6 Best Hotels in Temecula, North County and Around

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.

Owners Laura and Mike opened the most romantic estate in Temecula to bring exclusivity, perfection, and a splash of Tuscany to the heart of San Diego’s wine country. A bottle of wine, produced on-site by Mike, soaking tubs, walk-in closets, marble showers, and a full organic breakfast (delivered to your room) await guests. Enter the gates and prepare to be awed with manicured gardens and a stone mansion connecting their main residence to three private suites, ranging in size from 400 to 600 square feet. While there’s no shared common area, privacy is pinnacle with individual patios overlooking the five-acre vineyard. Bathroom amenities infuse 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, a landscaping architect and wine maker, unveiled his craft from first step to final sipping. Each morning, hot air balloons float above the vineyard, meaning you capture the moment in the comfort of your bathrobe with an espresso in hand. A behind-the-vines tour and other elevating tasting experiences are available upon request.

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 a bottle of wine. 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.

This property sprawls over 360 acres, and rooms have private patios or balconies that overlook the resort's championship golf course. Renovated rooms are decorated in resort-lodge style, with soothing earth tones and plush furniture, while upper campus rooms are slightly more affordable; among these it's worth splurging for a corner premium suite with a wraparound balcony and mountain views or for privacy and space, request the three-bedroom Creek House. The restaurant, Cork Fire Kitchen, which serves California farm-to-table cuisine, has an inviting outdoor seating area and garden from which ingredients are harvested daily.

Guests can take advantage of three different level tracks at Temecula Creek Inn’s 27-hole golf course.

Offering a lovely hillside setting for an escape to the wine country, this B&B has additional lodging in the newer Spanish-style casitas at neighboring Bolero. Each room delights guests with old-world charm and modern amenities, while providing the perfect spot to unplug and watch the world—and hot-air balloons—go by. Most of the attractive, spacious rooms open to balconies, where one can take in sweeping views of vineyards and orchards. Complimentary perks include gourmet breakfast, daily wine, Wi-Fi, and a hot-tub terrace with panoramic views.