Winery just 90 minutes from LA nominated as one of the nation’s best

One of the nation’s top wine destinations may be much closer to Los Angeles than many locals realize.

Temecula Valley Wine Country, located about 90 minutes from LA, has been nominated for Best Wine Region in USA Today’s 2026 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards, adding to a growing list of national accolades for the popular weekend destination.

The region previously came in at No. 2 in the country in the same USA Today readers’ poll in 2024.

Temecula Valley is home to nearly 50 wineries, making it an accessible escape for Angelenos looking for a wine-country getaway without traveling to Northern California.

More than 30 grape varieties are grown across the region today, according to the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association, an increase from the 24-plus varieties cited in earlier promotional materials.

The valley’s Mediterranean-like climate is particularly well suited to a diverse mix of grapes, including Italian, Rhône and Spanish varieties.

But the region has increasingly become a destination for more than what is poured into the glass.

Visitors can take in vineyard views and intimate tasting experiences alongside restaurants, live music and behind-the-scenes wine tours, with enough on offer to turn a day trip into a full weekend getaway.

Temecula Valley has also earned major recognition for its wine tourism in recent years.

Wine Enthusiast named Temecula Valley one of the world’s Top Ten Wine Travel Destinations in 2019, years before the region secured its second-place finish in USA Today’s 2024 Best Wine Region vote.

The area’s winemaking history stretches back much further.

Wine grapes were first planted in the valley by Spanish missionaries in 1820, while the beginnings of Temecula’s modern commercial wine industry date to 1968, when the area’s first commercial vineyard was established.

Decades later, Temecula Valley has grown into one of Southern California’s major wine destinations, with dozens of wineries and a tourism scene built around tastings, dining and vineyard experiences.

Now, its latest 2026 nomination gives the region another shot at national bragging rights — all within about a 90-minute drive of Los Angeles.

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