Baily Vineyard & Winery in Temecula California

Temecula wine region is growing rapidly and is taking its place among the giants of California wine producers. It is wonderful to visit wineries that were pioneers in building this area. Established in 1982, Baily’s is one of the original wineries in the Temecula Valley. This family winery is still owned and operated by Phil and Carol Baily and their two sons.

I visited and did a vertical tasting* of their older red wine (The Cabernet Franc) in the Estate Tasting Room with the owner and winemaker, Phil Baily. It was an exceptional experience that I shared with my friends who are wine writers, and experts Amber and David of Wine Travel Eats.

Phil’s passion and love of his family’s winery is apparent as soon as you meet him. It is easy to see why the winery has become known for producing great wine in Temecula. Their pride is evident in each bottle of wine that is produced. When I asked him what he felt were the essential elements in his winemaking he said, “We pay attention to detail” and “We keep things clean.”

*Vertical Tasting – A vertical tasting is tasting wine over the course of years, with different vintages. Everything else stays the same such as the producer, the land, and the varietal. You are comparing years and what mother nature offers in annual climate that affected the grape.

“My only regret in life is that I did not drink more wine”
– Ernest Hemingway

I am sharing with you my top five star tips and information that you will find very helpful when visiting Baily Vineyard & Winery.

🌟 Family owned winery:

The Baily family planted their first acre of grapes in 1982. In researching the winery, I learned that it was started on Mother’s Day. Being a mother, that really touched me. Phil, along with his wife Carol and their two young sons became pioneers in building today’s extensive Temecula Valley wine country. I wondered, as they were planting these grapes if they could have imagined the extent to which this area would develop as a wine-producing community and the role they would play in it.

🌟 The Wines

All the wines are made from grapes grown on family owned property in Temecula.

The red wines are made from Bordeaux varieties. All their wines are aged in oak barrels (50% new). The wine is taken from the barrel and then blended – subsequently, it is returned to the barrel for 12 more months. The wines are aged for an additional few months before release.

🌟 The Baily Business – Tasting Rooms & Restaurants

The family offers tasting rooms and restaurants. The Main tasting room features their current releases of red and white wines.

Location: 33440 La Serena Way, Temecula, CA 92591. Located right next to their restaurant “Carols Restaurant” (named after Carol Baily).

The other tasting room is The Estate Tasting Room which is in another location (see below for more information).

Their son Chris and wife Kim have two restaurants in Old Town Temecula – The Front Street Bar & Grill and Baily’s Fine Dining. Both are located in the same building on different floors.

🌟 The Estate Tasting Room

Both tasting rooms are lovely and in different locations. However, my 5Startip🌟: I highly recommend The Estate Tasting Room. The experience is singular and certainly will satisfy any wine enthusiast.

At this location, you can taste the older, aged library red wine in a quiet, individual setting. This site also houses the production facility.

There are two tasting options, both of which include a short tour of the grounds:Vertical Tasting: Wines are served sitting down at an oversized table. Five years of one variety of wine are offered for tasting in a Riedel wine glass. Palate cleansing crackers & cheese are offered as well.Bar vertical: Tasting of five years of one variety of wine presented one after the other in one Riedel wine glass at the bar standing up, also served with palate cleansing crackers.

To have either of these experiences, you must make reservations in advance. For pricing and times contact: Estate Tasting Room Information – 951-972-9768 .

Location:

🌟 Always5Star favorite wine choice:

Though all wines on the vertical tasting were fabulous, my personal favorite was the 2008 Cabernet Franc. With a ruby garnet color, a savory taste with hints of blackberry jam, and a bit peppery with a medium-high acidity, the finish for me was perfect.

Final Thoughts:

I am an avid wine enthusiast. I enjoy educating myself on wine and wineries in various regions. I treasure the art of wine and the passion and dedication that it takes to make a great bottle of wine. With pleasure, I recommend Baily Vineyard & Winery as a winery that you need to try when visiting Temecula. I feel confident saying that you will not leave the winery without purchasing a bottle(s) and/or signing up for their wine club. As I finish this article, I find myself looking forward to opening my bottle of 2008 Cabernet Franc and enjoying a glass. I will do so while taking a moment to appreciate all that went into creating this wine and celebrating the achievements of Baily Vineyard & Winery! 

An Always5Star Cheers to the Baily Family!

For more information about this winery and their wines, visit:

Baily Vineyard & Winery

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🌟 Please note: This was a sponsored opportunity to taste the wines. However, my opinions expressed are my own. I was not compensated for writing this article or endorsing their wines.

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