Pala's Wine Cave features 487 labels and weekend entertainment!

Pala Casino, Spa & Resort’s unique underground 2,400 square-foot Wine Cave, "is the first one in Southern California," said Luciano Cibelli, executive chef for the Cave Restaurant upstairs.

"We took the wine to the next level," he commented, "We have wine from Napa, Sonoma, France, Italy, Spain, South America, New Zealand – 487 labels. We go through so much wine it is impressive – we are getting to be known for wines." (The Cave also offers a number of brands in "large format" bottles.)

The venue is 15 feet underground, and on the hot summer day when I visited I could feel the temperature difference – it was much cooler than upstairs. With soft, cushy chairs it is the perfect place to relax on a hot summer’s day. Jazz and R&B solo artists, duos and trios are featured on weekends.

"It is the only underground entertainment venue of its kind in San Diego County," said Bill Bembenek, CEO of Pala Casino. "We have dovetailed an already popular industry in our region, wine and wine tasting, with the gaming industry, to create a place with a unique ambiance that is not available elsewhere. Cave is a place where wine lovers and good friends can come to enjoy their favorite wine and relax to cool jazz in a comfortable, subterranean environment."

The Cave décor incorporates elements from its natural

surroundings in San Diego County, with granite outcroppings and heavy wood with steel and copper finishes.

Just up the stairs from the Wine Cave is the Starlight Theatre stage where top artists are featured on a regular concert schedule. For a VIP viewing of any concert, guests who pay 100 dollars per person can sit at patio seating to the side of the stage and view the concert while enjoying hors d'oeuvres and a glass of wine.

The Cave Lounge is upstairs, adjacent to the Cave Restaurant, and provides an imaginative menu of craft cocktails as well as the same wine list as in the Wine Cave. It offers a marvelous view of the mountains and the extensive green lawn near the pool area.

With live music every weekend in the Wine Cave and scheduled concerts at the Starlight Theatre, guests will not be wanting for entertainment.

"It’s fantastic," said Chef Luciano Cibelli, "this could be any large city in the world – Rome, Milan, Madrid…"

The Wine Cave and Cave Lounge are located at Pala Casino, Spa & Resort, 11154 State Highway 76 in Pala. The telephone number is: 877-WIN-PALA (877-946-7252). Please call or check online at www.palacasino.com for entertainment schedules.