With Bottaia Winery’s designer interiors, sky-high ceilings, and sweeping views, the setting alone is an experience not to be missed. The environment, as conceived by Founder Claudio Ponte, is meant to transport visitors to a luxury destination in Northern Italy and act as an escape from the more crowded tasting rooms around the valley. And it is transporting. My husband visit regularly, but even so, whenever I step out onto the patio, I feel like I’m on vacation — relaxed and a world away.
We like to visit on Sundays when there is almost always live music in the late afternoon. Bottaia doesn’t allow tour buses, and all visitors must first check in with tasting room hosts, so the atmosphere can become festive when the outdoor deck is busy, but never raucous.
Winemaker Arnaud Debons crafts beautiful Italian style wines for Bottaia. The full-bodied, dark fruit Aglianico and smooth Montepulciano are at the top of my list and my Sunday afternoon go-to’s. They might have a couple of years of the same varietal, ask for a small taste of each before you commit to a glass, they’re quite different. If the weather is warm and it’s too hot to contemplate a bold red, the Vermentino is a great choice, as is the Rosé Spumante. The Spumante is lightly fruity, not too sweet, and very refreshing. They’ve also just introduced a new vintage of the lightly floral Pecorino that is truly excellent. Bottles range from $45 to around $70.
Wine Tasting Experiences at Bottaia
Now let’s talk about the wine tasting experiences because they offer a few.
The Deck
Out on the covered deck, guests have an incredible view of vineyards and valley hills. There’s an outdoor bar where you can order by the glass or hand-pick a tasting flight to bring to your table. There’s is also a light food menu: Caprese salad, a generous charcuterie board, small sandwiches, Mediterranean inspired vegetarian dips, a couple of desserts. On Friday and Sunday afternoons, Bottaia almost always brings in local musicians, making these the preferred days to visit.
The Pool
During summer months, a unique thing to try in wine country is a day pass at The Pool at Bottaia. Guests can reserve a day pass for a pool-side lounger or cabana and have a glass of wine, beer, or even a cocktail from their full bar delivered while you sunbathe. Pool guests can also take advantage of the Pool Cafe’s dining menu, which is a bit more robust than the winery food menu with light fare such as salads, sandwiches, flatbread and tacos.
Seated Charcuterie Pairing and Wine Tasting
My husband and I took our small wedding party to the Seated Charcuterie Pairing and Wine Tasting after our rehearsal. They have a special, floor-to-ceiling, window lined tasting room set aside just for this experience. But really, your focus will be on the 5 glasses in front of you and your pre-selected individual charcuterie board. A trained server guides guests through the pairing. In spite of its formal name and swanky setting, this is a casual, friendly affair. It’s also a great way to get a true sense of how a wine might taste if you brought it home as wines are usually served with food. $72 per person at the time of writing. Reservations required.
Wine Blending
For a literally hands-on experience, make a reservation in their Wine Blending Lab and go home with your own hand-crafted blend. We were lucky enough to do this for a friend’s birthday celebration and it was such a great time. As winemaker for a day, you’ll first learn a little bit about the qualities of wine that winemakers think about when blending, like acidity, fruit, spice, tannins, body, sweetness. You’ll then work on blending a glass to your taste, which gets scaled up to a full bottle once you’re happy with your creation. There are even markers available for you to design your own label. The hard part is waiting a year to taste the bottle of your own personal blend that goes home with you. $135 per guest. Reservations required.
Whether you’re sipping a bold red or crisp white on the deck, blending your own wine in the lab, or simply relaxing by the pool, Bottaia Winery offers something special for everyone. Each visit feels like a mini-vacation, a chance to unwind and sample some of the best of Italian-style wines in Temecula. Cheers to that!
35601 Rancho California Rd, Temecula, CA 92591
www.bottaiawinery.com
Find more upscale Temecula wineries like Bottaia on our Luxe Escape itinerary.
