Power Shutoff Affects Temecula Wine Country Tasting Rooms, Hotels

TEMECULA, CA— If you plan to visit Temecula Valley Wine Country during the Santa Ana windstorm, call before you go. Numerous wineries along Rancho California Road, between Butterfield Stage Road and Glen Oaks Road and beyond, were closed due to the Santa Ana wind event and the Southern California Edison Public Safety Power Shutoffs.

According to Southern California Edison, roughly 28,836 customers in Riverside County and 15,041 in San Bernardino County were powerless.

In Riverside County, another 91,070 customers could lose power, and another 56,357 customers could lose power in San Bernardino County during the current Santa Ana wind event.

In wine country, Patch confirmed that Europa Village Winery and Peltzer Winery were both confirmed closed, while a handful of others are attempting to open. To check if a business is affected, you can search the SCE Outage Status page.

According to an SCE spokesperson, the shutoff would continue at least as long as the fire conditions remained high, until 6 p.m. Tuesday.

"When fire conditions end, restoration is expected to take up to 8 hours but could take longer if we need daylight for safe inspections or if we find damage," they said.

The current power safety shutoff area includes much of wine country, and along the De Portola Wine Trail, according to the most recent SCE reports.

Europa Village Winery General Manager John Goldsmith spoke with Patch about shuttering the vast resort's winery tasting rooms and restaurants. "We can't safely operate without power," he said.

Similarly, Peltzer Winery was closed on Tuesday, and they reported over social media. "The Crush House is closed due to power outage."

Patch was able to confirm that some wineries planned on remaining open while others reported their closure over social media. Calls to Ponte Winery and Wilson Creek Winery were unanswered, while Wiens Cellars said they still had power and were "attempting to remain open."

Akash Winery planned on remaining open, though they were affected due to the shutoff.

"We're staying open," owner Akash Patel of Akash Winery told Patch. As the wind whipped through the area, Patel said. "Taco Tuesday will continue as planned."