Frangipani Estate Winery

By the 1969 Caddy team · Updated November 7, 2026

On the De Portola Wine Trail, Frangipani Estate is the kind of place that turns a quick tasting into a long afternoon. The winery describes its own atmosphere as welcoming, and its award-winning wines make it what it calls a necessary stop on a day of wine tasting in Temecula Valley.

The story of Frangipani Estate

Frangipani Estate Winery was established in 2003 and is owned by Don and JoAnn Frangipani. It is a family business through and through, with winemaker Nick Molina producing about 4,500 cases a year. That boutique scale keeps the focus on quality and gives the tasting room a personal, neighborly feel.

Over the years, Frangipani has become a fixture on the De Portola trail, known for its red wines and its relaxed, sociable patio.

What to taste at Frangipani

Frangipani is a red-wine lover’s stop. The Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association lists Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Grenache, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Sangiovese and Syrah — a lineup that covers Bordeaux, Rhône and Italian styles.

Build a flight that compares families: Sangiovese for bright Italian acidity, Grenache and Syrah for Rhône-style spice, and Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon for Bordeaux structure. Petit Verdot in particular is worth seeking out — it is usually a blending grape, so tasting it on its own is a treat.

The Frangipani experience

The Oakey Grape food grill serves daily, and select deli items are available in the tasting room, so there is always something to pair with a glass. Frangipani offers picnic areas, live music, a restaurant and wedding and event spaces, and it is dog friendly and family friendly.

The winery asks transportation providers to call for its current policy, which we confirm in advance when you book a chauffeured visit.

Who will love Frangipani

Red-wine enthusiasts, friendly groups and anyone who enjoys a relaxed patio with food will feel at home at Frangipani. It sits close to Cougar and Masia de la Vinya on De Portola Road, making it easy to combine Italian, Spanish and Bordeaux-style tastings in one afternoon. The winding road between them is exactly what a top-down '69 Cadillac was built for.

For the best experience, plan Frangipani around lunchtime so you can enjoy something from the Oakey Grape grill with your tasting, then continue along De Portola Road for an afternoon of smaller, quieter neighbors.

The grapes behind Frangipani Estate Winery’s wines

A quick guide to the varieties on Frangipani Estate Winery’s list, and how they tend to show in Temecula:

• Cabernet Franc — Cabernet Sauvignon’s aromatic parent, lighter on its feet, with red fruit, herbs and a hint of spice; it performs especially well in Temecula.
• Cabernet Sauvignon — the king of Bordeaux grapes; in Temecula’s warm days and cool nights it ripens to dark cherry and cassis with firm, age-worthy tannins.
• Grenache — a heat-loving Mediterranean grape with bright raspberry fruit and gentle spice, at its best in sunny valleys like Temecula.
• Malbec — best known from Argentina; in Temecula it gives inky color, ripe plum and a velvety texture.
• Petit Verdot — usually a small part of Bordeaux blends, it is deeply colored and structured, with violet and dark-fruit aromas when bottled on its own.
• Sangiovese — the grape of Chianti — bright cherry, high acidity and an earthy edge that makes it one of the most food-friendly reds in the valley.

Frangipani Estate Winery fact sheet

Details from the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association directory. Hours, menus and policies change, so confirm on the winery’s website before visiting.

Arriving at Frangipani Estate Winery in a 1969 Cadillac

The De Portola Wine Trail is the most scenic driving in Temecula — a winding two-lane road through hillside vineyards, horse properties and oak-studded slopes on the valley’s southern side. It is the stretch our guests most often remember from the back seat of the '69 Cadillac, with long views opening at every curve. Wineries here are spread a little farther apart than on Rancho California Road, which makes a chauffeur especially useful.

Frangipani Estate Winery is at 39750 De Portola Road. We plan the route, confirm any reservation or group policy with the winery, and time the drive so you arrive relaxed — and leave without anyone in your party needing to drive after tasting. Chauffeured hire is $325 per hour with a three-hour minimum; most guests pair Frangipani Estate Winery with two or three nearby wineries in a four- to five-hour booking.

Book the '69 Cadillac on DriveShare

Wineries near Frangipani Estate Winery

Pair your visit with these neighbors on the De Portola Wine Trail:

• Gershon Bachus Vintners — 37750 De Portola Road
• Fazeli Cellars — 37320 De Portola Road
• Leoness Cellars — 38311 De Portola Road
• Danza del Sol Winery — 39050 De Portola Road

See all 45 Temecula wineries →

Frequently asked questions