Our Vineyard
A family estate on the Santa Rosa Plateau
Our Story
Cresta Bella Vineyards began the way most good things do — with a love for the land and a willingness to get your hands dirty. Don Greiner and his wife Diane saw something special in the rolling hills of La Cresta, and what started as a family dream on the Santa Rosa Plateau has grown into a small but purposeful estate.
The vineyard sits in La Cresta, a quiet stretch of California's Riverside County, roughly 1,000 feet above the Temecula Valley floor. Up here, the air is different. The mornings are cool, the afternoons warm, and by evening, ocean breezes from the coast — just 15 to 20 miles away — sweep across the plateau, slowing the ripening and building complexity into every grape.
This is not a large operation. It is a family making wine because this is the kind of place that deserves it. Every vine is tended by hand. Every decision is made with the next vintage in mind. And every bottle carries the character of this singular piece of land.
Don & Diane Greiner, Proprietors
Three Generations
Cresta Bella Vineyards is more than a winery. It is a family project that has spanned three generations. From planting the first vines to bottling the latest vintage, every member of the Greiner family has played a role in building this place. Grandparents, parents, and grandchildren have all had their hands in the soil, helped during harvest, and shared in the bottles that come from it. This is not a business venture. It is a passion project, built together over time and meant to be enjoyed the same way.
The Land
La Cresta sits on the Santa Rosa Plateau, one of Southern California's most pristine natural landscapes. At elevations ranging from 1,800 to 2,700 feet above sea level, our vineyard enjoys conditions that set it apart from the valley wineries below.
The difference is measurable: temperatures on the plateau run roughly 10 degrees cooler than the Temecula Valley floor. Cool ocean breezes from the Pacific — just a short distance to the west — moderate the afternoons and extend the growing season. The result is grapes with depth, structure, and complexity.
The landscape itself is part of the story. Ancient coast live oaks, rolling grasslands, and long views to the surrounding mountains create an environment that feels more like a national preserve than a suburb. It is one of the last unspoiled plateaus in this part of the state — and our vines grow right in the heart of it.
2,000+
feet
Elevation
~10°
cooler
Than Valley Floor
15-20
miles
From the Coast
Small
batch
Always
Our Winemaking
Tasting from the barrel
Small batch is not a marketing phrase for us — it is how we work. Every step of the process, from pruning to pressing to bottling, is done with intention and by hand. We do not chase volume. We chase flavor, balance, and a sense of place.
Our current releases — a 2023 Cabernet Franc and a 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon — are estate-grown reds that reflect the unique conditions of our plateau. We ferment in small lots, age with patience, and bottle when the wine is ready — not when the calendar says so.
We believe that good winemaking starts in the vineyard. When you know your vines the way you know your family, the wine takes care of itself.
“Good wine takes care of itself when you know your vines the way you know your family.”
Come See for Yourself
We welcome visitors by appointment. Experience the vineyard, taste the wines, and take in views you will not forget.
Schedule a Visit