Building character, family, and community since 2010.
“Sometimes having the fresh eyes of a newcomer can be a great advantage - you have the opposite of tunnel vision, and see all the possibilities.”
It all began with a photo.
If I had to pinpoint the moment Akash Winery came into being, I’d say it began with a photo of a vineyard, perched on a fireplace mantle 25 years ago. But actually our story, and the winery’s story, began long before that.
In the 1970’s, my parents were forced to leave their homes during a tumultuous time in their country’s history. They settled in the United States, and over time, built a collection of boutique hotels. Theirs is a uniquely American story - creating a life for yourself from nothing, with only moxie and the support of friends and neighbors to steady you along the way.
As my dad and mom looked for additional hotel properties to invest in, my dad found himself in Temecula, and was totally smitten by the area. He came home with a framed picture of gorgeous vineyards there. Placing it on the mantle, he told us, “This is my dream.”
A few years later, that dream took root on Calle Contento when we purchased a 20-acre parcel of prime vineyard land.
Manifest that dream, Ray.
Fearless, and proud of it.
It’s a good thing we’re a family of smart, scrappy (sometimes stubborn) individuals, because when we first bought the property, it was nothing but weeds as far as the eye can see.
We gathered friends and family and got to work.
Winemaking was a distant thought for us - first we had to grow the best grapes possible. Translating that into bottle took learning, but wouldn’t have been possible without well-situated vineyards planted to clones and rootstock that would thrive on our parcel.We did everything by hand - seeking wisdom from industry veterans, but also making informed decisions of our own.
Fresh eyes and an open mind.
Sometimes having the fresh eyes of a newcomer can be a great advantage - you have the opposite of tunnel vision, and see all the possibilities.
We designed our winery and tasting room spaces with that in mind - open and full of light, with our gorgeous vineyards being the focal point.
After 16 years, we still feel like we have that fresh energy. We’re never afraid to try something new, to stand out. You can see it in our tasting room, our team, and our wines.
Hospitality is our ethos.
Because they started with very little, my parents knew the value of hard work and of building community. It’s the ethos of what we do, and how we operate at Akash. They set a high bar for me in terms of business acumen and hospitality, and I don’t take it lightly.
Although my mom passed away a few years ago, we still feel her presence here in everything we do. She was such a humanistic, kind person - it was incredibly important to her that every guest feels like family. And although he’s handed the day-to-day operations off to me, my dad is still a huge part of this business - a super sharp, creative businessman who weighs decisions thoughtfully, considering both the needs of the winery, and our team.
