will be given an opportunity to win four tickets to the Annual Harvest Celebration event, which takes place on November 3 and 4, by voting on their favorite cork creation. There are three ways to vote: by going to the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association Facebook page (look for the Cork Contest), sending an email to info@temeculawines.org or by filling out postcards available during the event.

The 21st Annual “World of Wine” Winter Barrel Tasting Event takes place March 3 - 4, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Temecula Valley wine country, just 60-90 mins from San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange County & Palm Springs. 2-Day Tickets are $99; Sunday-Only Tickets: $79; Local residents of Temecula/Murrieta: $69. Call (800) 801-9463 for tickets by phone or purchase online at TemeculaWines.org. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door on Saturday, March 3 at Ponte Winery from 9:30-1:00pm.

Sip-and-Ride Packages and Sip-and-Stay Packages are still available. For more information on transportation packages or to book an overnight stay, please visit TemeculaWines.org/Event.

For more information or images, please contact Sienna Spencer-Markles at (213) 985-1011 or sienna@mccuecommunications.com.