Akash Winery expansion heads to Riverside County planners

Akash Winery is seeking approval to expand its Calle Contento property in Temecula Wine Country, adding a restaurant, reception hall and event space while dropping a previously approved hotel.

The proposal is listed on the Riverside County Planning Commission agenda for Wednesday, Nov. 18, as a continued item from Nov. 4. Applicant Akash Patel, represented by Axis 3 Architects, is requesting approval of a revised plot plan and a noise exception for the 20-acre site north of Calle Contento and west of Rancho California Road. The hearing begins at 9 a.m.

The project, Plot Plan No. 26225 Revised Permit No. 1, would add a 12,035-square-foot building to the existing Class V winery for a total of 16,886 square feet. The expansion would include wine production and storage areas, a restaurant, wine tasting bars, a reception hall, offices and related facilities, according to the agenda.

The plan also includes outdoor patio areas, 10 freestanding patio covers and indoor and outdoor special events including weddings. A previously approved winery hotel would be removed to provide additional parking.

The noise exception would allow continuous event exceptions for on-site noise under Riverside County Ordinance Nos. 847 and 348. The county is recommending adoption of a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the project's environmental review.

The Patel family purchased the Calle Contento property in 2010, and the winery opened its tasting room in 2018, according to Visit Temecula Valley. Ray Patel bought the land with his wife, Nalini, and their son, Akash. Akash Patel now manages day-to-day operations.

Two other Temecula-area items are on the same agenda. A proposed cannabis cultivation and distribution facility east of East Benton Road in the Rancho California area, filed by applicant Glen Aery, carries a staff recommendation for continuance to Jan. 20, 2027. The project would place a small mixed-light cannabis operation on about five acres of a 10.5-acre site.

A countywide truck routes scoping session for an Environmental Impact Report under AB 98 and SB 415 is also listed. It affects all five supervisorial districts.

Tim Wheeler is the project planner for the winery expansion and can be reached at 951-955-6060 or [email protected]. Residents who want to speak remotely must submit a speaker form at least 24 hours in advance at rivco.gov/constituent-speakingrequest. Written comments can be emailed to [email protected].