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

Fall is in full swing on Pour Temecula, and we’re back with Heather Rankin (HB) for Part 2 of our seasonal series (don’t forget to check out Part 1: Thanksgiving Wines!). In this cozy, autumn-themed episode, we taste our way through four pumpkin and harvest-inspired beers—including Shannon’s first-ever pumpkin beer—and mix up two fall cocktails: one straight from Trader Joe’s and one crafted by ChatGPT using Kompocha Brewing’s Cinnamon Pear Kombucha. We share honest feedback, plenty of laughs, and maybe even a few surprises along the way. Grab your favorite sweater and join us for some deliciously seasonal sipping!

In this episode, we drink:

Trader Joes "Howling Gourds" Pumpkin Ale

Southern Tier Brewing PumpKing Imperial Ale

Southern Tier Brewing Maple Warlock Imperial Stout

Brewery Ommegang "All Hallows Treat" Imperial Chocolate Peanut Butter Stout

Trader Joes Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini

Harvest Spritz featuring Kompoocha Cinnamon Pear Kumbucha

It’s Thanksgiving on Pour Temecula, and Rick and Shannon are joined by the fabulous Heather Rankin (HB) for a crash course in perfect holiday pours.

This Thanksgiving, we’re putting the “pour” in “pour another glass.” In this festive episode of Pour Temecula, Rick and Shannon are joined by the always-wonderful Heather Rankin—aka HB—to tackle one of the season’s biggest questions: What should you drink with Thanksgiving dinner? From bubbles to bold reds, we explore the best bottles to pair with turkey, stuffing, and all the cozy sides. But the real twist? Shannon brought a mystery flight of wines for us to blind taste—and let’s say, Thanksgiving may never taste the same again. Whether you’re hosting, guesting, or just drinking, this episode will help you build the perfect holiday lineup.

In this episode we drink:

2022 Mie Ikeno Pinot Noir, Yamanashi, Japan

Moselland Cat Pinot Noir, Pfalz, Germany

2021 Hirsch Vineyards The Bohan-Dillon Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, California

Temecula might be known for its vineyards and IPAs, but there’s another kind of fermentation bubbling up downtown. In this episode of Pour Temecula, we sit down with the owners of Kompoocha Brewing, Temecula’s craft kombucha bar that’s redefining what a “local pour” can be. From the art of fermentation to their non-profit donations to No Kill Shelters, we dig into how they blend health, flavor, and fun—one fizzy glass at a time. Plus, Rick takes on a different kind of tasting challenge, discovering some tasty new drinks along the way!

It’s spooky season in Temecula, and we’re trading wine glasses for EMF detectors! In this episode of Pour Temecula, Rick and Shannon sit down with Aedan and Becca from The Haunt Ghost Tours: Temecula, ghost-hunters who blend local history with paranormal chills. From haunted landmarks and eerie encounters to tarot readings and ghost stories with a wine country twist, this episode is part history lesson, part haunted happy hour. Grab a glass, dim the lights, and join us as we uncover Temecula’s spirited side.

Pour Temecula listeners get $12 off a drinking tour ticket with code POUR at checkout: thehauntghosttours.com/tours/temecula

What we're drinking:

Had a paranormal experience in Old Town? Leave us a voice message on Speakpipe, and you might hear yourself on a future episode! Contact us on Instagram (@pourtemecula) or message us ([email protected])—we're always excited to connect with fellow wine, beer, and beverage lovers!

Rick and Shannon taste Cougar Vineyard & Winery’s 2021 Ciliegiolo, a rare Italian red grape with deep Tuscan roots. 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 pour a glass of Ciliegiolo—a cherry-scented red from central Italy that usually hides in blends but shines brightly on its own at Cougar Vineyard & Winery. Their pick is Cougar’s 2021 Estate Ciliegiolo, a small-lot Temecula bottling that’s hand-picked, basket-pressed, and aged in a mix of American and French oak. Rick and Shannon dive into the grape’s history, its fresh, fruit-forward personality, and how Cougar became the first winery in the U.S. to earn varietal recognition for it before sharing their tasting notes and final rating on the show’s Dump It, Try It, Pour It, or Buy It scale.

Temecula isn’t just Cab and Almond Champagne—discover how Italian reds like Sangiovese, Montepulciano, and Aglianico are thriving at Bottaia Winery and other local producers. Bold, unexpected, and so pour-worthy!

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Think Temecula is all about Cab and Almond Champagne? Not so fast—Italian reds are staking their claim, and they’re every bit as bold and complex as their Old World counterparts. In this episode of Pour Temecula, Rick DeLucio and Shannon Cole visit Bottaia Winery, one of Temecula’s premier producers of Italian varietals, to explore how classic grapes from Tuscany and the south of Italy are thriving here in Southern California.

Italy has hundreds of native red grapes, and Temecula’s warm, Mediterranean climate makes it a natural home for varieties like Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Aglianico, and Sagrantino. From the elegance of Sangiovese to the dark power of Aglianico and the tannic grip of Sagrantino, these wines highlight Bottaia’s commitment to honoring Italian heritage while giving it a distinctly Temecula accent. Along the way, we’ll dig into each grape’s origins, why they work so well in this climate, and what these wines say about Temecula’s future beyond the familiar.

Expect candid takes, stories about farming and winemaking in the heat, and of course, tasting impressions of some standout bottles. By the end, you just might rethink what Temecula should be known for when it comes to red wine.

What we tasted in this episode:

Have a favorite Italian white wine from Temecula? Leave us a voice message on Speakpipe, and you might hear yourself on a future episode! Contact us on Instagram (@pourtemecula) or message us ([email protected])—we're always excited to connect with fellow wine, beer, and beverage lovers!

In this episode of The Short Pour, we’re heading to southern France to explore Provence Rosé— the wine that defined what dry, elegant, and effortlessly drinkable pink should be. From its ancient Greek roots to its modern-day dominance, Provence has become the global gold standard for rosé, with over 90% of its production dedicated to this refreshing, food-friendly style.

We’ll also be tasting one of the most iconic bottles in the category: Whispering Angel by Château d'Esclans. Created by Sacha Lichine in 2006, it turned Provence rosé into a pop culture phenomenon and helped spark the “rosé all day” movement. With its pale salmon hue, crisp acidity, and delicate notes of peach, strawberry, and citrus, Whispering Angel is a wine that’s as at home on a brunch table as it is on a yacht - or just chilling by the pool.

If you’ve ever wondered why Provence rosé matters, what makes it so distinctive, or how one bottle helped launch a global trend, this episode has you covered. Join us as weuncover the story of the pink wine that became a lifestyle.

What happens when you put four Temecula wine lovers in a room, hand them a glass, and ask them to draft their dream winery itinerary? In this episode of Pour Temecula, Rick and Shannon team up with Sarah from Two Days in Temecula and Karagan from Temecula Passport to construct the ultimate four-stop wine-country adventure. Recorded live at Humble Somm over a few pours, this friendly competition blends local insight, strategy, and plenty of laughs. Once the draft is done, it’s up to you—listeners can vote on which itinerary reigns supreme through our social media channels.

Think you can organize a superior tour compared to ours? Leave us a voice message on Speakpipe, and you might hear yourself on a future episode! Contact us on Instagram (@pourtemecula) or message us ([email protected])—we're always excited to connect with fellow wine, beer, and beverage lovers!

Rick and Shannon taste Bottaia’s 2024 Verdicchio, the classic white grape of Italy’s Marche region. 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 Verdicchio—a crisp, citrusy, almond-tinged white wine beloved in central Italy—now being grown right here in Southern California. Their pick is Bottaia’s 2024 Verdicchio, a small-lot Temecula bottling that brings Italian elegance to local vineyards. Rick and Shannon dive into Verdicchio’s Marche heritage, what makes it stand out among Italian whites, and how Bottaia is interpreting the grape in Temecula before sharing their tasting notes and final rating on the show’s Dump It, Try It, Pour It, or Buy It scale.