Wiens Cellars

By the 1969 Caddy team · Updated November 7, 2026

Wiens Cellars describes itself as a hidden gem between the commotion of Los Angeles and San Diego. Just off Rancho California Road on Via Del Ponte, it offers one of the broadest wine lists in Temecula and a reputation for big, bold reds.

The story of Wiens Cellars

Wiens Cellars was established in 2001 and is owned by David and Mark Steinhafel. Brian Marquez serves as Director of Winemaking, and production is about 25,000 cases a year. The winery produces a broad range of high-quality, locally grown varietals for both connoisseurs and newcomers.

Over the years, Wiens has become known especially for its “Big Reds,” while keeping a strong lineup of whites and sparkling wines.

What to taste at Wiens

Wiens’s varietal list is among the longest in Temecula. The Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association lists Arneis, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Vermentino, Viognier and white blends; Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Grenache, Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Syrah, Tempranillo, Zinfandel and red blends; and sparkling wine.

The winery highlights its Refugio Cabernet Sauvignon and Chateau Grand Rouge among its big reds, and Amour de L’Orange among its sparkling wines. A good flight starts with the Amour de L’Orange, moves through a crisp white, and finishes with the Refugio Cabernet or Chateau Grand Rouge. Beyond traditional tastings, Wiens offers exclusive seated tastings of limited-production and reserve wines in its Cellar and Barrel Rooms.

The Wiens experience

Rotating food vendors serve daily. Wiens offers picnic areas, live music and wedding and event spaces, and it is dog friendly and family friendly. Limousines and shuttle buses are by appointment only, which we arrange when Wiens is on your chauffeured itinerary.

Who will love Wiens

Big-red lovers, groups with varied tastes and anyone wanting a reserve-wine experience will enjoy Wiens. Book a seated reserve tasting in the Cellar or Barrel Room for a more exclusive visit, then continue along Rancho California Road to neighbors such as Ponte and Wilson Creek. A big red, a cool barrel room and a red Cadillac outside — Wiens makes a strong case for itself.

Planning tip: if you want the seated reserve tasting, book it in advance and make it the centerpiece of your day. It is a quieter, more in-depth experience than the main tasting bar, and a good way to taste the wines Wiens is proudest of.

With so many varietals on the list, Wiens is also a smart stop for groups who cannot agree on a style. Everyone can build their own flight, and the conversation around the table usually turns into the best part of the visit.

The grapes behind Wiens Cellars’s wines

A quick guide to the varieties on Wiens Cellars’s list, and how they tend to show in Temecula:

• Arneis — a rare Piedmont white with pear, almond and floral notes.
• 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.
• Chardonnay — the world’s most popular white grape, made in Temecula in styles from crisp and unoaked to round and creamy.
• 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.

Wiens Cellars 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 Wiens Cellars 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.

Wiens Cellars is at 35055 Via Del Ponte. 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 Wiens Cellars with two or three nearby wineries in a four- to five-hour booking.

Book the '69 Cadillac on DriveShare

Wineries near Wiens Cellars

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

• Wilson Creek Winery & Vineyard — 35960 Rancho California Road
• Truffle Pig Winery — 34567 Rancho California Road
• Thornton Winery — 32575 Rancho California Road
• South Coast Winery Resort & Spa — 34843 Rancho California Road

See all 45 Temecula wineries →

Frequently asked questions