5 Best Hotels in Temecula, North County and Around

Owners Laura and Mike Wieters opened the most romantic private winery estate in Temecula to bring exclusivity, perfection, and a splash of Burgundy to the heart of Temecula. A variety of award-winning estate wines produced on-site by Mike, large soaking tubs, posh decor, marble walk in showers, and a full organic breakfast (delivered to your room) await guests. Enter the impressive front gate and prepare to be awed with manicured gardens and a stone mansion connecting their main residence to three private guest suites, ranging in size from 400 to 600 square feet. While there’s no shared common area, privacy is pinnacle with each room having its own large walled garden with endless vineyard and mountain views. Bathroom amenities include an organic line of products infused with lavender and other herbs from the onsite garden. As an interior designer, Laura curated every inch of the elegant property, right down to the hand-painted floors; while Mike, an architectural designer and landscape architect who designed Domaine Chardonnay from the ground up, is also one of the top wine makers in the valley. Each morning, hot air balloons gently float by above the vineyard, meaning you capture the moment in the comfort of your bathrobe with a Nespresso in hand. A behind-the-vines tour and other tasting experiences are available upon request.

Enter by way of a long driveway lined with olive trees, past the automatic gates, and suddenly you’re in a Mediterranean-inspired neighborhood of freestanding bungalows that overlook the vineyards and mountains. Exquisitely designed in hues of white, cream, and royal blue, each bungalow has a lounge area, fireplace, and enormous marble bathroom. The pool, room service, and tasting room (tastings from $25) give little need to leave this pleasant property, but, if you want to explore South Coast Winery Resort, the neighboring sister property, a complimentary shuttle transports guests to their spa, gym, and restaurant; charges can be signed back to your room at Carter Estate.

Comfortable and relaxed digs offer vineyard and garden views and are modeled after the Carmel Mission with lots of dark wood, massive doors, leather furnishings, and open spaces. Spanish-tile stairways lead to fountain courtyards and arched entries where Bouquet restaurant serves breakfast and dinner in the garden. Request a room in the newer wing where rooms have private sitting areas; separating the two sections is a swimming pool with pool bar offering service May–October.

At Temecula's largest winery, this resort offers your choice of a private villa or hotel room in the tower building, all surrounded by 38 acres of vineyards. Most guests opt for a villa, each designed for privacy with no common walls or entrances, with sweeping views of mountains and sky from a private patio. Back doors open onto trails that wind through vineyards and orchards, ideal for guests who travel with happy hounds; each dog is welcomed with a "sWag Bag" and owners are treated to wine-tasting tickets. There are hand-painted frescoes, in-room fireplaces, oversize marble bathrooms, and small dining areas. In the tower building, an additional 50 rooms are slightly less private but more affordable than the villas. The resort also has a spa with 22 treatment rooms and a saltwater pool. The resort offers a number of packages that make it a value choice when staying in the Temecula wine country.