Cougar Vineyard & Winery
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Cougar Vineyard & Winery is not our first home winery venture. Over 10 years ago we started making wine in Texas. Although there were some small vineyards near us in Fort Worth, we started by using kits. 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 drinkable wine. We bottled under the Ironstone Winery label. 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. During our stay in the always green city of Seattle, we made several trips to Buhl Idaho to visit our friend Terry White. One such occasion we helped him plant an acre of Chardonnay grapes which started us thinking about a vineyard of our own. We’d have to wait since we couldn’t grow anything around our property that wasn’t snail and slug proof… We began producing some very good reds and finally some whites to be proud of. We entered and won 3rd place for our Semillon in 1998. We bottled under the Cougar Mountain Winery label. 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 (or have an existing vineyard if lucky enough). Two years in the home and we have planted 669 vines with room for around 300 more if we’re so inclined. Along the Italian theme of the Sangiovese and Montepulciano we have planted Malbec. We'll be planting more Malbec and about 280 Cabernet Sauvignon plants early spring 2005. 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’re active members and enjoy the many educational and networking possibilities that the society offers. In 2003 we won a Bronze in the Orange County Fair for our Sauvignon Blanc. Check out the Awards link for our 2004 awards. We now bottle under the Cougar Vineyard & Winery label. So there you have it. 2004 and 2005 harvests were good ones. We are making estate wines from our vineyard and also purchased grapes. For all the details check out our Current Harvest link. In the words of our friend and mentor Lum Eisenman some words that motivate us to grow good quality grapes and make good wine… “You can't make good wine from bad grapes but you can make bad wine from good grapes”. Also, it takes a lot of beer to make good wine!
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Directions
Directions from
Downtown San Diego (1 hr 15min): I-15 NORTH: Take the CA-79 SOUTH exit onto a local road toward TEMECULA/INDIO - go 0.3 mi. Turn Right on CA-79 - go 5.1 mi. Turn Left on ANZA RD - go 0.5 mi. Turn Right on DE PORTOLA RD - go 5.0 mi. Directions from Orange County (1hr 15min): I-91 East to I-15 South, Take the CA-79 SOUTH exit onto a local road toward TEMECULA/INDIO - go 0.3 mi. Turn Right on CA-79 - go 5.1 mi. Turn Left on ANZA RD - go 0.5 mi. Turn Right on DE PORTOLA RD - go 5.0 mi. Directions from Los Angeles (1hr 30min): I-60 or I-10 East to I-15 South, Take the CA-79 SOUTH exit onto a local road toward TEMECULA/INDIO - go 0.3 mi. Turn Right on CA-79 - go 5.1 mi. Turn Left on ANZA RD - go 0.5 mi. Turn Right on DE PORTOLA RD - go 5.0 mi.
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Chardonnay Temecula Valley
Our 2006 was done entirely in stainless allowing the varietal aromas to emerge. The nose is citric, typical of Monterey Chardonnays, with hints of kiwi and guava. The malolactic fermentation added aspects of hazelnut to the complexity of this wine.
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Meritage
Blended in the Bordeaux tradition from beautiful grapes grown in the California South Coast appellation this wine is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Petit Verdot. The wine has been aged gracefully in American Oak cooperage for 14 months. We invite you to enjoy this exceptional wine. Only 76 cases produced
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Muscat Canelli Temecula Valley
Our 2006 Temecula Valley Muscat Canelli is finished slightly dryer than most typical Muscat wines. With 3% residual sugar this light fruity wine has flavors of grapefruit, tangelo, and pineapple. Only 325 cases produced. Enjoy!
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Pink Cougar South Coast
Our 2006 Pink Cougar is made from 100% high quality Boorman Estate Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. With 2% residual sugar this light fruity wine tastes like black cherries. Enjoy this refreshing wine with a picnic, fresh fruit or with a friend on a hot day. Only 115 cases produced.
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Riesling
Our 2005 Wickets Vineyard Riesling is finished slightly dryer than most typical Rieslings. With 3% residual sugar the wine has aromas of apricot, grapefruit and citrus and flavors that suggest a hint of mineral. Enjoy with pan fried trout, grilled sausage or by itself
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Sangiovese
Our 2004 Sangiovese is estate grown, produced and bottled in Fallbrook California. This medium-bodied wine has aromas of fresh raspberries with a hint of vanilla and smoke from aging in American and Hungarian Oak cooperage for 14 months. Enjoy with roasts and red-sauced pasta dishes.
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