Temecula Creek Inn

If you’re looking for a nice place to stay in wine country, Temecula Creek Inn is an elegant choice.

The 300-acre Temecula Creek Inn golf resort, lined with rose bushes, eucalyptus and magnolia trees, appeals to women for its scenic beauty and romantic suites, and men for its 27-hole championship Temecula Creek Inn golf course — lushly landscaped with rock formations and cascading waterfalls.

The Inn’s three 9-hole courses are the most popular in Temecula, with green fees running $65 weekdays to $85 weekends, including cart.

One of the most scenic and challenging 18-hole courses is the Oaks/Stonehouse course, with dramatic elevation changes through the Temecula Creek Inn’s more remote woodland territory. The paths lead past the Inn’s historic Stone House, built in 1825 for quarry workers who were mining granite for San Francisco’s city curbs.

Today, for a $2,000 fee, the Stone House is an elegant backdrop for weddings, private winemaker dinners and down-home barbecues. (The Inn’s owners claim it every year for Thanksgiving and Easter get-togethers.)

If you’re looking for a casual and relaxed place to enjoy Temecula wine country cooking, the airy and elegant Temet Grill won’t disappoint. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer sweeping views of the greens and waterfalls, making it especially romantic around sunset.

For starters, the cheese plate can’t be beat — packed with an assortment of dried apricots, juicy red grapes, double-creme brie, crumbled gorgonzola, and other delights, including smoked gouda from the local Winchester Cheese Company.

Local wines from Mount Palomar, Falkner and Stuart Cellars are the stars here, complimented with chef Salvador Gulliano’s rustic, bold cuisine. In addition to wild game, choices include seared filet mignon carpaccio with shaved parmesan and black truffles or pan-seared chicken breast with hot cherry peppers.

Temecula Creek Inn is located at 44501 Rainbow Canyon Rd., Temecula, CA 92592-5988. Call (951) 676-2405; www.temeculacreekinn.com