Ponte Family Estate Winery welcomes Frank Miller as Executive Chef of the award winning Smokehouse Restaurant. Miller brings thirty years of culinary experience encompassing restaurant, hotel, catering, and personal chef practice as well as experience with entertainment, film and professional sporting events. His expertise  in world cuisine allows him to excel at creating a cross fusion of exciting flavors. For the past two years,
Miller has worked as a personal chef for recording artist Mary J. Blige, major league baseball player Gary Sheffield, and Def Jam Records founder Rick Ruben. Chef Miller plans on taking uncomplicated foods, preparing them simply and adding fresh ingredients. “Let the flavor of the food be the star,” Miller comments.
Guests can expect a California cuisine menu  built around pastas, pizzas and other deliciously bold plates. A self-proclaimed “food historian,” Miller plans on fusing food history and cuisine in his dishes to engage guests and provide an exceptional dining experience. Miller is creating a new menu that reflects more “fire-cooked foods”, including amping up the already popular items like the Flaming Cedar Plank Salmon. Miller also plans to  grow gardens, or “farms” to promote environmentally conscious cuisine. He will use the fruits and vegetables from the farm in the dishes he creates. Along with the new menu coming from Chef Miller, seating at the Smokehouse Restaurant is expanding to accommodate twenty additional tables, allowing for quality service and an enhanced dining experience.

Join the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association as we open our member wineries’ cellar doors for our 19th annual winter barrel tasting event, the World of Wine, on March 6 and 7, 2010. Temecula Valley wine country wineries will offer tank and barrel tastings of future vintages–as well as finished, bottled wine tastings–paired perfectly with complementing food samplings. The event offers an opportunity for guests to visit each of our 27 member wineries over the course of the two-day event, which takes place from 10 am to 4:30 pm each day.
Easily maneuverable, the circuitous loop through the Temecula Valley wine country allows guests to enjoy the wineries of Rancho California Road as well as the De Portola Trail–and all of those in-between–via an effortless, self guided tour. Guests will receive a map of the Temecula Valley, a passport which allows a visit to each participating winery and a souvenir wine glass.
This whirlwind, two day event is a sure sell-out, so please order your tickets early to avoid disappointment. The event is limited to guests 21 years and over; valid ID must be presented at time of check-in.
Two Day tickets are $89 per person; $79 if purchased through Sunday, February 7, 2010.
Sunday Only and Designated Driver tickets are also available at a discounted price. Order your tickets online at www.temeculawines.org or for additional information, please call 800.801.9463 for assistance.

Which goes better with a fine Temecula Valley  Meritage: Mozart, The Who, or Koz?
Music influences the way wine tastes. This seems obvious, and may be  the reason so many wineries build  events  around wine and music. It’s the experience of both that resonates with us all. So who does it best?  Read on!
“Wine and music are one,” wrote Emerson. The founders of Lorimar Winery in Old Town Temecula would  agree I am sure.  Mark Manfield, co-owner of Lorimar  has a great respect for the art of wine, and the spirit of  music because as he says  “Together they provide a unique experience that creates an indelible imprint on the soul.” In fact, Mark so loves that wine/music connection that he’s adding music into his tasting room mix beginning in April.  Expect all kinds of music on the weekends.  As Mark shares, “ I love all kinds of music.  I don’t want my winery to be just about one kind of music.  We’ll be featuring jazz, rock and roll, western, and whatever else I am in the mood for. I have eclectic tastes. ” You know this man is serious, as several of his wines have a distinctive note on the label. My advice – check Mark and his music out.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention another favorite music/wine venue around town  --- the fabulous Thornton Winery Champagne Jazz series.  These guys know how to knock it out of the park each and every time with their famous smooth jazz artist line up, amazing food by Executive Chef Steve Pickell, and premium still and sparkling wines by award-winning winemaker Don Reha. President Steve Thornton tells me the reason the concerts have been so well received is because, “Our audience has both the passion for wine, food and music. Our unique venue provides the setting to share this with friends and family.”
Thornton Winemaker Don Reha also has an interesting take on why the concerts work. “Part of the unique experience at our concerts is being able to enjoy great food and wines. Whether you’re enjoying the “Gourmet Supper” being served at your table during the show with wines paired by me, or enjoying the fare from our Jazz Grill, and selecting the wines you most enjoy, the combination of music, food, & wine is just simply an amazing experience.” So what will this winemaker be drinking on opening day?  “Most likely the new release of our Blanc de Noirs, because it is the perfect spring sipper to kick off our 22nd Champagne Jazz Concert Series!” A huge nod goes to jazz manager Tonya Wake who runs each concert with heart, soul, and a secret organizational effort that makes the concerts flawless. Tonya tells me the concerts are expected to begin on April 26, with tickets going on sale March 1.  Wohoo – I can’t wait!
Final Thoughts: Be part of the music/wine buzz this year. Get yourself off the couch and into the experience.
Recommendations: Sparkling wine: Thornton NV Blanc de Noirs Methode Champenoise  ($24.00)Red wine: 2008 Lorimar Sangiovese ($28)

Come join the Temecula Chamber’s Power Networking 2 class, deemed ‘The Lab.’ The 2-hour class is for business owners who want to delve deeper into permission-based marketing and build their special business on honest relationships as opposed to cold calling.

The class will be presented by networking afficianado Jann Gentry, owner of Gentry Studio Photography and Custom Framing.

‘The Lab’ is presented every quarter by the chamber; the first one will be February 16th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The class is free but space is limited, so call the chamber office to put your name on the list at (951) 676-5090.

The Temecula Noon Rotary Club is hosting its 11th Annual High School Rotary Music Contest on Wednesday, February 17th at noon at Wilson Creek Winery. The contest covers three categories: vocal, instrumental and piano. Cash prizes will be awarded and the winners will advance and compete at the Rotary District 5330 Finals Competition for even larger cash prizes. Space is limited. Contestants must be in high school, home school or an independent study program and the repertoire must be classical or musical theater.
For more information or to request the Rules and the Application, please contact Sally Myers at (951) 775-0520 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

I am impressed with all the new activity in Old Town, but I am especially excited about all the tasting rooms that have arrived. We (locals & visitors) get our very own no-drive, sip and stroll experience with a collection of (at last count) six tasting rooms. Now that’s something to toast! One of the newest ones to arrive is Lorimar Winery.
Lorimar is many things: a premium Southern California winery, a trendy tasting room in Old Town Temecula, and a dream come true for two very cool guys, Lawrie Lipton and Mark Manfield. According to the pair, “ Our goal is to create good wines and charge reasonable prices in a beautiful environment.”
While the Tuscan-style winery is being built a few miles away in Temecula Wine Country, the tasting room is open and bursting with activity in a charming brick building located in the center of Old Town Temecula at Front & Main Street. Complimenting the Lorimar tasting room experience are numerous close by boutique shops, antique galleries, live theatre, and world-class restaurants.
The handcrafted wines are approachable with a fruit forward style that showcases clean crisp fruit. “Our renowned winemaker Mike Tingley creates wines using the best of the old world ways combined with today’s more advanced technology, producing delicious varietiels and interesting blends” explains co-owner Lawrie Lipton.
The tasting room provides a friendly and unique environment to enjoy premium wines. “There’s always something going on at the store- wine specials, wine tasting events, music, or classes” says Mark Manfield. “We’ve created a special place for people to stop in, relax, and enjoy great wines.” The knowledgeable and friendly staff is always willing to answer questions about wine, lead guests through a structured tasting or just pour guests a great glass of wine.
Final Thoughts: Get over to the tasting room now to be part of the buzz. Yes, really.
Recommendations: White wine: Gewürztraminer - Red wine: Meritage
For more information, call (951) 240-5177 or go to www.LorimarWinery.com and visit them at 42031 Main Street, Suite C, Temecula.