Robert Renzoni Winery is known for its consistent, well-made wines, Tuscan-inspired tasting room, and al fresco bistro Mama Rosa’s Trattoria, where they turn out fresh, brick oven pizzas daily. When I met up with vintner Robert Renzoni, I learned that the winery is also home to a few secrets as well.
Renzoni has a rich family history in the wine business, dating back to the late 1800s. Prohibition foiled early winemaking efforts, but the family later succeeded as wine distributors in New York, including a history of bootlegging. When he moved to Temecula in the early 2000s, Robert Renzoni revived the family dream, initially working as the Sales Manager at Leoness Cellars. There, he helped grow the winery into the success that it is today before opening his own winery with his father Fred in 2008.
Robert Renzoni Vineyards is the first 100% solar-powered winery in Temecula. It sits on a 10-acre vineyard and is planted with Pinot Grigio, Barbera, Brunello-clone Sangiovese, and Montepulciano flown in from Italy just one year ago.
I joined Renzoni inside the large tasting room near a display of wine-themed gifts, where traditional tastings are held. Servers line up five poker chips, and guests exchange one for each wine tasted. But on this occasion, I asked to see places guests might not normally see on a standard visit…and he delivered!
Secret Rooms
We first went upstairs to his private lounge, affectionately named the Buffalo Room after his hometown in upstate New York. There are several nods to Buffalo and the Buffalo Bills decorating the space, as well as family memorabilia like his grandfather’s original grape press. He entertains friends and special guests there, including members of the Bills and the L.A. Kings, but guests can visit too by booking the winery’s VIP Tour with Wine and Food Paring.
This private room holds even more secrets. The bookshelf opens to reveal a hidden poker room with a custom table emblazoned with the winery’s logo and classic photos of Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack. There’s even a spiral staircase that leads up to the bell tower.
As we were walking around, I learned that Robert Renzoni came up with the design of the winery himself— it was conceived on a cocktail napkin — right down to the custom door that leads into the tasting room. It was inspired by the architecture of his grandparents’ town of Fano, Italy, located due east of Florence along the coast.
Coming Soon
Before we returned to the tasting room, we visited one final stop. The future home of a cellar tasting room. There are no lights in there right now, so I was guided by the glow of a cellphone through a space where there eventually will be amphorae and concrete egg-shaped wine fermenters, bistro tables, and a bar, with stone archways and glass walls. The drawings looked beautiful.
Must-Try Wines
Back in the main tasting room, I asked Renzoni which wine is a must-try at the winery. He brought out his Fiore de Fano. A medium-bodied Super Tuscan that his father named for their hometown: “The Flower of Fano.” It was a wine he had originally made just for himself, but when he introduced it to the tasting room, it soon gained a “cult following.” You can hear more about it in the video above.
More recommended wines from my tasting
Robert Renzoni has more than 30 varieties on the tasting menu. Here are a few more recommended wines to help narrow the list:
- 2021 Barbera—A lighter bodied wine with flavors of cranberry and high acidity. It would be a great pairing with a deli sandwich from Mama Rosa’s.
- 2020 Sonata—A medium-bodied wine with hints of warming spices like allspice and clove. Add this one to your fall dining list.
- 2018 Big Fred’s Red—A blend of Zinfandel and Sangiovese (named after Renzoni’s father) and a seriously excellent table wine for the price. At $29, I challenge you to find another bottle that is this good at this price in Temecula.
- 2022 Concerto—A lovely blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, and Merlot; my favorite from the standard list and the wine I chose to have with lunch.
- 2019 Montepulciano—On the reserve list. It was absolutely delicious, with flavors of dark fruit and very smooth.
Pizza Al Fresco
The restaurant patio is adjacent to the tasting room and surrounded by views of the valley hills and vineyards on three sides. It’s often humming with birthday parties, families, and couples and live music. When my husband and I first moved to Temecula, we were told this was the best pizza in Temecula. It’s certainly some of the best.
The menu is primarily casual Italian fare: bruschetta with prosciutto, homemade meatballs in marinara, brick-oven pizzas, pasta, and sandwiches like a muffuletta or Italian hero. There are also a few bar-snack shareables, like curly fries and buffalo wings.
The pizzas are the star of the show at Mama Rosa’s. The cheeses are flavorful, and the kitchen’s brick oven yields a perfectly chewy crust. My usual choice is “Julia’s Favorite Pizza,” a perfect, classic Margherita. But this latest visit, I went for the “Tre Salame Pizza,” brimming with quality pepperoni, calabrese salami, soppressata, and asiago.
We started with the Roman Artichokes. Perfectly cooked and plentiful, the tender artichokes were tossed with green olives and grape tomatoes on a bed of arugula and topped with drizzled balsamic and shaved asiago, essentially making it a large salad. Really, all of the salads at Mama Rosa’s are large, most menu items at Mama Rosa’s are “famiglia size” and meant for sharing.
Robert Renzoni Vineyards is part of the De Portola Wine Trail, along with ten other noteworthy Temecula wineries, including nearby Gershon Bachus, Altisima Winery, and Fazeli Cellars. The tasting room and the trattoria are fantastic ways to experience the best of Temecula Valley.
The restaurant is family-friendly, but dogs are not permitted. Reservations for the tour are required. The tasting room welcomes walk-ins.
