Leisure

After discovering a marble bathroomwith two sinks, a double vanity, a showerwith a seat and two heads and a tub withsoothing crystals, I knew I could spendmy entire vacation inside my villa andleave a very happy customer.Outside my room was a patio and vinesno less than five feet away. After takingthree steps from the bed, I was standingin the middle of a vineyard that overlookedthe Temecula Valley, and suddenly myroom was the second best part of my trip.Each guest at South Coast receives a freewine tasting, comprised of three pours.Connoisseurs know all about Napa Valley,France and Italy, but whenever Temeculais mentioned, the average response isthat good vino couldn’t possibly comefrom Riverside County. I was included inthis misinformed group, even though Iread that South Coast won the 2008-09and 2009-10 California State Fair WineCompetition. A sip of Rolling Hills Syrahgrabbed my attention, but it wasn’t untila Pinot Grigio awakened my taste buds,that I was convinced that Temecula wasa Native-American word for “secret landof amazing wines.”very upbeat and knowledgeable guide namedJustin. Our group was allowed access tothe massive vats and we got to sample twowines. The excursion ended with a tasting offour more wines, accompanied with cheese,grapes, a cracker and a strawberry in theVinter’s Garden.The day continued with a massage at thethree-story GrapeSeed Spa which sits in themiddle of the South Coast property and offersvisitors an array of massages, skin treatments,body rituals, saunas, private Jacuzzis, a yogastudio and a gym.The South Coast “ultimate massage” blendedwarm stones, aromatherapy, Swedish strokesand therapeutic techniques for a 50-minutesession that hurt so good. Jennifer appliedpressure to my back, neck and legs, but theattention given to my feet and hands siphonedthe remaining drops of energy from my body.Warm towels were placed over my eyes andfeet, and had Jennifer not woken me, I mighthave remained in that room forever.The only negative aspect of my experience atSouth Coast was that I had to leave. As checkoutapproached, I thought about barricadingmyself in my villa. I would have done it too,but I was way too relaxed for all that. nPhoto courtesy of South Coast Winery Resort & Spa.HOW TO GET THERETake Highway 22E to the 55N. Go easton Highway 91, then south on I-15. Exitat Rancho California Rd. and go left.South Coast is on the right side, sixmiles down Rancho California Rd.WHERE TO EATVineyard RoseWHAT TO SEEVinter’s Garden, tasting room, wine toursAfter an exquisite bowl of butternut-ciderbisque at the Vineyard Rose Restaurant, Iventured to the Jacuzzi, where the water’stemperature was a perfect match for thebrisk night air.Like a workaholic fool, I brought my laptopand discovered free WiFi, but after fiveminutes of trying to write, I tossed thecomputer in favor of staring at the sky.Devoid of man-made lights, the starsabove the valley illuminated not onlymy room, but every single pore of mycompletely settled body. For nearly a halfhour, I was not at South Coast, nor was Iin Temecula. I was in heaven.I hit my wine tour the following morning,comprised of eight other guests and alongbeachmagazine.com 23