FEATURE GLASS EVEN FULLER

GLASS EVEN FULLER Three new wineries significantly enhance the cachet of Temecula Valley; one has a swimming pool. by BENJAMIN EPSTEIN

NINETY MINUTES SOUTH of Los Angeles, at the geographic heart of Southern California, is the picturesque Temecula Valley Wine Country, nearly 50 wineries nestled in rolling hills and anchored by Old Town Temecula. Three years ago, Wine Enthusiast magazine deemed it one of the world’s top wine travel destinations; distinctive new Altísima, Akash and Bottaia add to the allure. / Altísima / EIGHT FAMILIES joined to create Altísima Winery, a passion project that pays homage to the area’s Spanish roots through architecture, wines from Spanish grapes and Cal-Spanish restaurant Gaspar’s at the Vineyard, named for explorer Gaspar de Portolá.

Altísima opened in October. Wines include whites such as Albariño, labeled “the Soñadora,” and memorable reds including a Monastrell (known as Mourvèdre in France) and a Reserve Tempranillo.

It’s elegant and idyllic, with picturesque views in every direction.

The Gaspard’s patio and lawn beyond offer ideal vantages, with the backdrop of live music on weekends. Views elsewhere include a pair of neighboring wineries—Fazeli Cellars and Robert Renzoni Vineyards— whose own beauty adds to the scene.

Tasting options range from a one-hour seated experience to a tour of the estate with pairing of a half dozen wines and artisan cheeses. The olive grove is popular for private events.

Gaspar’s brings jamón serrano, Spanish olives and Catalan gambas— sauteed shrimp with a spicy saffron sauce and garlic confit—as well as a burger, made with a blend of Prime Black Angus short ribs and brisket plus bacon and Gruyère cheese, that has a bona fide following.

/ Akash / A PHOTO OF a vineyard on the fireplace in Akash Patel’s boyhood home, bought by his father at a Temecula winery, was a daily reminder of his family’s dream of owning its own vineyard and winery. In 2010, his parents, immigrants who’d built a successful motel chain, took the first step in realizing that dream: They purchased a 20-acre parcel of vineyard land in Temecula Valley and entrusted its development to Akash—20 years old at the time and pursuing a business management/marketing degree.

“They presented it to me and basically said ‘If you want to do this, you’ll figure it out,’ ” Patel recalls. Their trust was well placed; Patel started making wine in 2014 and opened Akash Winery & Vineyards with winemaker Renato Sais in 2019.

Now 31, he produces Akash wines using estate-sourced Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah, and Dreamville bottlings including a sparkling Sauvignon Blanc and a Malbec sourced nearby. Wines from both labels have earned Wine Enthusiast scores of 90 or more.

Tastings of flights take place inside and at vineyard-view patio bars. Neapolitan pizza is available Thursdays through Sundays; other experiences include yoga on the patio. Sharing the patio is Akash Brewing, where offerings include a kettle sour using hibiscus and pineapple.

Patel is also following in his parents’ hospitality footsteps: A resort on the property is in the works.

/ Bottaia / AFTER FARMING THE Brookside ranch since 1984, and operating the Ponte Vineyard since 2003, the Ponte family replanted Brookside’s most suitable blocks to Italian varietals from Aglianico to Zibibbo, built a stunning winery and in 2018 unveiled Bottaia.

The name means cask-aging room in Italian. Though best described as modern barns, Bottaia’s buildings are in fact inspired by Northern Italian luxury—the country houses of the Veneto designed by Andrea Palladio; his 16th-century principles dictated a temple-like main building.

Beyond the structures is a swimming pool with cabines and chaises and its own café and cocktail bar. The vineyards extend to the horizon.

Bottaia sources about a dozen single-varietal wines, notably Montepulciano, as well as blends from its 45-acre estate vineyards. Aging takes place in large concrete tanks and oak vats and casks.

The property offers several tasting experiences. Enjoy wines by the bottle, glass or flight on a deck overlooking the vineyards or in a livingroom-like lounge with soaring ceilings and striking vineyard views.

Taste six estate wines from the bottle and one from the barrel as part of a one-hour experience in the cozy barrel room or five estate wines and charcuterie in a cheery communal setting. Be a winemaker for a day in the Wine Blending Lab: Taste four varietals of young red wine from the barrel, make three separate blends and taste again: Your favorite will be bottled, corked, The pool and vineyards beyond at Bottaia. capsuled and labeled to Above left: The vineyards at Akash Winery. take home.