Alex by Poggio Leano: A Taste of Sicily in Temecula

Please note: Alex is currently closed for the season.

Alex by Poggio Leano is the newest addition to entrepreneur Alessandro Prestifilippo’s portfolio of dining establishments in Temecula. Part olive oil tasting room, part boutique, and part lounge, this latest tasting experience is designed to evoke Alex’s native Sicily, where family members still tend to Syrah and Grillo vineyards.

The pathway down toward the parking lot is adjacent to rows of sunflowers (that, at the time of writing, were still waiting to bloom), and the cluster of colorful umbrellas dancing in the breeze overhead are similar to those you’ll still find decorating historic Sicilian neighborhoods.

The pathway leading toward the tasting room with colorful umbrellas waving overhead.

Plenty of outdoor seating surround two sides of the tasting room.

Stepping down into the courtyard, guests are met with an attractive patio filled with chic lounge furniture surrounding an olive tree. A boutique with a wine window sits to one side, and Alex’s tasting room is on the other. A small fountain, with faces a bit reminiscent of the Mouth of Truth in “Roman Holiday,” looks out on it all. It’s all white and black, glass and marble, and really quite captivating. One could imagine this spot fitting in just as well as along the Italian Riviera as it does sitting at the bottom of a vineyard.

The boutique is lovingly curated by Alex’s wife, Charity, and features all things Italian. Books on Italian wine, colorful dried pastas, cookbooks, Alex logo glassware, and of course, Poggio Leano olive oil. A row of vegetable baskets sit just outside, with fresh-from-the-farm goods—a nod to the location’s former life as Poggio Leano’s much humbler olive oil tasting room and farm stand.

Inside the boutique are Italian themed gift items, fresh flowers, and packaged Italian food items like dried pasta.

Inside the tasting room, guests can taste and buy Poggio Leano wines and olive oil.

The main focus, of course, is the Poggio Leano line of wines and olive oils, most of which are grown on 45 acres in nearby De Luz. Some grapes are sourced from Paso Robles, and the winery imports a few bottles from Italy, like the delightful 2024 Vernaccia Nera (an off-dry sparkling red wine) from San Gimignano.

Right now, wine tastings are limited to the restaurants, and cannot be done at Alex as the winery works through permitting with the county. Visitors can do a tasting of olive oils at the white marble counter. The lemon olive oil is gorgeous, as is the rich truffle oil. Servers hand out breadsticks and other salty treats as they guide you through the list.

If you do go to the restaurants to try the wine, our favorites (other than the Vernaccia Nera) were the 2021 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from the first vines planted by Alex back in 2003, the 2021 Aglianico, and the 2017 Vossia, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Sangiovese. The Vossia was the standout. Smooth and bold with flavors of dark cherry and baking spices. Bottle prices range from $32 to $80, which is common in Temecula.

2017 Vossia, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Sangiovese, and our favorite from the tasting.

The illustration that appears on most bottles is a drawing created by one of Alex’s guests back when he was a server in the late 90’s at Francoli Gourmet in Huntington Beach, CA.

On the Sunday that we were there, a saxophonist played for guests outside on the patio later in the afternoon.

This lovely outdoor wine lounge is just the first phase of development for the property. Charity told us there are plans to build a member space that will overlook the vineyard, and I have to imagine there will be some food element in the future as well, given their background. Alex and Charity also own three Italian restaurants in the area: Gourmet Italia, Spuntino, and Bottega Italia. All of which serve Poggio Leano wines (and great cocktails).

Olive oil is also available for tasting. The lemon and two truffle olive oils were wonderful. My server recommended drizzling the lemon olive oil over vanilla ice cream or gelato.