Monte De Oro Winery
Monte De Oro — “mountain of gold” — is one of the most striking tasting rooms on Rancho California Road. Walk in and look down: a glass floor reveals the winery’s barrel cellar below, while overhead, cathedral ceilings and alabaster chandeliers give the room an elegant, almost theatrical feel.
The story of Monte De Oro
Monte De Oro Winery was established in 2009 and is owned by OGB Partners, LLC. Winemaker David Allbright produces between 7,000 and 10,000 cases a year. From the start, the winery set out to pair a serious wine program with a memorable setting and a strong culinary offering.
The main tasting room spans 2,500 square feet, with six alabaster chandeliers and that signature glass floor, while the outdoor patio offers a breathtaking 180-degree panoramic view of the surrounding wine country.
What to taste at Monte De Oro
The list is broad. The Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association lists Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Grenache, Syrah, Tempranillo and Zinfandel among the reds, and Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and sparkling wine among the whites.
A Bordeaux-focused flight — Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon — is a natural fit for a winery with a cellar this visible. If you prefer variety, mix in Grenache and Tempranillo, and start with Viognier or sparkling wine. Monte De Oro also offers a monthly Signature Food & Wine Pairing, a three-course lunch featuring current and library wines.
The Monte De Oro experience
The Bistro, recognized as Best of Inland Empire for several years running, serves seasonal California contemporary cuisine in a casual setting — flatbread pizzas, salads, charcuterie boards, burgers and more, all designed to complement the wines. It is open Wednesday through Sunday. Monte De Oro also offers guided tours, live music, wedding and event spaces and a gift shop, and it is family friendly.
Who will love Monte De Oro
Anyone who appreciates design, food lovers and couples looking for a polished, photogenic stop will enjoy Monte De Oro. Plan lunch at the Bistro, then step out to the patio for that 180-degree view. Its central position on Rancho California Road makes it an easy midpoint on a chauffeured day — and the golden-hour light on the patio flatters a red 1969 Cadillac as much as it flatters the vines.
If you are celebrating, consider timing your visit around the monthly pairing lunch. A three-course meal with library wines is a special way to mark an anniversary or birthday, and it means nobody has to plan where to eat.
Take a moment to stand on the glass floor before you leave. Watching barrels rest in the cellar beneath your feet is one of the small, memorable details that make Monte De Oro different from every other tasting room on the trail.
The grapes behind Monte De Oro Winery’s wines
A quick guide to the varieties on Monte De Oro Winery’s list, and how they tend to show in Temecula:
- 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.
- 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.
- Merlot — a softer, rounder Bordeaux variety with plum and chocolate notes — an easy, food-friendly red and a key blending partner.
- Petit Verdot — usually a small part of Bordeaux blends, it is deeply colored and structured, with violet and dark-fruit aromas when bottled on its own.
Monte De Oro Winery fact sheet
| Address | 35820 Rancho California Road, Temecula, CA 92591 |
|---|---|
| Wine trail | Rancho California Road |
| Established | 2009 |
| Owners | OGB Partners, LLC |
| Winemaker | David Allbright |
| Annual production | 7,000–10,000 cases |
| Wines | Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Sparkling, Syrah, Tempranillo, Viognier, Zinfandel |
| Amenities | Guided tours, Wedding & event spaces, Family friendly, Live music, Restaurant, Gift shop |
| Food | A bistro serving seasonal California contemporary cuisine, Wednesday through Sunday |
| Website | montedeoro.com |
Arriving at Monte De Oro 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.
Monte De Oro Winery is at 35820 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 Monte De Oro Winery with two or three nearby wineries in a four- to five-hour booking.
Book the '69 Cadillac on DriveShare
Wineries near Monte De Oro Winery
Pair your visit with these neighbors on the Rancho California Road:
- Miramonte Winery — 33410 Rancho California Road
- Mount Palomar Winery — 33820 Rancho California Road
- Maurice Car'rie Vineyard & Winery — 34225 Rancho California Road
- Ponte Winery — 35053 Rancho California Road
See all 45 Temecula wineries →
Frequently asked questions
Where is Monte De Oro Winery located?
Monte De Oro Winery is at 35820 Rancho California Road, Temecula, CA 92591, on the Rancho California Road of Temecula Valley Wine Country.
What wines does Monte De Oro Winery make?
According to the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association, Monte De Oro Winery pours Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Sparkling, Syrah, Tempranillo, Viognier and Zinfandel.
Does Monte De Oro Winery serve food?
A bistro serving seasonal California contemporary cuisine, Wednesday through Sunday. Menus and hours change, so check the winery’s website before you go.
Can I visit Monte De Oro Winery in a classic car or limo?
Yes. 1969 Caddy offers a chauffeured 1969 Cadillac DeVille convertible for Temecula winery visits from $325 per hour (three-hour minimum), booked on DriveShare. Many wineries set their own rules for chauffeured groups, so we confirm Monte De Oro Winery’s current policy and any reservations when we plan your route.
Toast Monte De Oro Winery from the back seat.
Chauffeured 1969 Cadillac convertible tours of Temecula wine country, booked on DriveShare.