There is a time in a woman’s life when she just needs to get away with the girls and drink a little wine. In San Diego the best place to go for tasting amazing wine is the Temecula Valley, and that is just where my mother, sister and I went for a girl’s weekend of good wine and even better company. While driving along the main road of the Temecula wine country we were met with large winery after large winery — far more than anyone could visit in one day, or even one trip to Temecula. Many visitors never venture off this main drag of “mega-wineries,” and it is their loss. For on this trip, far away from the hustle and bustle of the main road, we discovered a hidden gem of the valley that took us out of Temecula and into an enchanted land. Briar Rose Winery is a truly magical place made us feel as though we had stepped into a fairy tale.
As we strolled up the path to the winery we were all stopped in our tracks and realized we had just walked into a scene from a Disney film. The original owner of Briar Rose Winery had worked for Walt Disney himself, and designed the house (where the winery now stood) as an exact replica of the Seven Dwarfs’ cottage from Disney’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” The cottage had a thatched roof made of plaster, but one can’t help to imagine the seven dwarfs themselves laboring away laying the roof whistling, “Hi Ho, Hi Ho.” The Disney imagineer literally built the house with his own hands, and his finger prints can still be seen in the plaster he molded to become the magical cottage. It was so perfect and seemed so real that we expected Snow White to step out at any moment and offer an apple that she was told would make wishes come true.
Thinking the magic ended at the front door, we were again taken by surprise when we discovered the tasting room had an enchantment all its own. Music from Disney movies serenaded us as we stepped through the door, and welcomed us to a wine tasting unlike any other. Unlike most of the larger wineries, where visitors must fight to stand at a spot at the bar and flag down a wine pourer, Briar Rose’s tasting room had small tables where we could sit and savor the wine as it was poured. The fragrance of pomegranate and blackberries fill our senses as we breathed in and savored the wine’s ‘nose’. As we took our first sip and let it linger on our tongues our taste buds were awakened as they tried to discover all of the complex flavors that had just been revealed. It is then that we realized that, although it was first the ambiance that enchanted us, Briar Rose’s wines are more than capable at standing toe to toe with any of the larger wineries in Temecula.
Leaving such a magical place was difficult, so we spent some time exploring the outside garden before we were forced to leave. We sat under a large tree and listened to the wind dancing through the branches, as the scent of roses from several flowering bushes waft our way. Little figures of the Seven Dwarfs are lined up on path, as if waiting to march off to their hidden mine of gems, while porcelain figures of little forest animals friendlily gazed at us; hoping we had a good time. Gazing out from the hill that Briar Rose sits on, the Temecula Valley is spread out before us. Grape vines and orange orchards seemed to go on for miles, and the sun sets behind the hills; signaling the end of a magical day.
By simply going a little outside the comfort zone of the main road of Temecula, we discovered a winery unlike any other. With its house plucked straight out of a Disney film, amazing wines, and serene garden, Briar Rose Winery holds a magic all its own that is often hard to find in the real world. This enchanted feel of this magical place is made possible with childhood charm, and perhaps just a bit of pixie dust.
By Kathryn Petruzzelli
I’ve paid several visits to Briar Rose Winery and have enjoyed their wine on many occasions, but it wasn’t until I spent some time with co-owner Dorian Linkogle that I discovered what a fascinating history this unique winery has.In the 1980s, Dorian and her husband Les lived in Orange County.
When you think of California wine country, Napa Valley and Sonoma likely come to mind. But did you know there's a booming wine industry right here in beautiful Temecula California?
Next up was the romantic Briar Rose Winery, located inside a storybook Snow White Cottage that was actually built by a Disneyland artisan. Briar Rose Winery is home to one of the oldest Mission olive trees in the state. 
Once upon a time… there was a man, Beldon Fields, who was a contractor for Disney in creating Fantasyland. His wife’s favorite cottage was Snow White’s cottage where Snow White met the Seven Dwarfs. Here Snow White was known as Briar Rose. Eventually, Beldon built a replicate of the cottage for his wife. The house was finished in 1977. Details include window boxes and a thatch-style roof. Just outside of the cottage is a sculpture of Briar Rose.
Eventually the cottage was put up for sale, but Beldon would only sell to someone who would agree not to change any aspect of the home. Visitors to the winery will discover images of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs throughout the facility. The friendliness and enthusiasm of the owners and staff add to this very special winery visit.
The Mission wine has a history behind it that Les talked about while we tasted the wine. The Spanish brought the Mission grape to the New World areas of Mexico and California in the 1500’s. It was planted in San Diego in 1769. They then established missions in Monterey. The Padre’s planted seeds. Today there are only 200 acres of Mission grapes left in the United States. Most of the Mission vines have mutated. Les found a straight varietal Mission grape on an Indian reservation. Les is allowed to go to the Indian reservation to care for and harvest the grapes. He has found that the acid levels of the Mission grapes are low. The missionaries would fortify the Mission wine with brandy. Les produces a straight varietal Mission wine. He wants to bring the grape back to southern California. The Mission wine was a light translucent red that had a strawberry and earthy aroma and taste. It finished with light fruit and tannins.
Fume Blanc offered a tropical fruit nose with a tropical fruit – mango taste. The mouth feel was smooth. The finish was crisp and fruity. Petit Verdot had a black fruit with licorice nose and taste. The finish was crisp with tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 and 2005 offered a blackberry nose and taste. This wine was velvety. The finish was of tannins and fruit. Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 was the same as 2004 and 2005 but had an even more velvety mouth feel. Merlot 2003 offered an aroma and taste that was very fruity and offered black fruit. The finish had bold tannins and was velvety-smooth. This Merlot has been sent to the London International wine competition. Zinfandel 2007 had a very fruity, black fruit aroma and taste and provided bold tannins. 
In the winery, several motorcycles hang from the ceiling. Les proudly explained that his son is a well-known motorbike rider. The family moved to Temecula Valley 20 years ago to give their son the opportunity to have space to ride his motorbike. If motorbikes hanging from the rafters is an unusual site in a barrel room aging wine, consider how unusual is one of Les’s inventions, a beer-like wine. On tap we tasted a Viognier wine made with yeasts typically used for beer. It had an amber color and large head. It was sweet and delicious.
