About Thornton Winery
Thornton Winery is the perfect gateway to the Temecula Valley Wine Country in Southern California. The owners, John M. and Steve Thornton, have created a premier winery that caters to wine enthusiasts looking for a top-notch experience. They offer award-winning wine, gourmet cuisine, live music, and beautiful grounds for wedding and banquet facilities. Thornton Winery has won more medals than any other sparkling winery in major competitions throughout the United States, thanks to their philosophy and commitment to producing quality wine.
Their tradition started in 1988 with the Methode Champenoise process to create seven complex and interesting sparkling wine varietals. In 1993, they introduced their premium varietal wines, which emulate classic wine styles of the Mediterranean and Rhone regions. These unique wines have won numerous awards, including the recent Double Gold award for the 2000 Cote Red from the International Eastern Wine Competition. Thornton Winemaker, Tom Stolzer, believes in producing wines that are fresh, bursting with flavor, and showcasing the distinct characteristics of the varietals included in the blend. He achieves this by using whole cluster pressing, extensive blending, barrel aging, and different vinification techniques.
Thornton Winery is located on 20-acres and exudes old world charm and grace. The winery overlooks the beautiful vineyards of the Temecula Valley and is designed in an elegant French-style chateau. You can enjoy Cafe Champagne, their annual Champagne Jazz Series, a breathtaking terrace, herb gardens, gift shop, and the Champagne Lounge. The winery’s beautiful French Mediterranean style sets the perfect backdrop for any event. Thornton Winery is an excellent choice for those looking for an unforgettable wine experience.
Our story
Located in the scenic Temecula Valley Wine Country, Thornton Winery opened its doors in 1988 and has been producing award-winning, premium varietal wines that combine old world style with new world taste. The winery employs the Méthode Champenoise process, which has proven to be the best method for creating fine quality Sparkling Wine / Champagne. The winery’s elegant French-style chateau is perched atop the vineyards, providing a breathtaking view of the Temecula Valley. The winery features Café Champagne, a stunning terrace, an herb garden, a gift shop, and a champagne lounge, all of which highlight the winery’s old world charm and grace.
Tom Stolzer, Thornton Winery’s winemaker, offers not only the famous Methode Champenoise Sparkling Champagne, but also premium varietals still wines, resulting in a world-class selection of sparkling and still wines that are sure to impress even the most discerning wine enthusiasts. Thornton Winery’s Cafe Champagne is known for its “Contemporary Fusion Cuisine” and its dedicated staff who provide a warm and friendly atmosphere. The winery is also known for its widely popular Champagne concert series, which runs from April to October and features some of the biggest names in the music industry, such as Michael McDonald, Chris Isaak, Melissa Etheridge, Dave Koz, Kenny G, Chris Botti, and America, all of whom have performed in the winery’s intimate setting.
Thornton Winery is an ideal place for weddings, winery tours, corporate functions, and private events. With its fabulous facilities and exceptional wines, Thornton Winery is sure to provide a memorable experience for all who visit.
A note from The Family
Steve and I welcome all of you to Thornton Winery. Our concept for the winery is great food, wines and music. In our family’s travels around the world, we have been most fortunate to enjoy all of these.
For many years, we have entertained family and friends at home with wine, dinner and music. Steve grew up in this environment and has committed himself to passing on this tradition to you, our extended family.
We feel this can be accomplished by offering excellence in food, wine and service in a place where you can feel the ambience of family and friends and the warmth of a summer night under the stars or at a table by the fireplace on a mid-winter evening.
Whether it be a winemaker dinner, a cooking class, a wedding, a concert or a wine club special event, we thought it would be wonderful to create a place where we could share all of this with you, our esteemed guests. Our goal is to offer the finest quality products and services for our family of friends.
It is our great pleasure to have you at Thornton Winery.
