Cougar Vineyard and Winery

Good wine, as one would expect. Large estate with gorgeous views. Prices are reasonable. Staff is mostly nice with a couple exceptions. Do not talk to that older middle Eastern lady at the deli. She is way too busy for you, just save yourself the process of being blown off. She has to be the owner or something. No paid employee could be that rude and get away with it for very long. Once they start serving you, they're great, but don't stand at the counter waiting for them to come, you'll be standing there forever. Go find someone yourself.

Visited on a Saturday afternoon and it wasn’t crowded at all. It was very quiet and relaxing atmosphere with some pretty views.

Located along Temecula’s DePortola wine trail, Cougar is a small, family-owned and run boutique winery that produces some awesome Italian varietals, including a number of estate wines from their vineyards. They grown 95% of their wine grapes and all their wines are produced on-site. The owners have been making wine for 30 years, opening Cougar here in Temecula in 2006.

This review is long overdue! We first stopped in to Cougar awhile back on a weekday for a tasting and a bite to eat. This winery has a relaxed and casual vibe with seating indoors as well as picnic tables and a few comfy adirondack chairs outside. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. I love that they have Sangio’s Deli right there to pair your Italian wines with great deli fare – antipasti, hand-tossed pizzas, salads, and sandwiches. Not to be missed is their awesome happy hour (Tues-Thurs 2-4pm) where you get a free pizza with the purchase of 1 bottle red or 2 whites.

We’ve followed up that first visit to Cougar with several more relaxing afternoons there. You just can’t beat a freshly baked Mediterranean veggie pizza and a bottle of Primitivo while enjoying a stunning view of another spectacular Temecula sunset in wine country.

Oh, and they are kid-friendly and they love dogs! They even have a “K-9 wine club”! You get a bandana, discount on merch, a bottle of “Barkbera” wine, treat Tuesdays and monthly Yappy hours!

Visited on a Saturday afternoon and it wasn’t crowded at all. It was very quiet and relaxing atmosphere with some pretty views.

Oh, and they are kid-friendly and they love dogs! They even have a “K-9 wine club”! You get a bandana, discount on merch, a bottle of “Barkbera” wine, treat Tuesdays and monthly Yappy hours!