Bottaia Winery — Restaurant in Temecula

I would like to first start off by saying I’ve been coming to Temecula for years; each time has been a delightful experience. I’ve celebrated birthdays, Mother’s Day, attended weddings, and even celebrated an engagement just last month in this beautiful wine region. My experience at Bottaia was very disappointing.

Wine: Was not impressed with their white or red selections. Our server was super kind and allowed me to skip the whites and go straight to the reds during my tasting. Everyone’s palate is different but these wines just didn’t sit well with me. They did not smell or taste good. I was highly disappointed from that alone.

Decor: Decor is nice. It’s social media worthy I would say lol.

Staff: We were in town on a Saturday so it was a steady crowd. Our server in the barrel room was great! I cannot remember her name but she was a gem. Very patient and informative. Outside of the barrel room however was another story that I am happy to share so others will think twice before adding Bottaia to their list of wineries to support.

The winery manager Sharlee Martin, who goes by Shar, and the security personnel Randy, were two of the most bigoted individuals I have encountered at any winery across the world. I’ve been to wineries in over three continents and I have never been treated how I was treated on Saturday. Given today’s climate of hate and discrimination I honestly feared my freedom would be taken away from me because these two individuals could not see past their biases and prejudices.

During a miscommunication, they went straight into “Karen” mode and decided to call the police, spew lies saying my group was chasing her, yelling, being aggressive, and not cooperating all because we were confused as to what had transpired. At one point, I was standing directly next to Sharlee Martin, as she’s on the phone with the authorities saying “Please hurrying they’re chasing me please I’m scared…they’re being very aggressive.” This is the point where I feared for my life—it’s moments like these that can change someone’s life forever. We’ve seen it countless times in the media where a person of color is walking their dog or running for exercise in their neighbor and someone of a different race is uncomfortable and they result into victimizing themselves, calling the authorities, or in some cases murdering that person.

The craziest part of this whole experience is that our awesome server and two of the hostesses highly recommended that we reach out and file an official complaint. They even provided us with the full names and emails of the winery manager Sharlee, and the tasting room manager Sam, because they saw how unfairly we were treated and how unwarranted their behavior was towards us. Why would their own staff approach us, apologize on their behalf, and provide us the first and last name of the winery manager and tasting room manager (who was not on site that day) if we were in fact being “disruptive, disturbing other guests, refusing to comply, harassing, and threatening.” Hmm…

At the end of the day, this review will only help out a few and that is why I took the time to express what truly happened. I know the person who responds to reviews from Bottaia will copy and paste some statement they came up with to not make it seem like they were in the wrong. I would greatly appreciate it if Bottaia would actually take the time to reach out to us and apologize for the behavior of their employees and come up with a permanent solution on how to treat ALL people at ALL times. As people of color we must take situations like this very seriously. I would not recommend this winery to anyone who believes in love and kindness to all.

If you are interested in a more inviting winery and you also love reds like myself, please visit Wiens Winery (down the street from Bottaia). We ended our night there and had a fantastic experience. The servers were awesome, the wine was perfect, and I felt completely safe....

I visited Bottaia this past weekend with a group of girlfriends, excited to have a fun, carefree Saturday but things quickly took a hard left turn during our experience. After our tasting we gathered our belongings and began to make our exit to the next establishment. As I walked out of the front of the building, I noticed that another group of our party was outside the front of the building, visibly upset. I saw a security guard near them and a woman, who I quickly came to learn was the manager of Bottaia, Shar. She was holding her phone in a manner that suggested that she was recording my friends. I very calmly approached her to ask what had transpired — which she should have on video, as again she was recording us. She very rudely told me that she was no longer discussing the matter, she had called the police, and that myself and the rest of our group — who was inside unaware of what had transpired — were associated with “them” and therefore needed to leave the establishment on our own or the police would remove us. I explained to her that I was genuinely confused, had been inside and unaware of what had occurred and would like to know why were being asked to leave. She again refused, rudely and told us we needed to leave the premises immediately. While this was happening, I simultaneously learned from my friends that a simple misunderstanding had occurred which was then escalated by Shar’s actions.

I have never in my 30+ years of life, been told that I was having the police called on me or any of my friends. We are a group of educated, professional black women. Given the numerous racial injustices and police brutality incidences in today’s society, the action or even threat of calling the police on people of color is very triggering and traumatizing, especially when we have done nothing to warrant such behavior or action. Every single one of us was and is still horrified and appalled by how we were treated. I will never step foot back here again. I encourage Bottaia to have their staff participate in racial equity and injustice training and until then recommend all people of color avoid this...

⭐ 4/5 – Upscale Winery with a Beautiful Setting, Requires Reservations

This winery offers a more refined and upscale experience compared to many others in the area. The interior is modern and elegant, and the pool area adds a unique touch that sets it apart from more traditional wineries. It’s a great spot for a special occasion or a relaxed afternoon in a sophisticated setting.

🍷 The Wine: 4/5

The wine selection was solid but not the main highlight. It’s enjoyable and well-made, but it doesn’t necessarily stand out compared to some of the top-tier wineries in the region. The reserve options are the best choice if you’re looking for something more complex and flavorful.

🍽️ The Food: N/A

Didn’t try any food, and it wasn’t a focus here. If you’re looking for a full meal, this may not be the best stop.

🛎️ The Service: 4/5

Service was professional and efficient, but the experience felt a bit more structured and less personal compared to smaller, family-run wineries. The staff was knowledgeable, though, and provided helpful recommendations.

🏡 The Atmosphere: 4.5/5

This winery feels high-end and polished, making it a nice change from the more rustic, casual vineyards. The pool area and sleek decor give it a resort-like feel, and the overall vibe is very relaxing and enjoyable. The only downside? When we visited, reservations were required, so it wasn’t as easy to just drop in. Not sure if that’s still the case, but it’s something to check ahead of time.

💰 The Verdict: Great Setting, Worth a Visit

✅ Beautiful, upscale ambiance with a unique pool area ✅ Good wine selection, with the reserve options being the best bet ✅ Efficient service and well-maintained facilities ❌ Reservations required when we visited—not ideal for spontaneous trips ❌ Wine is good but not the absolute best in the area ❌ No food options

Would I come back? Yes, for the ambiance and experience, but I’d check about...