The Wine Collective Wine Bar

Live music, friendly staff, intimate atmosphere and of course a great big selection of wines, spirits and even beers… what else do you need? I came here with the boyfriend (now my husband) the night before he became my fiancé (over a year and a half ago) and we enjoyed this wine bar because it was clean and modern yet cozy and the crowd included classy younger people mixed with some older folks.

Love this place killer food, and staff is very knowledgeable. Johannna and Kennedy are awesome.

The Wine Collective is a beautiful wine bar that doesn’t act too good for those that are not wine connoisseurs. We came here with a good amount of people for a birthday. There are about ten seats at the bar that are seated far apart enough for people to easily stand between chairs and half enough room to have their own glass and somewhat have personal space. There are also couches on the other end of the room and also an upstairs for private tastings.
The Wine Collective has a great selection of wines, many from the local Temecula wineries. The servers are very nice and informative, and were very patient with such a large party. They also had great food options to pair with our wine

I love the atmosphere here, it’s so beautiful. The food comes from the Edge next door. Just get the kobe burger. Just do it. It’s amazing. The thai lettuce wraps are refreshing and clean tasting. The only reason this place gets 4 stars is the selection of wine. They are just ok wines, from some local types of wineries. I would just prefer is the had a few higher end wines. Prices are fine, same as any other place in the area. I like to chill here on occasion, and meet some cool people.

Even though we were like 10mins before they opened Brandon served us and was extremely nice. He talked to us all about the business and all about the different wines they serve. They work with small vineyards that do not have their own tasting room. Brandon was very helpful with my friend that is not a wine drinker. He helped her learn about the wine and found some things that she really liked. This is a great spot to try some wine you have never had before.

Condescending attitude from management towards patrons pours freely here.
Was there last night to check out the venue. I was given a splash of Middle Ridge Sauvignon Blanc to taste, which I liked and ordered a full glass, but mentioned how it seemed a bit warm. She proceeded to pour a glass, and upon tasting, yes, it was warm. Mmmm… a $ 7 glass of nice warm white wine with hints of tepid grapefruit, heated lemongrass, and sizzling jasmine!
When I told her I was unhappy with the temp, she said the bottle had sat on the counter while they served tastes to clients and that I got its last glass-​worth. She consulted with a supervisor, coming back with the suggestion that they could add a few ice cubes to it. Really!!! Would any legitimate wine bar make that suggestion?!!
I asked to speak with the manager and a fresh-​faced Brendan came out a few minutes later prepared for battle, asking what the problem was and in my face with crossed arms and a stern expression. I reiterated the issue, stating I did not feel that their solution was acceptable.
I was then subjected to Brendan’s condescending tone as he cockily told me that their refrigerator was set at an optimum temp and if I wanted it cooler, I’d have to wait while they put it on ice. I didn’t want icy wine, I just didn’t want it warm. Finally and with great attitude, Brendan agreed to open a cooled bottle to «see if I could taste a difference». I most definitely did! With his ego deflated, he had to make himself feel better by trying to make me feel guilty about him having to pour out the glass of warm wine.
We belong to Doffo, Palumbo, Danza Del Sol, Keyways, and Lorimar wine clubs and purchase several hundreds of dollars a year of the elixir. We are looking for another winery to join in Old Town. The Collective is no longer on our list.

The first time I went here, or tried to, they ignored the male friend I was with while I used the restroom. Sure, they may have been busy with other people, but it takes all of 10 seconds to greet someone & say «I’ll be with you in a moment». Once I came out & they saw he was with a woman, they very suddenly acknowledged us (or him, rather). It was sort of too little too late, so we left. I knocked a star off for that, in addition to a few other things…
Still, we returned on another evening out of curiosity and had a decent time. The staff then was very nice. I had veal tacos which were very good. It’s also great that they have local wines, although I was not blown away with anything I tried.
The atmosphere & décor is nice, but the bench seats are at a too straight angle, so you don’t get relaxed, loungey feel when sitting there (you can’t lean back). I can’t remember any music, so it either was not terrible or was low.
I’ve been to many wine bars in LA & this is not quite up to their level, but it’s pretty good for Temecula. I hate to pull the «for Temecula» qualifier, but I really mean it in a good way. Very slowly, this small city is getting some nightlife, some sophistication, some non-​cookie cutter establishments. Unfortunately, Old Town is still mostly drawing crowds in the middle aged range, which to someone in their 20s can be a turn-​off. Temecula is town for teenagers & parents, not young, single adults, and it was evident in the people I saw there. That’s one more reason it’s not quite what the wine bars in LA are… but it’s not their fault. Or maybe it is, because their club seems like an old person thing to do, and it’s somewhat lame that they block off half their place to everyone else…
All in all, nice décor, nice staff the 2^nd time around, good food, & pretty good wine. I would go back & recommend it for when you don’t want to leave the area, but still go out at night.

It has a great atmosphere, delicious food and, overall, a friendly staff. I’ve been there many times since a friend turned me onto it and the food has always been delicious.
I’ve had a few cheese plates and their selection of cheese spreads and have been impressed every time. When they have special selections of cheeses they are always well-​selected and make for a fun lunch or dinner as they usually range from the more mild to the more adventurously pungent.
If I have one complaint, it’s that the service is slow. There is a very relaxed atmosphere in general there and as long as you leave yourself plenty of time you’ll have an enjoyable time. I would not recommend going there if you’re in a hurry though. They’re staff seems fairly small no matter how busy they are and everything comes to your table at a leisurely pace. If you have an hour for lunch or are not on your way to a movie after dinner though, you should be fine.
After you’re done, be sure to check out the wine selection. The staff is incredibly helpful in selecting a good wine and will not judge you if you don’t know a great deal about wines in general. I’ve went with a staff member’s recommendation on a couple occasions and have yet to be disappointed.

The wine selection and appetizers are delish! I love the upscale atmosphere, but could do without the bright lighting inside in the evenings.

LOVED this place! Great staff & unique local wines that don’t tasting rooms on their vineyards. I let the bar tender pick the wines for me & everything she poured was unique and great. The décor is really nice, too. Very modern and upscale. Best part was it was very affordable :) an overall great experience I recommend for anyone going to Temecula.

Finally! Old Town Temecula realizes its potential as an upper scale, boutique area for restaurants, bars, shops, etc. that aren’t mom and pop pancake houses. The Wine Collective helps the area achieve more of that panache.
Truth be told, my husband and I actually came to the area looking for a different wine bar that was supposed to be right around there, but stumbled (figuratively, NOT literally) into the Wine Collective and decided to check it out instead.
You can do wines by the glass or a flight of five for $ 15. Seems like a lot but you actually do get a healthy sample portion and you can determine which wines you like over others. FYI — there was one woman and two or three guys working behind the bar. She pours bigger portions if you’re trying to get your full money’s worth. They were both helpful in explaining the various wines they were pouring.
The place features wines by about 5 area wineries that do not have tasting rooms or facilities for the public to try and buy their wines. Temecula wines have gotten a bad rap in the past and while they’re still not on the same level as more established wine regions, some of the offerings we tried at The Wine Collective could help bump up the region’s status.
Only thing I didn’t like about this place — the band, even though it was a mellow jazz band, was way too loud for the space. They had two major speakers set up and a guy in the back doing their audio. Totally overkill for a smaller place.
Otherwise, check it out for a fun evening activity with friends or your sig other.

The Wine Collective Wine Bar (WCWB) is the best after-​hours option if you can’t make it out to the wineries before their mandatory 5pm closing. The WCWB offer an extensive list of wines from local wineries because the bar is actually a group venture of said wineries.
The main purpose of the WCWB is to introduce their wines to people that may not be very comfortable with the wine experience. This is where the wine stewards come in. They are incredibly knowledgeable about all things wine. And they’re not overly pushy about selling memberships to the WCWB.
There are 3 rooms at the WCWB, but only one is made available to the public. The other two rooms are for members or for a private party. The WCWB also serves appetizers, which are prepared in the kitchen of The Edge.
Smoking is allowed on the patio and it will trail into the main room if the main doors are propped open, so please take that into consideration before making your way here.
But if you’re into wines and can’t get out of work early enough to visit the wineries, then I can’t think of a better place to get your wine on.
Remember the time…

I think this is the best place in the area to grab a glass of wine and chill.
I’ve been a few times with my girl and every time the service has been great. The staff always seems to know about the wine on hand, and have been very accommodating. I ordered a side of sweet potato fries once that came out pretty undercooked. I mentioned this to the waiter and he promptly took the chips and returned a few minutes later with a new batch and apologized for the first batch.
My only complaint is that the upstairs is for wine club members only. It seems like a much more comfortable place to chill than downstairs because the lounge benches that line the wall are pretty uncomfortable.
Other than that, it’s a great place to chill and get yer wine on.

I stopped by The Wine Collective during the middle of the day on a week day. Upon entering through the doors I was immediately greeted by a very polite and cheerful woman (Josselyn). She explained their setup, the tastings, etc… Another gentlemen (Brandon) was behind the bar as well and he seemed to know quite a bit about the wines and explained them in great detail. I told him that I was interested in buying a few bottles of locally sourced wines. He made a few suggestions and insisted that I taste each of the wines before buying a bottle. I ended up trying about eight and bought five bottles.
The establishment is clean, modern and has a good feel. The people are incredibly polite and knowledgeable. It’s very refreshing to find a business that believes in great customer service. Thank you Josselyn and Brandon! I will be back soon.

One of my favs for a good time after 5pm. Great wines, and you can join a wine club to buy bottles/​glasses of wine for discount. I joined a wine club and now I can take a friend there each night for free glasses of wine. How great is that! If you drink wine, and like a classy, fun hangout –this is IT!

This is a very nice wine bar. The décor and overall aesthetics of this place is pretty impressive. Both times that I’ve been here, the service was excellent. The $ 12 tasting menu is a heck of a deal, by the way.
The reason I had to take off a «star» is because of their wine selection. One should know before deciding to go here that the selection here is primarily limited to the local, smaller wineries around the Temecula area. This, by no means is a bad thing. In fact, you’ll be surprised at the quality and taste of many of their offerings. For instance, the «Atwood» Syrah is quite the contender! However, in my opinion, if selections were also offered from Napa, Sonoma, and Central Coast/​Santa Barbara wineries, this would easily make this place a «Five Star» venue.
All and all, fantastic place!

Nice place located in Old Town Temecula. My friend and I popped in here just to check it out. It’s in a newer building made to look older to blend in with the «Old Town» vibe that they have going on in the area, It’s a rather large «lounge» like wine bar with a private room upstairs for the wine club members. The upstairs was very much like a «man cave». We were invited up to check it out. No snobbery here by any means. Friendly patrons and staff. We tried the wine flight of reds. Six one ounce glasses of wines for $ 12. By the third glass in I felt a little tipsy and stopped.
Prices are decent. I would come back here if in the area again.

I absolutely love The Wine Collective… it is a great location, a great team of owner/​staff who run the place, and in general, it is just a great place to hang out in Old Town Temecula. It is a very convenient alternative to heading out to wine country to do wine tasting since they have a collection of wines right there in house (…which is why it is called the Wine Collective…), not to mention the hours are friendlier for those who aren’t done being social by 5pm.
There are other wine tasting areas in Old Town, but unless you are into wine bar hopping, they can get inconvenient. This place is a location where you can hang out with friends for hours. In my opinion, it’s a great addition to Temecula.

What a fabulous place! Who knew that such a modern, classy, and urban wine bar could be found in western-​themed old town temecula?!
The Wine Collective is a gorgeous place from its lower bar area and private dining room to the upstairs tasting room and balcony overlooking front street. The hip, young staff members are knowledgeable and very nice.
Added plus, you can try the Fazeli Cellars wines here!

This is a cool place. The concept: a tasting room that showcases local wine producers who are too small to have their own public tasting rooms/​wineries.
It feels urban, sophisticated, and the staff is wonderful. There are usually a few interesting people at the bar to chat with. As wine club members can hang out upstairs in the members lounge with a complementary glass of wine.
We have also learned about some of the wine being produced locally. For example, Woodworth (De Luz) is making a Pinot Noir that is worth paying attention to. And Middle Ridge has several winners. Atwood wines are also available.
You can also order food from The Edge (restaurant next door).
If you like wine and want to support your local producers, stop in. Say «hi» to Jonathan! :-)