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An hour east of San Diego in Southern California's burgeoning Temecula Valley, The Ponte Vineyard Inn is a charming 90-key Spanish-mission style boutique hotel. Set on 300-rolling acres of farmland and vineyards all overlooking the Palomar Mountain Range, Temecula has seen an uptick in visitors over the years, all in search of an affordable and unpretentious wine-infused getaway worthy of rivaling its neighbors to the north.
Today, the 3,000 acres encompassing Temecula's wine-growing region is home to more than 40 family-owned wineries producing 50 varietals, however, their Italian and Rhône style wines are the ones that really shine. In 2019, Temecula even got a nod from Wine Enthusiast, who named the area one of the 10 Best Wine Destinations of the year.
With an array of hotels and casino-hotels in the area, Ponte is a AAA, four-diamond luxury boutique hotel featuring a steady mix of spacious rooms and authentic California-mission style decor, as well as a popular vineyard-side restaurant and a newly renovated speakeasy cocktail bar. Home to two wineries, including Ponte Winery directly next to the hotel and its sister property BOTTAIA Winery down the road, Ponte Vineyard Inn provides a delightfully cozy home base for a low-key wine country getaway.
As idyllic and romantic as the hotel's surroundings suggest, you should know that the hotel is a popular spot for weddings and bachelorette parties, which can detract from the overall ambiance, especially in peak months including May to June and September to October.
Keep in mind that while Southern California is known for its year-round moderate climate, Temecula Valley is located within the desert and temps can exceed 100 degrees in the summer months, so plan accordingly. That also means nighttime temps can drop down into the 30s, so don't forget to pack layers.
An entry-level Standard Double Queen Room starts at $220 per night and goes up to $500 for the 1,300-square-foot Grand Suite. On a quick weekend getaway, my family and I were upgraded to a mid-tier Double Queen Extended Room and loved the additional space and vineyard views from the private balcony.
Keep reading to see why I was so impressed by Ponte Vineyard Inn.Read the original article on Business Insider