Truffle Pig Winery

I was treated to this eatery by my partners sister. The beef wellington was great and the veal osobucho. I would recommend stopping by for a treat. Amazing service, prompt, and top class

As a Southern California wedding photographer, I can’t recommend Truffle Pig Winery enough as a stunning wedding venue. Its European-inspired charm, with the grand white building nestled among sprawling vineyards, creates a romantic and timeless vibe that’s a dream to capture. The bridal suite is a photographer’s paradise—flooded with natural light from large windows, it’s perfect for playing with light and shadow to create breathtaking bridal portraits. Navigating the venue is a breeze, with seamless transitions from the bridal suite to the ceremony site and reception space. The reception area’s towering ceilings lend a sense of grandeur without feeling overwhelming, striking the perfect balance for an intimate yet elegant atmosphere. The ceremony space is equally impressive, featuring a modern gazebo that’s incredibly versatile—whether adorned with lush florals or kept minimal, it’s a striking backdrop for photos.The staff at Truffle Pig Winery is exceptional, making every event run smoothly and collaborating beautifully with vendors. They work with some of my favorite DJs, and the food is absolutely phenomenal, adding to the overall experience. For night shots, this venue truly shines—offering endless creative opportunities to capture magical moments under the stars. Truffle Pig Winery is a photographer’s dream and a couple’s perfect day waiting to happen!—Jason Perryman

Bright new spot in Temecula Wine Country: Domenico’s at the Truffle Pig. We brunches there last Sunday and was excellent, we can’t wait to go back ! Even though it is in a winery they have a bar and I really enjoyed starting off with a Bloody Mary. Bartender made it perfect. I had the eggs Benedict and my boyfriend had the heartier crab and polenta dish. Both were scrumptious. It was a Beautiful day on the patio with musicians playing lightly. A friend at our table orders the wedge salad which looked and tasted amazing .. on my list for next time for sure !

5 stars - New Temecula favorite! We had such a lovely lunch at Domenico's at Truffle Pig. We were seated right away on their beautiful patio near the olive tree and fountain; gorgeous setting, thoughtfully designed. I had the Limoncello Martini (bright and refreshing), and my fiancé had the Spicy Sicilian Sunset, good, but could use more heat. Maybe a tajín rim or some jalapeño? We split the grilled cheese with truffle butter and that gorgonzola tomato sauce... I honestly ate the sauce like soup. Unreal. My Caesar salad with salmon was perfectly portioned and cooked, and his fish tacos hit the spot--especially that chipotle aioli. Megan H. was our server and she was fantastic; friendly, helpful, and perfectly timed. We also met the manager, Jennifer, who was warm and welcoming. Great food, beautiful space, and thoughtful service. Can't wait to come back... hopefully for brunch soon!

Beautiful winery and ambience! Definitely get the table side Ceasar salad! Excellent service and knowledgeable staff. Gave us great recommendations including the wine pairings. Also love the indoor/outdoor options. Very comfortable outdoor seating.

Had the pleasure of eating and touring the grounds at this beautiful winery during their soft opening. The food at Domenico’s Italian Chophouse (their restaurant) was incredible. Well thought out menu and everything from the starters to the dessert was on point. Brussels Sprouts were to die for. Best Rum Cake I’ve ever had! Service was great considering some of the staff was working their very first day. This place is a must if you’re in the Temecula Valley!!

Nice new winery, they have great views of the winery and restaurant. The Grenache was delicious. The staff was friendly.

Unfortunately, our experience at Truffle Pig got off to a rough start. Both the greeter and the bartender were unhelpful and dismissive. I asked each of them about the fried cheese appetizer I had seen on Instagram and was excited to try. Both acted as if there was nothing even remotely like cheese or breaded cheese on the menu and told me they didn’t know what I was talking about, which felt strange and frustrating. Thankfully, Melia completely turned things around. She was a breath of fresh air—witty, professional, friendly, and genuinely welcoming. Her service made a noticeable difference and was the first highlight of our visit. Personally, her offering water was refreshing to say the least. As for the food, the fried cheese itself was unfortunately very heavy with oil, which took away from the dish. Overall, while the service from the greeter and bartender was disappointing, Melia’s excellent service stood out and deserves recognition.

The food was good, the service was slow. The ambiance was nice except they need heaters everyone in our party was cold.

Absolutely loved our experience at Domenico's at Truffle Pig Winery. This was our first time visiting Truffle Pig Winery and from the moment we arrived we were impressed by the atmosphere and overall vibe. The winery itself is beautiful and inviting and instantly made us feel relaxed and excited to be there. Dining at Domenico's truly elevated the experience. Trinity our server was amazing and made such a positive impression right away. From the moment we were seated she was friendly attentive and genuinely welcoming. Her service made us feel comfortable and taken care of throughout the entire meal and really added to how much we enjoyed ourselves. We knew almost immediately that we liked this restaurant and vineyard. Everything felt warm and welcoming and the experience never felt rushed. We ordered the market red and absolutely loved it. It paired perfectly with our meal and was smooth flavorful and easy to enjoy. The food portions were generous and definitely shareable which we really appreciated. You can easily split a plate and still feel more than satisfied with the amount of food they serve. Overall this was a wonderful first visit and left such a great impression on us. Great wine great food excellent service and a beautiful setting made for an experience we will definitely remember. We will absolutely be back and would highly recommend Domenico's at Truffle Pig Winery to anyone looking for a great place to enjoy good wine and a welcoming dining experience.

A gorgeous winery with a few misteps. However I found no deal breakers and will be back Waited too long at the door even though we reserved. Once sat, our waiter Jairo ( like hieroglyphics) was a dream. Super honest and knowledgeable about the menu. He is an asset to this business. Food was great. Highly recommended the brie bowl. Both burger above average. Baja oysters to die for. And the cheesecake should win awards. Also you will be treated to one of the most amazing sunsets from practically any spot in the venue. Great for dates or large groups. Go. Just go. You wont be disappointed.

I came in on a Friday night with my fiancée, my cousin, her husband, and a couple of friends to celebrate a birthday and a promotion. It was my first time here, but my cousin spoke highly of the place, so we were excited to try it. We were seated on the patio, which had a great atmosphere--fire features and heating towers kept us warm on a cool Temecula night. We started with the fried burrata and wedge salads, both of which were fantastic. I ordered the beef Wellington, my go-to whenever I see it on a menu, and it absolutely delivered. The meat was perfectly cooked, the pastry was crisp, and the pâté inside tied everything together beautifully. My fiancée had the sea bass and loved how light and delicate it was. Everyone else at the table really enjoyed their meals as well. The drink selection was another highlight. They had a solid lineup of bourbons and whiskeys, including my favorite--Michter's--which paired perfectly with the beef Wellington. The rest of the group ordered the house sangria, and it was a big hit. Service from our waiter was excellent from start to finish. Jen, the restaurant manager is a friend of my cousin so she took great care of us. The entire dining experience was top-notch, and I'd definitely come back to explore more of the menu. Keep up the great work!

Their wine tasted a bit water down in my opinion. There are definitely better wine options around Temecula. The restaurant itself had a nice view and also the staff were friendly. The food was okay as well. The Brussels sprouts were delicious.

Super cute winery. Not overly crowded considering there was a wedding happening at the time were there. The wines were tasty and I can't wait to try more next time.

I've always loved the design and layout of this winery. Avensole put it together and Renzoni improved. Being a pig and hunting truffles gives way in the bold black designs in the club room and gen pop tasting room. The lineup so far has four reds, a port, rose and a few nice whites. Something for everyone. Staff is friendly and very nice grounds. Patio seating is abundant with good cushions. Also lower patio has a couple of big screen tv's. Just a note they are not dog friendly. Other than that they score in the wine and seating. There's also an on-site restaurant called Domenicos. Good food.

Such a cute winery with a tasting room & restaurant. Service was quick and friendly, & the food was absolutely delicious. We recommend the brie cheese appetizer for sure!

Truffle Pig's (preciously Avensole) new owners have revamped the winery with a black and white themed decor, giving it a more traditional and elegant feel. Their temporary wine tasting room, The Pig Pen, is dark and cozy, with a fireplace and comfortable overstuffed leather couches. The lattice covered patio area is also comfortable with nice seating. Once their tasting room opens up The Pig Pen will be their members only area. Their Truffle Pig wine offerings are a bit limited for now, but what they do offer are quite good. Their GSM, Grenache, Nebiola, and Market red are all very good. I do look forward to having a choice of some bolder reds in the future. With co-owners Robert Renzoni and Domenic Galleano, I expect more good things are yet to come. We shall see.

We had reservations and sat outside, they have heaters so it wasn't to bad. The service was great but got slower as the night went on but the restaurant also got busier so we didn't care. The food was all so amazing. The scallop linguini was off the charts good. The Brie appetizer was fantastic. We had the pig tails which is truffle garlic Parmesan potato slices and was so good. The French onion soup was okay not as flavorful as I've had before. The apple crumble was so good and loved how fresh it tasted. I definitely loved this place.

Great experience at Truffle Pig Winery! The service was friendly and attentive, the wine was decent and enjoyable, and the food was really yummy. The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming--perfect for a nice outing. Would definitely come back!

The food was outstanding (but for the risotto, terribly undercooked but they happily exchanged it) but the service left a lot to be desired. I feel it's new and hopefully they'll get their bearing soon but for now, it wasn't the best. I asked for information on wine club and nobody was able to give me any information regarding it.

We went to restaurant but didn't experience their wine. We started out w calamari as appetizer very good would order again, next up was Caesar salad made at table, excellent would order again though I would ask if price is same fir 4 vs 2. I believe we paid $38 for the 4 of us. The person making salad very engaging, showed us how she was making, ingredients and amounts. You could easily film it and make it at home which was a nice touch. Nice size plates for everyone and it was delish. Yep order again but not at that probe for two. Entree my friend order a tomato blue cheese bisque not good at all. More like a sauce. She couldn't eat much. By this time we were pretty full but wanted to try their steaks which are highlighted. These are all carte and pricey! Any sides ypu pay for. My husband ordered 8 oz filet was $39 w garlic butter no sides, our friend ordered New York steak with 2 butters. No sides. I told our waiter I would have a few bites of my husband. Steaks absolutely delicious. We had to take most of ours home enjoyed the next day so good! We do question their pricing. They added a split charge to our bill though wasn't not understood up front and didn't make sense based upon the good ordered. We also thought the steak was pricey considering nothing came with it but it was excellent abd cooked to perfection. We had cocktails they were also very good. I do recommend you try the restaurant though fir us it would be for special occasions as it is on the pricey side

Riley was amazing!! He was very attentive and knew what to pour us based off of what we liked. We originally wanted to sit outside but opted to stay at the bar so we can converse with him as much as possible. I highly recommend this winery, especially if you like whites/roses... and try to find Riley.

Went for a tasting with my lovely wife at the new Truffle Pig Winery and had lunch at their on-site restaurant, Domenico's. We ate first: Domenico's The inside was decorated very clean and classy. We couldn't help but to take advantage of the beautiful SoCal afternoon and we chose to be seated on their amazing patio. Spacious and a phenomenal space if the weather is good! I ordered the house Domenico Burger which came with fries, and my wife ordered the Bambino wedge salad. What can you say about a salad, other than she said it tasted fresh, crisp and had a lot of flavor. The burger was great, cooked perfectly, and I really like the jalapeños that accompanied that. Nice little heat, but they weren't overly spicy to dominate the whole burger. The fries were really good also which they seem to have quite an original cut almost like a pigtail. Knowing we were tasting wine later, my wife ordered a Rosebery Mule mocktail, which she really enjoyed. Refreshing on a warm day and very fruity. Truffle Pig Winery: This winery is very nice and the members room is very upscale "cigar lounge" atmosphere with a great small patio. Their wines were limited, as this was the first day of their grand opening to the Public. The wines weren't bad, but they weren't good enough to keep me coming back, unfortunately. I like bold reds, I don't really do whites or sweet wines, so if that's your pallet, disregard my "wine" portion of the review, but if you like bold reds, they're not here yet. There are too many great options in Temecula. I'm really hoping that they step up their future wine releases and are able to compete with some of their neighbor wineries, because the property is beautiful and the restaurant was very good. Service was great at the restaurant and the winery. Staff was informative and friendly.

Beautiful place well decorated the thought while designing this place blew my mind... chef's kiss! The weather as perfect we sat at the bar enjoying the sun. The food and drinks were delicious and the bar tender and bar back were really nice and actually engaged in conversation. We had good convo about Temecula's history. Adding this to my fav's list.

Service was amazing. My favorite resturant in wine country. Robin our waitress is a Pro! The Ambiance is romantic and upbeat at the same time. Highly recommend coming here. Cheers!

Amazing. The views and food are the top of Temecula winery. Not much wine options since Truffle Pig is still on the newer side but the quality of the wines offered are still good. The members only lounge, amazing vibe is all I have to say.

Excellent atmosphere great wine and cocktails highly recommend the flatbread steak great customer service

The Renzoni and Galleano families bring their Italian roots to the heart of California's wine country, right here at Truffle Pig's temporary tasting room at The Pig Pen, open daily from 11AM to 5PM. Their grand opening is sometime in July! The winery and grounds are gorgeous, and that's one of the reasons I frequented this location when it was a previous winery. If you enjoy their other wineries, you'll enjoy this new winery. The setting definitely adds to the charm, a relaxed spot where you can enjoy exceptional wine without the formality of a traditional tasting room. And the added views! This winery is a great opportunity to enjoy thoughtfully crafted wines and family-driven hospitality. Truffle Pig is a growing gem, and I can't wait to return after the grand opening! I'm also looking forward to trying Domenico's Italian Chophouse, their restaurant.

We came to the tasting room with a reservation for a large group for the first time since the new ownership came in. They really have revamped the space and the tasting room may be small but the outside patio is nice. I will say the server seemed a little overwhelmed because it started to get very busy and only 1 person working so that was a unfortunate. Thankfully we did not mind going inside to grab a bottle to share to hopefully make his job easier. The wines are a little different than before when this location was Avensole. I do want to check out the restaurant next time I am up here.

Beautiful new winery in Temecula. Lush grounds remodeled buildings. Starting with lunch on the patio at the restaurant. The staff were amazing and the food was excellent! New tasting room a short walk away, with a pond and serene sitting area outside. We spent the whole day there and it was amazing. Great time talking with the bartender and other staff.

We met Chef Taylor at the So Cal Chef Open. Her food was fabulous and her team so upbeat and friendly we just had to try her restaurant. They did not disappoint!! We sat at the bar. The server- Olivia, was fantastic! She knew the menu and the wines very well and gave us great suggestions for pairing. We started withe the 2 different caviar tastings!! DIVINE!!! A crisp chip topped with dill creme fraiche and caviar... OHHHH crisp creamy and a perfect vessel for the delicious caviar!! We followed that with the lobster tails. They were perfectly cooked. The drawn butter seemed to be infused with lobster. So succulent and just pure lobster love on my plate! We stopped by the tasting room and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of wines... so much that we joined the wine club. We will be back to try more yummy items from the menu!!

We came for lunch on a Sunday and found ourselves swiftly taken back to a bustling and lively scene. This was our first time back since the change in ownership. Upon being seated, we were pleasantly surprised to be surrounded by a live musical duo in the outdoor patio while we got our drinks & waited on our food. We generously ordered to get a few bites of "everything" as we were curious to see if the food matched the atmosphere. We started with calamari which was perfectly seasoned and paired nicely with freshly squeezed lemon and their sauce pairings. There was a hiccup in the menus we received, as we were given an outdated copy & the item I wanted just so happened to be removed. Instead, I ordered the Taleggio & Pappardelle with grilled chicken as an add-on, and it did not disappoint. The thin wide noodles were perfectly coated with creamy mushroom sauce and Parmesan flakes. My party also ordered the 16oz Waygu with Truffle Sprouts, Twice Baked Yukon Baked Potato, and the Mac and Cheese. All of which carried immense flavors and left the palette with a savory finish. The only dish that didn't quite meet the mark was the fish tacos. The fish wasn't the traditional "battered" tilapia, which was fine-- but it came rather bland and dry and the grapefruit salsa didn't do much to satisfy. Chips came as a side, and it would have been nice to receive a bigger portion of salsa to go along with this plating or perhaps tempura vegetables instead of chips. All in all, service was great, the ambiance was pleasant and the food was delicious. I can't wait to see what seasonal items they introduce in the near future to stop in again & try something new!

We came here for the first time last night. We did a tasting at the tasting room first and then went to the restaurant for our 6pm reservation to celebrate my birthday. We ordered our drinks and then ordered appetizers shortly after. Our server didn't ask us how we were, what we were in for and barely even looked at us. We got our apps and our server asked if we wanted to order our entrees and we told her we needed a minute. That's when things turned bad and she essentially abandoned us. We ate our apps and after 30 mins of sitting there with finished plates, watching our server only cater to a table of 16 and never look in our direction again. I am very patient and understand servers get overwhelmed and busy but to not even communicate to us that she would be right with us or anything was unacceptable. We had been there for an hour and 5 minutes and had only gotten our one drink and apps. A few more minutes went by and I told my husband I was ready to just get our bill and leave so he went and got a manager who sent Renee to come help us. Renee apologized profusely and absolutely took care of us. She checked on us multiple times, was very attentive, nice and helpful. She ended up comping some of our items and sent us home with a bottle of wine to apologize for our earlier experience. Renee completely turned our experience around. Our food was delicious as well as the drinks and we will be back. Based on the first half of our night, I would have rated 2 stars but Renee deserves 5 stars. I appreciate her turning a bad situation around and we will be back based on her alone.

We have eaten here 3 times and every time the food has been very average. It's the same as Avensole just a new name.

The service was great, however had a tasting and only 1 out of 5 hit the mark. Wine was not great. Ambiance was beautiful.

Service at the tasting was great, wines were gentle and had a great selection. 6-10pm they have a speak easy for spirits, which was great! Had an old fashioned and lemon meringue martini! The latter the bartender tried for the first time and it was so delicious!!

Food was delicious. There is a long wait time. It's cafeteria style seating. I'm guessing it's because they are new. I will return for the food. Wine was good too.

5 stars - New Temecula favorite! We made a reservation and had such a lovely lunch at Domenico's at Truffle Pig. We were seated right away on their beautiful patio near the olive tree and fountain; gorgeous setting, thoughtfully designed. I had the Limoncello Martini (bright and refreshing), and my fiancé had the Spicy Sicilian Sunset, good, but could use more heat. Maybe a tajín rim or some jalapeño? We split the grilled cheese with truffle butter and that gorgonzola tomato sauce... I honestly ate the sauce like soup. Unreal. My Caesar salad with salmon was perfectly portioned and cooked, and his fish tacos hit the spot--especially that chipotle aioli. Megan H. was our server and she was fantastic; friendly, helpful, and perfectly timed. We also met the manager, Jennifer, who was warm and welcoming. Great food, beautiful space, and thoughtful service. Can't wait to come back... hopefully for brunch soon!

Let me start by saying I don't love going to Temecula. However, I liked it here. I'm picky. I'm from LA. And in Temecula there's a Trumpy energy that can be felt overall and everywhere. LOL. That said, I truly enjoyed my Caesar salad with juicy/smoky grilled chicken. The service was quite good and our server was funny, smiley and pleasant. Of all the mediocre Midwest-wants-to-be-Tuscan-core restaurants I've eaten at in Temecula, this is the absolute totally least mediocre.

Our server Elizabeth was really nice and helped us pick out our drinks and food. The flatbread was delicious. The crust was buttery and crispy. Will definitely be back.

My husband and I had been looking forward to the soft opening of Truffle Pig's new venture--Domenico's Italian Chop House--and it absolutely exceeded our expectations! From the moment we walked in, we were welcomed by warm, attentive staff and captivated by the elegant redesign of the space. It felt elevated yet inviting. We joined friends and shared a variety of dishes: Truffle Sprouts, Mac & Cheese, Yukon Gold Whipped Potatoes, Pig Tail Fries, American Wagyu Filet, Veal Shank Ossobuco, Taleggio & Pappardelle, and Mom's Angel Hair Pasta--and wow! The flavors were bold, thoughtful, and perfectly executed. Prices were reasonable and portions were great. Our personal standouts? The American Wagyu Filet, Taleggio & Pappardelle, Mom's Angel Hair Pasta, and the luscious Rum Cake for dessert. Paired with the Market Red and the refreshing Hog Tie cocktail, it was a dining experience we'll be talking about for a long time. Chef Taylor came out to say hello and chat with us about our favorite dishes--such a personal gesture. We can't wait to return and explore more of the menu. If you're looking for a sophisticated and flavor-packed night out, Domenico's is a must. Highly recommend!

Had dinner last night and it was delicious. The restaurant has great music. Pretty outside area and nice dining room inside. The sunset set a perfect setting for a very romantic dinner. The service was also exceptional

There are few restaurants that offer caviar service in Temecula. The Truffle Pig is one of them.

Ambiance is really pleasant and the open air patio is great. Sometimes they have live entertainment, which is very cool. Service was attentive and the server was very nice. Food was NOT good. I have a the Truffle Pig Benedict, the english muffin was too hard to eat, the meat it came with was good so well done that I had a hard time bitting into it. The potatoes were just ok. The prices are high and for the lack of quality of the food, not a worth it. My husband had the breakfast sandwich, poor quality. We had the French Toast for the table, okay flavor but the bread was thin and flimsy. Would not recommend.

Service, quality, atmosphere, 10/10 every single time!!!! We have gone for brunch, tasting, and dinner and every item is top notch!!! Brussels are always a yes!!! Can't wait to try it all!!

We visited Truffle Pig in Temecula during their soft opening, and it's already off to a great start. The space is absolutely beautiful--modern, warm, and thoughtfully designed. It brings a fresh, elevated feel to the area that's really exciting. The menu is creative and full of great options. We loved the beet carpaccio--fresh and flavorful--and the beef tartare was unique and memorable. The truffle Brussels sprouts were also a hit, though we didn't get much truffle flavor coming through. As expected with any soft opening, there were a few small hiccups. The soup came out cold, but the team was quick to replace it without hesitation. The Chicken Parmesan was delicious, but the pasta underneath was cold--something we didn't bring up at the time, so can't fault the team for not catching it. The duck dish was flavorful, but we were hoping for a crispier skin. The wine list was on the simpler side--we were hoping for a few more upscale options to match the overall vibe--but we're sure that's something that will evolve as they settle in. Overall, we had a wonderful experience. The staff was kind, the energy was great, and you can tell this place is run with heart. Looking forward to coming back and watching this spot grow into something really special.

Avensole used to be one of our favorite places to go so after they changed ownership, we were curious and checked Yelp which clearly states that dogs are allowed. Once we got there, without even going to the tasting area or in the dining area, the glares we received made it clear that they are not so we left. It's fine not to allow dogs, however we're disappointed that your Yelp listing gave wrong info.

Awesome food and winery. We had the best meal of chicken Parmesan and risotto with salmon. Wow! Great service, elegant venue. Yummy wines. Oh yes! We will be back!

Newly remodeled from the old Avensole, the winery and restaurant now has an updated and very aesthetically pleasing ambience. There is both indoor and outdoor seating available; we went on a hot day, so the indoor seating was packed. They serve a lot of Robert Renzoni wines on their list. I was bummed to find that they are a strictly 21+ winery, even in the outdoor seating area. Important to note this if you have children in your party.

Had a great time visiting this winery when in Temecula on our visit to San Diego. We had been to Avensole, so when we heard that it changed - we were excited to try it out. We came in on a Sunday around noon. It was extremely warm outside, so we snagged a seat inside. The ambiance was chic and comfortable. The seating arrangements were casual and relaxed. I did a tasting of the wine and the staff was extremely knowledgeable. The wine was drier than I normally go to. Overall, great experience at this new little winery!

We visited for the second time and both times, we had a great experience. First time, we had dinner reservations and the food was delicious! Our server was Kylie, and she was awesome. Super attentive and friendly. She made us instantly feel part of the Truffle Pig family. We went back for our second time tonight and as luck would have it, Kylie was our server again; only this time, at the bar. Once again, she was amazing! Their drinks are great. I definitely recommend Truffle Pig.

This was the first time we ever visited the Truffle Pig. We visited the tasting room and were very impressed with Kobe. His knowledge of their wines was amazing. He truly made a difference in our experience. We will be going back to the Truffle Pig, and Kobe is part of the reason we will be returning.

New winery, their after hours cocktails area is amazing. The bartender lady was great and made a delicious lemon meringue martini I have been craving since trying one in Galveston TX. Thank you!

Omg this is such a turn around from the former place! We stopped going there because the food was meh. Now it's renovated, vibrant, we had great wine, great service at the bar and restaurant. The ronzoni family and gaellano families have outdone themselves. The table side Cesar salad was worth the taste and experience The market red and the Pinot Grigio were perfect compliments. And the mushroom risotto was delicious. We had a great night out with live music but still could have dinner conversation. We will be back!

Truffle Pig Winery & Vineyards is my absolute favorite in Temecula Valley. Not because of the winery itself, but because of the incredible setting and location that Avensole created back in 2016. My husband and I became wine club members from day one when Avensole opened, drawn in by the stunning location and their South Slope. The restaurant was also a solid choice, making it a great local spot to enjoy wine and a meal. I recently went there with my BFF for dinner on November 7th, with a reservation, and we opted to dine inside. What a transformation! The restaurant has received some major upgrades, and it feels very sophisticated, classy, and inviting now. Kudos to the interior designer (and the budget) for this beautiful revamp! The plush green velvet bench seating is a lovely touch, and removing the oversized host station was a smart decision. We were seated inside and were happy with our table. It was nice to see that they had more kitchen staff than I remember from the Avensole days, which seemed like a positive sign. We both started with the lavender martini, which was delicious and beautifully presented! However, our server seemed a bit new to the industry. He was repeatedly asking if we were ready to order before we had enough time to look over the menu, which was a little awkward. We ordered the truffle sprouts, and I was excited to compare them to the amazing version I remembered from Avensole. I was pleasantly surprised--Domenico's nailed it! The sprouts were even better than before! Knowing the same chef is now leading the kitchen was reassuring, as it meant the best of the past was still present with all the new changes. For our mains, we both ordered the filet, and I requested mine to be rare with grill marks. We ended up waiting over 45 minutes for our steaks, which felt like a long time for a relatively simple dish. When they finally arrived, unfortunately, the filets didn't quite hit the mark. It wasn't as flavorful as I had hoped and it wasn't seared. I also ordered the special truffle butter, but I wasn't impressed. The biggest letdown was the twice-baked potato. Instead of being a well-executed dish, it felt like something I could have easily made at home. They just sliced the potato in half, threw on some toppings, and baked it again. They didn't scoop out the potato and mix everything together like you'd expect for a twice-baked potato. Definitely not worth the price. Our server didn't check in with us after the truffle sprouts were brought out by the runner. From that point on, we had to track him down for the check, which felt a bit unprofessional. As a local, I truly hope this place can refine the service and food to match its incredible location. I'm sure I'll give it another shot, but not in the immediate future.

We chose this restaurant to celebrate our 13-year anniversary and, unfortunately, the experience fell short. The restaurant wasn't busy, yet our drink took a long time to arrive, we weren't given sharing plates when the app or side dishes came out, and one of our sides was served cold. To make things worse, our steak was delivered to another table, we decided to cancel it altogether since we already ate the app & side dishes. The staff did apologize and offered us a bottle of wine, which we appreciated, but for a special occasion the service really missed the mark.

A walk around the winery was remarkable and enjoyable. The property is very attractive and stopping into the restaurant was open and airy. I had the opportunity to have a discussion with a few of the restaurant employees and the one most welcoming was Zack. He gave a brief update about the menu and gave me one to review for the next time I arrive. I went into the wine tastings room called the Pig Pen and the lounge and comfort of this space is very inviting. The wine tasting experience was terrific and the wines served were delicious and the tastebuds were pleased. I look forward to many visits as the staff is professional and inviting!