Thornton Winery in Temecula is a regular stop for many stars on the jazz circuit, as well as pop stars and rockers.
Some top names in smooth jazz will be making their way back to the 20-acre property in southern Riverside County this summer for the 2022 Champagne Concert Series.
It begins on Saturday, June 4, with Brian Culbertson.
The award-winning musician will be joined by vocalist Lindsey Webster, Marcus Anderson and Marqueal Jordan. The show is sold out, according to the winery’s website. But the artists will also be performing Sunday, June 5, at the Subaru Newport Beach Jazz Festival at the Hyatt Regency in Newport Beach.
The series will continue into October. Concerts take place weekends on the winery’s patio with general admission seating and a limited number of reserved tables for “gourmet supper packages” from the kitchen of the winery’s restaurant, Café Champagne.
The winery will also set up a Jazz Grill to serve barbecue during the shows.
Most shows start at 7 p.m. Gates open an hour earlier, and lines are allowed two hours in advance.
Prices vary with the concert, ranging from $95-$115. Supper packages range from $195-$215.
Here is the rest of the schedule.
June 18: Guitarist Norman Brown, sax player Paul Taylor
June 25: Guitarist Peter White, saxophonist Vincent Ingala
July 16: Grammy-winning trumpeter Chris Botti.
July 23: Singer/songwriter Brian McKnight, who will also be at the Newport Beach Jazz Festival on June 5
Aug. 13: Saxophonists Mindi Abair and Euge Groove
Aug. 27: Saxophonist Gerald Albright, guitarist Adam Hawley
Aug. 28: Guitarist Jesse Cook
Sept. 17: Singer/songwriter Jeffrey Osborne
Oct. 8: Saxophonist Richard Elliot, trumpeter Rick Braun
Oct. 22: A “returning very special guest” to be announced Sept. 5
Thornton Winery also has a Friday night concert series with local musicians and tribute bands.
In years past, the Champagne Concert Series ran April to October, but it skipped 2020 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. It came back for a short season in 2021, beginning in late August with such artists as Botti, White and Groove as well as Dave Koz.
Thornton Winery is at 32575 Rancho California Road, Temecula, about 4 miles east of the 15 Freeway.
Information: 951-699-0099, thorntonwine.com