Review: Miramonte Winery Mencia 2021 (Temecula Valley)

Sparkling Wine in Temecula Valley

Sparkling wine is on the rise in Temecula Valley! In this episode of Pour Temecula, Shannon, special guest Lacy, and Richard explore the history of sparkling wine, break down the different production methods and styles, and taste four sparkling wines made by Temecula Valley wineries. Whether you're new to bubbly or a longtime sparkling wine fan, discover what makes Temecula's sparkling wines worth celebrating. Cheers! In this episode we taste: Uys Winery [https://uyswines.com/] Pet Nat of Zinfandel Thornton Winery [https://store.thorntonwine.com/shop/brut-reserve-natural/] Brut Reserve Natural Cougar Vineyards [https://cougarwinery.orderport.net/product-details/0094/cougar-bubbly] "Cougar Bubbly' Sparkling Arneis Akash Winery [https://www.akashwinery.com/product#/2025-dreamville-sparkling-sauvignon-blanc] "Dreamville" Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc

Review: Miramonte Winery Mencia 2021 (Temecula Valley)

Rick and Shannon taste Miramonte Winery’s 2021 Mencía, a Spanish red grape known for its bright fruit and earthy complexity. Does this land as a Dump It, Try It, Pour It, or Buy It? In this week’s bonus mini-episode of Pour Temecula, Rick DeLucio and Shannon Cole follow up on their recent Spanish Varietals episode by opening a bottle of Miramonte Winery’s 2021 Mencía. Originally from northwestern Spain—especially Bierzo and Ribeira Sacra—Mencía is known for its vibrant red fruit, floral notes, and savory edge. Rick and Shannon talk about the grape’s Spanish roots before sharing their tasting notes and final rating on the show’s Dump It, Try It, Pour It, or Buy It scale.

Review: Somerset Amphorae Blanca 2020 (Temecula Valley)

Rick and Shannon taste Somerset’s 2020 Amphorae Blanca, a Temecula white blend fermented and aged in clay amphorae. Does this land as a Dump It, Try It, Pour It, or Buy It? In this week’s bonus mini-episode of Pour Temecula, Rick DeLucio and Shannon Cole explore Somerset’s 2020 Amphorae Blanca, a white blend crafted in ancient clay amphorae rather than traditional barrels or stainless steel. Amphorae fermentation can bring added texture, subtle earthiness, and a different expression of fruit, making it one of the more intriguing winemaking approaches in Temecula Valley. Rick and Shannon discuss what amphorae aging does to a wine and how it influences flavor and structure, then share their tasting notes and final rating on the show’s Dump It, Try It, Pour It, or Buy It scale.

One Year Anniversary Show

One year. Countless pours. In this special anniversary episode, we reflect on our favorite shows and standout beverages, thank the incredible guests and listeners who made it all possible, and share what’s ahead for Year Two, from new conversations to deeper dives. Then we put our palates to the test. Rick takes on sweet wines. Shannon tackles red wines in the Pour Temecula Tasting Challenge. Cheers to Year Two! In this episode, we taste: * 2020 Bella Vista Rozmaring, Temecula, CA [https://www.bellavistawinery.com/product/Case-20-Rozmaring] * 2018 Chateau Megyer Aszu 5 Puttonyos, Tokaj, Hungary * 2019 Cougar Estate Aglianico, Temecula, CA [https://cougarwinery.orderport.net/product-details/0574/2019-estate-aglianico] * 2020 Elena Fucci 'Titolo' Aglianico del Vulture, Campania, Italy

Spanish-Inspired Wines featuring Raúl Ramirez Bodegas y Viñedos

In this episode of Pour Temecula, we taste through Spanish-inspired wines made locally, featuring Tempranillo, Garnacha, Monastrell (Mourvèdre), Albariño, and Verdejo. We also visit Raul Ramirez to sample their lineup and explore the character, structure, and flavor profiles of each varietal. If you’re curious about these classic Spanish varietals and how they’re showing up locally, this episode is for you.   In this episode, we are tasting: 2016 Raúl Ramirez Estate Gran Reserva Brut Cava Style Sparkling Wine 2022 Raúl Ramirez Estate Albariño 2022 Raúl Ramirez Estate Tempranillo Reserva