SIP, SAVOR AND CELEBRATE

Now Open: Oleificio Prestifilippo

Visit Oleificio Prestifilippo for a tasting of fresh-pressed extra virgin olive oil, customize your own infused olive oil,  see our EVOO production space, and more!

41309 Avenida Biona, Temecula, California 92591

Saturday & Sunday 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Off of Rancho California Road and Butterfield Stage. On the left-hand side, look for the Fruit Stand and the Italian flag!

JUST LAUNCHED: INFUSED EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL

SHOP OUR OLIVE OIL

POGGIO LEANO AWARDED BY WINE ENTHUSIAST

2021 CATARRATTO | 90 POINTS

“Honeydew candy and apple juice aromas make for a unique nose on this bottling of a Sicilian grape, perhaps the only example grown in California. It’s bone dry on the palate, with lightly fruited flavors.”

2021 CABRNET SAUVIGNON, ESTATE | 90 POINTS

“Leather, bay leaf and cigar-box aromas decorate the baked berry core on the nose of this bottling from vines planted 20 years ago in the De Luz area. There’s a gamy streak to the palate, where pepper, woodspice and dried fruit flavors align.”

2018 SYRAH | 90 POINTS

"Baked plum and gingerbread aromas draw the nose into this bottling. The palate is viscous and heavy in texture, with strong flavors of baking spice and baked fruits that make for a pleasant experience.”

2019 SANGIOVESE, ESTATE | 90 POINTS

"A lighter color in the glass, this bottling offers dried red cherry, cinnamon and star anis on the well-spiced nose. Charcuterie and tar flavors add a savory side to the palate, where red cherry holds down the fruit component.”

---

GET TO KNOW US

THE BEGINNING OF ALEX & CHARITY

Once upon a time, there was an American Girl who grew up in Temecula. Her father was Italian (first generation American), so she had bragged about being Italian her whole life... until one day, when she realized... there's a big difference between being American-Italian and being Italian. She learned this by meeting an ACTUAL ITALIAN from ITALY, Alessandro "Alex" Prestifilippo! 

Their first encounter would be memorable, but not in the way you would think. Charity was going to lunch with her colleagues and suggested this "little Italian deli" where she had eaten before. When they arrived, she realized that the place had changed from an order-at-the-counter deli to a quaint little Italian restaurant. Pleased, Charity and her colleagues sat to order their lunch. She ordered clams with linguine, a favorite of hers. She had this dish several times when visiting her Italian family in Rhode Island. Shortly after the dish was delivered by the server, another gentleman approached the table asking, "How is everything?" Charity requested, "Can I get some parmesan cheese, please?" The man with a STRONG Italian accent said, "no, signora, not on the clams with linguine". Charity, who was Customer Relations at Toyota of Temecula at the time, was confused by his response. She thought, "the customer is always right" as she asked again. The gentleman seemed put off, "signora, please, not on the seafood". Charity, still taken, thought to herself, ‘I always put parmesan on my clams with linguine’ and insisted. The man asked her, "Please, please try the pasta without it and if you still want it, I will get it for you." Stubborn and hard headed, Charity tried the pasta, looked up and nodded, "yes, please, I would still like the cheese". Not happy with her response, Alex got the parmesan and spoke in Italian to the server, obviously saying something like, "these Americans don't know how to eat!". 

At least that's what she assumed he was saying. It was then that she fell in love with the food. Falling in love with him was yet to come...

She returned months later, with her father, while he was visiting from Rhode Island. She told him about his AMAZING Italian restaurant - the best she's ever been to! 

He remembered her and said, "Signora!", then kissed her hand. She was flattered. He was charming with the bluest eyes and most adorable dimples. His strong accent made her smile and she asked him to come meet her dad who is also Italian. He turned the corner and saw her dad, but also, her friend Deano. He wasn’t quite sure who Deano was to her, so he played it “cool”. Alex and her dad talked for a while, discussing where their families are from in Italy. Charity was hypnotised by his eyes, dimples and accent. That was the only time Alex visited the table on that visit, but Charity left with a little piece of her heart stuck in that corner of the restaurant. 

She would spend the next couple weeks finding a "not-so-obvious" way to get back to the restaurant and see that charming Italian. 

She finally went back with some friends from her office. They were on an hour lunch break, but this was the perfect opportunity to get back in to see Alex. He greeted her and her friends and sat them at a front table. Immediately after seating them, the restaurant filled up and he was the only one serving tables. They exchanged some "lost in translation" words as he hustled to take care of all the tables. The minutes went by and the ordered food didn't arrive for almost 40 minutes. This would give them no time left to eat their meals, so they asked for their food to go. Alex felt bad and begged them to stay for their meals, but they couldn't. When Charity went to the counter to pay for the food, Alex apologized and asked if she wanted to come back for coffee, "Just me and you" he asked. She kindly declined, saying she doesn't drink coffee. He said, "Then hot chocolate?" She told him she doesn't like chocolate either. He said, "Okay, we'll figure something out". She smiled, said thank you and left. She was trying to play it hard-to-get, but little did he know, she got into the car with her friends and lost it, like a little girl, "HE ASKED ME FOR COFFEE!" 

It would take Charity another couple weeks to "casually" get back into the restaurant. This time she brought her 6 year old sister. Alex took Charity’s sister on a tour of the kitchen and gifted her with a cup of gelato. He then invited Charity to his place for wine and a fire. She, again, played it "cool" and said, "Maybe dinner out?" He agreed and then HE played it "cool", arriving LATE to pick her up for their first date. His excuse was that he was SO NERVOUS he had to go back to change his shirt! She was flattered. They drove to a place he used to work in OC. They had a soloist singing. The owner came out and treated them like royalty as he brought out the chef's choice for their dinner. Alex asked her to dance  - it was then that they realized arguing over parmesan on her linguine was the start of something that would last a lifetime. 

Charity and Alex married 11 months later, had their first child together 10 months after that. The rest is HISTORY! 

Today, they have been together 23 years. February 12th will be their 22 wedding anniversary. They have 3 children, Mimi (Charity's bonus daughter), Luca and Logan. They are proud grandparents of Mimi's son, Carlo, who will be 4 in April! Their life today is much more than they ever thought it could be. Charity doesn't put parmesan on her linguine anymore. Alex learned to love football and Thanksgiving dinners. They are busy, they are blessed, and they are forever grateful for the "little hole in the wall" restaurant, Gourmet Italia, for bringing them together, forever!