South Coast Winery Wins Prestigious Cilurzo Winery of the Year Award

TEMECULA, Calif. – South Coast Winery Resort & Spa, owned by the Carter family, received the important designation of Cilurzo Winery of the Year at the 10th Annual Temecula Valley Xenia Hospitality Awards.

Owners Jim and Jeff Carter, 25-year Temecula vineyard proprietors, received a certificate of recognition on behalf of State Senator Melissa Melendez of the 28thDistrict for “going far beyond the call of duty and doing more than others expect by displaying outstanding hospitality and service to visitors and members in our community.” They also received an awards plaque from Visit Temecula Valley.

“We proudly accept this coveted award of Cilurzo Winery of the Year,” said Jeff Carter, president of Carter Hospitality. From our first planted vineyards at Wild Horse Peak Mountain over 25 years ago to our winemaking prowess and today’s luxurious resort, South Coast Winery Resort & Spa continues to push the envelope to bring the Temecula Valley new and exciting experiences to attract visitors and support the community.” 

Named for the late Vincenzo Cilurzo and his wife Audrey, who planted the region’s first commercial vineyard in 1968, the Cilurzo Winery Award of the Year recognizes a winery operating in the Temecula Valley, which routinely offers an exceptional guest experience through its wine, winery, vineyard quality and appearance and philanthropic endeavors for the betterment of the community. A nominating committee of five members chose the Cilurzo Winery Award winner based on wine making authenticity and quality, 30%; winery and vineyard quality and appearance, 30%; guest experience, 30%; and philanthropic endeavors in the community, 10%.

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa has long been a cornerstone of the Temecula Valley wine community. Its events and programs include hosting a blind tasting event, accommodating overflow parking for Crush, hosting onsite concerts, raising funds for the Inland Empire Autism Society, supporting the American Cancer Society Desert Coastal Area, and arranging activities to benefit Michelle’s Place and the Boys & Girls Club of Southwest County.

On the winemaking side, South Coast Winery’s winemakers continue to experiment with the vineyards, vintages and blends to create some of the most outstanding wines in the Valley that are also extremely approachable, allowing even the newest of wine drinkers to enjoy their visits.

The winery has received thousands of wine awards over the years, including most recently winning the 2019 “Winery of the Year” premium award at the 39thAnnual San Francisco International Wine Competition (SFIWC), one of the oldest international wine competitions in the world and North America’s largest wine judging event. At this event, it was also awarded “Best of Class” for its Wild Horse Peak Mountain Vineyards Touriga Nacional, 2016 as well as 28 other prestigious awards.

About South Coast Winery Resort & Spa

The only winery among the state’s top wineries to claim the title of California Winery of the Year four times at the California State Fair Wine Competition, South Coast Winery Resort & Spa sets the gold standard for excellence amongst California wineries, earning more than 3,000 awards since its inception in 2003. Situated on 63 lush acres, the resort offers a breathtaking retreat for wine tours, romantic getaways and group events with 132 rooms and villas, a working winery and tasting room, gift shop, full-service spa and restaurant.

South Coast Winery offers a broad portfolio of 45 wine labels, the majority of which are available for sampling in its main tasting room – from robust reds such as Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Petit Syrah, Merlot and Pinot Noir to whites including Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Riesling. Also available are sparkling wines, dessert wines and other specialty offerings. The winery employs a staff of skilled winemakers, including master winemaker Jon McPherson and winemaker Javier Flores, both with decades of experience in the wine industry.

For more information, visit www.southcoastwinery.com.

About Carter Hospitality Group

Established in 2011, Carter Hospitality Group, LLC. is a family-owned hospitality company with five hotels and resorts as well as three wineries across the United States. Based in Orange County, California, the company manages and owns a portfolio of luxury properties including South Coast Winery Resort & Spa, Temecula, California; Carter Estate Winery and Resort, Temecula California; Harborside Suites at Little Harbor, Ruskin, Florida; and Carter Creek Winery Resort & Spa, Texas Hill Country. Carter Hospitality Group additionally serves as the owner-franchisee for Red Lion Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista South, Orlando Florida. For more information, visit www.carterhospitality.com.