Thornton Winery

By the 1969 Caddy team · Updated November 7, 2026

Thornton Winery stands at the western entrance to Temecula wine country, and for many visitors it is the first winery they see. It describes itself as the gateway to Southern California’s Temecula Valley Wine Country — and for decades it has set the tone with sparkling wine, fine food, live music and beautiful grounds.

The story of Thornton Winery

Thornton Winery was established in 1981 and is owned by John M. and Steve Thornton. Winemaker Tom Stolzer leads production of about 15,000 cases a year. The Thorntons set out to create a premier winery that satisfies wine enthusiasts with award-winning wine, gourmet cuisine, live music and grounds suited to weddings and banquets.

Over more than four decades, Thornton has become synonymous with celebration in Temecula: sparkling wine on the terrace, concerts under the stars and countless weddings.

What to taste at Thornton

Sparkling wine is Thornton’s signature, and it is the natural place to start. The Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association also lists Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sangiovese and Syrah. A tasting that moves from sparkling wine to Chardonnay and then to Sangiovese, Syrah and Cabernet gives a well-rounded picture of the winery.

If you are celebrating, a bottle of bubbly on the terrace is the classic Thornton experience.

The Thornton experience

Café Champagne, the winery’s restaurant, is open daily, with later hours on Saturdays. The tasting room and gift shop are open daily, and winery hours change on days with live music. Thornton offers wedding and event spaces, live music and a restaurant, and it is dog friendly and family friendly. Wine tours are currently not available.

Thornton accepts limousines and recommends reservations for large parties. As the first winery on Rancho California Road, it is an easy first stop or final dinner on a chauffeured day.

Who will love Thornton

Sparkling-wine lovers, concert-goers, wedding parties and anyone marking a special occasion will love Thornton. For weddings in particular, a 1969 Cadillac pulling up at Temecula’s gateway winery — then a toast with Thornton bubbles — is a timeless opening scene. On concert nights, let us drive so the evening can last as long as the music.

For a classic celebration day, start at Thornton with sparkling wine, spend the afternoon at estates farther east on Rancho California Road, and return to Café Champagne for an early dinner on the way home. Your chauffeur handles every leg.

If your visit falls during the concert season, check the schedule early. Popular shows sell out, and pairing a concert with a chauffeured evening means nobody in your group has to worry about parking or driving after the encore.

The grapes behind Thornton Winery’s wines

A quick guide to the varieties on Thornton Winery’s list, and how they tend to show 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.
• Chardonnay — the world’s most popular white grape, made in Temecula in styles from crisp and unoaked to round and creamy.
• 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.
• Sparkling — bubbles made in several styles across the valley — a classic way to start a celebration tasting.
• Syrah — the great Rhône grape — dark berries, black pepper and smoke — and one of the varieties best suited to Temecula’s climate.

Thornton 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 Thornton Winery in a 1969 Cadillac

Rancho California Road is where most chauffeured days begin, and it is the easiest stretch of Temecula wine country to string together in a classic car: the big estates sit close to one another, the road is wide and gently rolling, and the vineyards open up on both sides once you pass the first hill east of the freeway. With the top down on the '69 DeVille, it is a short, unhurried glide between tasting rooms, and your chauffeur handles the turns into busy weekend parking lots so you can step out right at the door.

Thornton Winery is at 32575 Rancho California 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 Thornton Winery with two or three nearby wineries in a four- to five-hour booking.

Book the '69 Cadillac on DriveShare

Wineries near Thornton Winery

Pair your visit with these neighbors on the Rancho California Road:

• Truffle Pig Winery — 34567 Rancho California Road
• South Coast Winery Resort & Spa — 34843 Rancho California Road
• Wiens Cellars — 35055 Via Del Ponte
• Wilson Creek Winery & Vineyard — 35960 Rancho California Road

See all 45 Temecula wineries →

Frequently asked questions