We decided that this was truly the proper way to visit a winery. After wandering through the beautifully landscaped and manicured gardens of Ponte Winery we are ready to enjoy, the California-casual cuisine of the Smokehouse restaurant.
A table has been set for us on the veranda. Steve Stawinski, executive chef, Robert Cartwright, winemaker and Ragan Erickson, wine club and marketing manager joined us.
As we were eager to try different dishes we decided to share and asked Executive Chef Steve to take charge of the selection. We started with stuffed grape leaves filled with ground lam and jasmine rice served with roasted pepper balsamic relish.
Next arrived Antipasto: cured Italian meats, cheese, vegetable terrine with organic olive oil and fresh cracked pepper. Then Fried Calamari with tomato remoulade, fresh lemon and Italian parsley.
We then moved on to a large grilled vegetable pizza with eggplant, squash, portabello mushroom, red onion, pesto and feta cheese. Sweet endings: White chocolate bread pudding, crème brulee and chocolate mascarpone cheesecake. What a day! As the restaurant uses fresh local products, the menu changes every season “ It is important for us to support local growers and food suppliers that share our belief in using more ecologically sensible practices,” reported Chef Stawinski.
The entire menu reflects family traditions and exquisitively matches the Ponte wines. All the Ponte wines are available by the glass or by the bottle. The restaurant is open daily from 11 am to 5 pm. From April to October the Smokehouse is open for dinner on Friday evenings until 10.00 pm.
Conceived and built by the Ponte family, which has grown grapes in Temecula since 1984, the winery is the perfect destination for a day in the country.
The tasting room is rustic looking, like a barn, with a beautiful open beam ceiling, and a large tasting counter attended by a friendly and knowledgeable staff to ensure a quality wine tasting experience. Behind the tasting room, the VIP room with its large mahogany boardroom table and oversized leather chairs is the perfect facility for small business meetings, lunches and dinner functions.
The Market Place, filled with unique artisans’ creations and a large selection of gourmet food, is a great source of original gifts. The Market Place also specializes in hard to find books about wine and winemaking.
The Barrel room is a beautiful mission style building that has dual personality. Its walls are lined with racks of large oak barrels where the wines are aged but it can also accommodate up to 100 guests, audiovisual equipment,and sit down or buffet style meals.
You must see the 4800 sq ft tent pavilion, perfect for trade shows, conferences, award banquets and corporate parties.
Finally the Reserve Room, recent addition to the already spectacular destination that is the Ponte winery. The west wing has a large brick fireplace and dark wine cabinets fully stocked. The east wing has a large wine testing counter. Tuscan style wrought iron chandeliers light up softly the entire room. French doors open on a large patio at the edge of the vineyards with surrounding mountains as a backdrop. The reserve room has a capacity of 80. It is the perfect décor for an intimate wedding reception.
Ponte winery is located at 35053 Rancho California Road, Temecula Ca 92591, (951) 694 8855,Web at www.pontewinery.com
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