Somerset Vineyard & Winery

Ancient Winemaking, Modern Wine-Country Spirit

Some wineries draw visitors with sweeping views or elaborate architecture. Others capture attention through the way they make wine. At Somerset Vineyard & Winery, an unusual connection between ancient winemaking traditions and contemporary Temecula hospitality gives the estate a character all its own.

Set along the De Portola Wine Trail, Somerset combines a vineyard setting with garden-like grounds, a welcoming tasting room, live music, and a wine program inspired by the Rhône Valley of southern France and the diverse wine regions of Spain. Beneath that relaxed atmosphere lies one of the winery’s most intriguing features: a growing collection of terracotta vessels used to explore winemaking methods that predate modern stainless-steel tanks and oak barrels by thousands of years.

The result is a destination where wine can be enjoyed casually while also inviting a deeper look at the traditions, techniques, and grape varieties that shape what reaches the glass.

A Friendship Becomes a Winery

Somerset began with a simple idea shared by lifelong friends: create a place where people could gather, celebrate milestones, and enjoy good wine together.

Brothers Kurt and John Tiedt, their families, and a close circle of friends helped bring the vision to life. The name Somerset recalls the neighborhood in Placentia where many of those friendships began—a place associated with backyard gatherings, family celebrations, and the pleasure of spending time together.

The winery also carries a personal tribute to a beloved friend who died shortly before the dream became reality. His memory remains part of the philosophy behind the estate: life’s occasions, both ordinary and extraordinary, deserve to be celebrated.

Somerset was established in 2018 at a property with a longer viticultural history. Its vineyards were formerly associated with Keyways Winery, and winemaker David Raffaele had already established Rhône and Spanish winemaking programs there in 2009. That continuity gave Somerset a foundation of mature vines and an established understanding of the varieties suited to the site.

Today, the estate’s identity combines the original agricultural setting with the owners’ emphasis on friendship, discovery, and an approachable style of wine-country hospitality.

The Vineyard: Southern France Meets Spain

Somerset’s vineyard encompasses approximately 13 to 14 acres, with a focus on varieties associated with southern France and Spain. The selection includes Rhône grapes such as Syrah, Grenache, Viognier, and Roussanne, alongside Spanish varieties including Tempranillo, Monastrell, and Macabeo.

These grapes offer a different perspective on California wine than a portfolio built primarily around Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. They are well suited to exploring the Mediterranean character of Temecula Valley, where warm growing conditions allow a diverse range of varieties to develop.

Syrah can produce wines with dark fruit, spice, and structure. Grenache often brings generous red-fruit character, while Viognier is known for its aromatic intensity and floral notes. Roussanne offers another expression of the Rhône tradition, with texture and complexity that can develop beautifully in the right conditions.

The Spanish varieties add their own dimension. Tempranillo provides a familiar entry point into Spanish red wine, while Monastrell—known elsewhere as Mourvèdre—can produce richly colored, savory wines. Macabeo, a traditional Spanish white grape, broadens the range beyond reds.

The winery’s portfolio also includes distinctive blends and specialty bottlings. Among the more playful expressions is its Drunk Bunnies line, which adds a lighterhearted personality to the broader collection.

Rather than limiting the experience to a single signature grape, Somerset encourages visitors to explore a range of styles and discover which varieties appeal to them.

The Amphorae Program: Winemaking with an Ancient Past

One of Somerset’s most distinctive features is its investment in terracotta-vessel winemaking.

Long before the invention of stainless-steel fermentation tanks and modern temperature controls, winemakers in parts of the ancient world used large clay vessels to ferment and store wine. Related traditions continue today, particularly in Georgia, where buried clay vessels known as qvevri remain central to traditional winemaking.

Somerset has adapted this ancient concept through a program using specialized terracotta vessels, including Italian-made amphorae and larger, custom-designed containers. The winery’s president and co-owner, Kurt Tiedt, became interested in the technique after encountering terracotta winemaking during a trip to Italy. Working with winemaker David Raffaele, he developed the idea into an ongoing part of Somerset’s production program.

The vessels offer a different environment from conventional stainless steel or oak. Depending on the vessel and winemaking method, clay can allow controlled interaction with oxygen while avoiding the direct flavors that oak contributes. The shape and size of the vessel, the grape variety, and decisions about skin contact and aging all influence the finished wine.

The process is not simply a historical curiosity. It gives the winemaking team another set of tools for exploring texture, aroma, and the expression of the grape itself.

Somerset’s amphorae collection includes striking, substantial vessels that have become a defining part of its production space. The winery has developed wines through this program using varieties including Syrah, with additional experiments expanding the range.

For visitors, the program provides a rare opportunity to see how a winemaking technique with ancient roots can be explored within a modern California vineyard.

A Tasting That Goes Beyond the Glass

The tasting room is designed around a relaxed, welcoming experience rather than a formal or hushed atmosphere. Guests can explore the current selection, ask questions about the vineyard, and learn about the decisions behind individual wines.

Somerset also offers a behind-the-scenes winery tour and tasting that introduces visitors to the production areas and its amphorae program. The experience provides context for what is in the glass, connecting grape growing and fermentation with the broader history of winemaking.

For those who enjoy understanding how wine is made, the opportunity to see the terracotta vessels adds a distinctive educational element. It also gives the visit a natural narrative: from the grapes grown in the vineyard to the vessels in which the wine develops, each stage contributes to the finished bottle.

The winery’s special amphorae-focused tastings and food-pairing events provide further opportunities to explore this part of its identity. These experiences vary by date and generally require advance booking.

Garden Grounds, Music, and the Pleasure of Staying

Somerset’s grounds provide a softer counterpoint to the production space. Mature vines surround the estate, while landscaped outdoor areas and patio seating offer places to relax with a glass of wine.

The atmosphere reflects the owners’ original vision of a place for friends and families to gather. The experience can be centered on a tasting, but it need not end there. Visitors may linger outdoors, enjoy a casual bite, or time their visit to coincide with live entertainment.

Music is a regular part of Somerset’s schedule, particularly on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, with additional Sunday performances listed by the winery and regional tourism sources. The later hours give guests an opportunity to experience the property after many Temecula tasting rooms have closed for the day.

The character of a visit naturally changes with the calendar. A quieter tasting can focus on discovering the wines, while an evening with live music brings more of a social, celebratory energy.

Somerset also offers a private members lounge and wine-club events, extending the experience for those who return regularly.

Food to Complement the Wine

Somerset takes a casual approach to food. The tasting room offers a deli selection of cheeses, crackers, and other gourmet snacks, making it easy to put together a light accompaniment to a tasting.

Food trucks and hot-food vendors are scheduled on selected days, generally Thursday through Sunday. The available choices vary, so visitors planning a meal should check the current schedule rather than assume a particular vendor will be present.

This arrangement fits the winery’s overall character. Food supports the wine-country outing without turning the estate into a full-service restaurant destination. Guests can enjoy a simple pairing, share a few snacks, and remain focused on the wines and the setting.

Outside food and beverages are not permitted, according to the winery’s visitor information.

The Somerset Estate: Extending the Stay

For visitors who want to experience the vineyard setting beyond a few hours, Somerset also promotes an estate lodging option. The property provides a residential-style retreat close to the winery, with vineyard views and amenities intended for group stays and special occasions.

The location places guests within walking distance of several other De Portola Wine Trail destinations, making it possible to explore the area without treating every winery visit as a separate driving excursion.

Lodging arrangements are handled separately from regular tasting-room visits, and availability and rates should be confirmed directly with the estate.

An Annual Celebration of the Harvest

Somerset’s annual Grape Stomp brings the agricultural side of wine country into a lively public celebration. Teams compete by stomping freshly harvested grapes in oak barrels, often dressing in costumes or coordinating outfits for the occasion.

The event combines the harvest tradition with music, food vendors, wine, and a festive atmosphere. It is a playful reminder that winemaking begins with farming and that the harvest has historically been a communal occasion.

Tickets and event details change each year, and advance purchase is advisable for this popular gathering.

Planning a Visit

Somerset Vineyard & Winery is located at 37338 De Portola Road, Temecula, California 92592, near the entrance to the De Portola Wine Trail.

The winery’s official website currently lists these tasting-room hours:

• Monday through Wednesday: 11 a.m.–6 p.m.

• Thursday through Saturday: 11 a.m.–9 p.m.

• Sunday: 11 a.m.–7 p.m.

Live music, food vendors, tours, and special tastings operate on their own schedules, so checking the calendar before visiting is recommended. Regular tastings are generally first-come, first-served. Groups of more than 15 people and guests seeking special experiences should contact the winery in advance.

Somerset welcomes leashed dogs, provided owners clean up after them. Children are also permitted on the property, making it a more flexible stop for groups with mixed ages.

Address: 37338 De Portola Road, Temecula, CA 92592

Telephone: (951) 365-5522

Official website: somersetvineyard.com

Wine club inquiries: wineclub@somersetvineyard.com

Tour inquiries: tours@somersetvineyard.com