Winery Gets New Owner, Name

A local winery has a new owner and a new name.

Stuart Cellars, which since its inception was family owned, was bought this month by Mike Janko, an investor from Salt Lake City.

He renamed the winery "Bel Vino," Italian for "fine wine," and is planning numerous improvements, he said in an emailed announcement.

Janko stumbled on the winery during a trip to Temecula two years ago, and it was not on the market when he approached the owners about buying it, according to Audra Merrell, a spokesperson for the winery.

“Because of my interest in the wine industry, Stuart Cellars was a natural fit for the diversification of the investment portfolio," Janko said in the announcement.

During the next 18 months, an exterior makeover for the winery building was planned, along with an interior expansion of the tasting room and the addition of space for a retail gift store.

An outdoor covered patio seating will be added, along with permanent indoor and outdoor areas for weddings and  special events, Merrell said.

The split of Marshall and Susan Stuart, the couple who formerly owned the winery, influenced their decision to sell, Merrell said. "Since their split two years ago, Marshall and Susan Stuart have been amicably and successfully co-managing the operations of the family winery," she said. "However, the opportunity to enter a new era separately appealed to them."

Marshall Stuart will continue in his role as winemaker, and Susan Stewart will act as vice president of sales and marketing. No employees were laid off in the sale, Merrell said.