by Nathan Kennedy

If not an actual bottle of the driver’s favorite wine, the emergency kit in every Land Rover should contain the GPS coordinates of, or at the very least, a hand-drawn map on a grease-stained garage towel to, the nearest winery. In our group of three LR3’s and one Range Rover Sport our “emergency kit” contained Brett Cochrane, a St. Paul, Minnesota, transplant to Temecula, CA, and lover of Temecula Valley wineries. The wineries are a short drive from where Brett and his family live, which was conveniently located on our return route from the Anza Borrego Desert Park.

The goal for the day was to find a somewhat tame trail ride within an hour’s drive of the Temecula Valley that would afford fantastic photographic opportunities of these unique Land Rovers, and end with tasting award-winning wine as we recounted the stories we would be sure to create. Nathan Woods of the Southern California Land Rover Club and Adam Spiker of Off Roving.com agreed on the North Coyote Canyon Trail, and with Brett’s hometown insight, we chose the Miramonte Winery for the afternoon tasting.

With Gerry Barragan of OC-Rovers and Jim Biram wheeling his LR3, we set out on the trail looking for an adventure that would push our adrenaline and bring us tip-toeing on the edge of disaster while keeping us, somehow, safe from major vehicle damage. As we rolled past the “introductory” parts of the North Coyote Canyon Trail we noticed earthmover tire tread marks. The treads indicated the long arm of the legislative branch of the government reaching out to grade more difficult trails for the sake of allowing less-equipped vehicles to enjoy the outdoors.

Rover drivers and off-roaders at heart, we nearly wept at the loss, but the logical thought remained: flatter, safer dirt roads equate to more families enjoying this beautiful outdoor area. This also meant we would have to try a little harder to cause an afternoon-filling trail repair.

Try as we might, we had no such damage, and we got to the winery in time to enjoy the blues rhythms of Ben Hernandez and Nathan James. See them at: www.bensblues.com.

Our tour of the quaint property and introduction to the wines was led by winery manager, Patty Anderson. The tour was pleasurably casual, which fit with our attire and post-trail attitudes. Standing at the bar/tasting area, Patty pointed to the wine barrels in storage, to the plastic furniture dining area, to the blues band setting up their equipment, and finally to Mira, the resident canine, strong enough to open the front door and walk past new visitors, in a cat-like way of saying hello. You know - Hello. But on her terms.

The quality of the wines, Patty explained, and the international awards that go with them, come from the Miramonte focus on “minimal intervention, to allow for the best natural expression of the fruit.” They have kept the winery small, only 44 acres and 10,000 cases per year, to maintain their focus and continue to build their reputation while satisfying customers (and judges!) around the world.

As our last bottle of wine was emptied and our last story of the day remembered, the sun set over the Temecula Valley. Not an everyday sunset, but one of the brilliant orange, introspective sunsets that give you pride in whatever you did that day to get you there, at its end, to witness one of Nature’s greatest gifts.

Any day that ends with a glorious sunset ends in the most powerful way. On the trail with a group of Land Rovers and new-found friends, sharing a toast with award-wining wine, listening to the blues, enjoying the sunset. A fulfilled life finds enrichment there, and wouldn’t you know – it also finds a Land Rover.

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