New Year’s Eve celebrations at Temecula’s wineries

Temecula Valley Wine Country offers several festive ways for revelers to ring in the new year with special prix fixe menus, live entertainment and grand galas.

Whether guests are looking for a cozy dinner of gourmet wine country cuisine or an all-out bash with music, costumes and a midnight toast, Temecula Valley Wine Country has something for everyone looking to ring in 2012 with food, wine and good cheer.

South Coast Winery & Resort presents New York: New York New Year’s Eve Gala 2011-2012 on December 31. This New Year’s Eve extravaganza brings all the spirit and revelry of Times Square to Temecula with a choice of two dinner options in two, separate New York City-themed rooms:

• The Vineyard Rose Restaurant Package: Guests will enjoy a five-course feast with a bottle of South Coast Winery award-winning wine and live music from 6:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Badda Bing, Badda Boom! Frank and the Rat Pack will come to life as special guest vocalist Dan DeLurgio sings Sinatra, Dean Martin and more. $275/person
• The Grand Ballroom Package:  This fun package includes a gourmet buffet with a bottle of award-winning wine. Enjoy live music & dancing throughout the night with music by The Mighty Untouchables & DJ Devaughn. $195/person

To purchase your tickets and/or book rooms for this special event, go to: wineresort.com

Thornton Winery presents A Magical New Year’s Eve Gala December 31 from 7:30pm-12:30am. Guests will enjoy passed hors ‘d oeuvres, a three-course meal and live entertainment at Thornton Winery’s gala. Live entertainment will be provided by The Great Raguxi from The Magic Castle in Hollywood, plus the Mark Sage Band will perform. $150/person Reservations can be made online at thorntonwinery.com or by calling 951-699-0099.

Wilson Creek Winery presents a Speakeasy New Year’s Party. Saturday, December 31 at 7:00pm. Guests are encouraged to wear fedoras and flapper dresses to match the roaring 1920′s speakeasy theme. A gourmet, three- course dinner, party favors, a midnight champagne toast will be served; entertainment will be provided by Big Lucky so guests can dance the night away.  $160/person; Wine Club: $145/person. For reservations, go to wilsoncreekwinery.com or call: 951-699-9463. Overnight Packages available at Embassy Suites with shuttle. To book, call 951-676-5656

Guests are invited to a special New Year’s Eve dinner menu celebration at the Restaurant at Ponte December 31st from 5pm to 8 pm by reservation only. Following their meal, visitors can take a stroll next door at Wiens Family Cellars for their Saturday Night Eve’r party from 8pm to 1am. Everyone is encouraged to don their best disco gear, enjoy a live DJ, appetizers, wine and more. See the Restaurant at Ponte’s New Year’s menu and make reservations, go to www.pontewinery.com; For tickets to Wiens Saturday Night Eve’r, visit www.wienscellars.com.

Meritage Restaurant at Callaway will be offering a special, prix fixe menu which includes items such as Dry Aged Prime Rib and a Roasted Butterfish With Crab on New Year’s Eve and will take reservations until 8:00pm for that evening. The 3-course, $55/person menu features Callaway wine pairings and dessert. See the menu at www.callawaywinery.com; for reservations, call 951-587-8889.

~Michelle McCue/Anne Alderete, McCue Marketing Communications