Top 5 Can’t Miss

Sip on locally made wines at Temecula institutions like UYS Vineyards and Ponte Winery.

View the vineyards and San Jacinto Mountains by hot-air balloon with Grape Escape Balloon Adventures.

In addition to bottles of vino, pick up souvenirs crafted from locally grown ingredients at Temecula Lavender Co. and The Olive Plantation.

Pair tea-infused cocktails with Asian- and French-inspired eats at Corbeaux Wine & Tea House.

Book a room at vineyard-adjacent escapes like The Vine House Bed & Breakfast and Ponte Vineyard Inn.

Stucco villas with terracotta roofs, idyllic vineyard views, balmy days followed by colorful sunsets—all are the classic hallmarks of a vacation to Tuscany. But for those who want to experience the romance of an Italian retreat without the price tags of a European vacation, there’s a city in southern California that’s calling your name.

Temecula is about an hour northeast of San Diego and 1.5 hours southeast of L.A., in the Inland Empire. While much of the I.E.…