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A Taste of Monterey
Categories: Food Beer, Wine & Spirits Event Planning & Services Venues & Event Spaces Beer, Wine & Spirits, Venues & Event Spaces [Edit]
700 Cannery Row2nd Fl
Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 646-5446
- Hours:
Mon-Wed, Sun 11 am - 6 pm
Thu-Sat 11 am - 7 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
$155 for $200 Deal
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79 reviews for A Taste of Monterey
Review Highlights
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"Monterey has some great wineries too." In 11 reviews -
"...room is large and spacious with a fantastic ocean view." In 5 reviews -
"I really like this little store." In 3 reviews
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79 reviews in English
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Review from Ralph T.
Stateline, NV
4/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
With a view like this anything would taste great.
This is the first time I've come here. What a great view of the ocean. We saw dolphins playing in the water. The Coast Guard using a helicopter for training. The seagulls outside the window. The waves breaking over the rocks. The sea lions playing in the water too.
Oh, by the way. The Monterey County wines are great. They serve about 5 wines for tastings. That change on a weekly basis. This is a great place to try local wines without having to drive all over Monterey County.
They have a wine club which runs 30.00 a month for a two bottle wine club. 1 white and 1 red.
They have other things inside the shop related to wine, storage and partying.
If you are in the Monterey area and don't want to wander around the county this is a great place to go and try different wines in one place.
What a wonderful day, -
Review from Nimai K.
Northridge, CA
5/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Stopped in here on a whim, as we walked around Cannery Row in Monterey. Actually this was recomended by a local in Baywood cellars for the view. On that note, it did not disapoint. Ok spot, some souvenirs & typical wine accessory products, along with a tasting bar. They do full pours as well.
It's over the water, and a great view of the large Monterey bay. We skipped any tasting flights here, and just had a glass of wine each. A bit steep for some of the glasses, $14 for my Cab, & $11 for my wife's Chardonay, both of which were average in our humble opinions, so being in a touristy part of town, and on the water, your paying for the view in the glass prices, imo. Though it is a nice view, and we relaxed here for about an hour. -
Review from Shirley C.
San Jose, CA
4/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
While it's located on Cannery Row the place is hidden upstairs which makes for a picture perfect view of the Monterey Bay.
While the view was great the wine was less impressive. We had a regular tasting and a reserved tasting, surprisingly the regular tasting menu was better than the reserved, so save $5 and get the regular tasting. They have a 2-1 tasting coupon online so if you're going with a big group this might be something worth searching for. They also have wine flights and cheese platters available...we were not impressed with the tasting so decided to save our appetite for dinner.
Overall, a good place to get away from the hustle and bustle of Cannery Row. Great views with so-so wines. Service was mediocre. -
Review from Soo H.
1/25/2012
Lovely little wine shop with a wine tasting area in the back.
They sell a ton of wines and wine accessories in the front of the store. If you go to the back, they have an area where you can taste various wines that are made in central California. The bartender was very knowledgeable and friendly, and the view, as others have mentioned, is killer.
I had a lovely time here and would love to come back. -
Review from Margaret R.
San Francisco, CA
2/17/2012
Meh. I've definitely experienced better.
The wine was good, but I didn't think the experience was great. The staff could have been friendlier and more talkative. I learned nothing about the wines... -
Review from Allison M.
Pacific Grove, CA
4/11/2012
This is exactly the kind of place tourists and locals flock to when they seek a relaxing place to take in the ocean view. Featuring local vineyard, Taste of Monterey does an excellent job representing our area with a wide variety of wines in a comfortable and welcoming environment. I chose this location for my company Holiday party and heard rave reviews afterwards. I just heard that they extended their weekend night hours to take advantage of the sunlight which is wonderful news!
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Review from Richard A.
San Bruno, CA
2/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Good place to hit a flight or two on your stroll around the bay. If you plan it right, you can catch a good reflection of a sunset on a cool winter evening.
There is lot's of seating available and the crew is pretty cool as well. The wine selection was in the range of C to B- You get the tasting fee back if you purchase $30+ or more for a bottle. -
Review from Karen D.
Walnut Creek, CA
4/11/2012
Monterey's best kept secret! Great wine, great staff, great views, and a delightful gift shop! This is a 'must-stop' for all who need a break after visiting the Aquarium and the many gift shops. You will not be disappointed. My husband, 81-year old father and I shared a lovely Zin and a nice cheese plate. Stop by for a break with a view!
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Review from Walt D.
Seaside, CA
Epic is the only word to describe the view from this venue. What better way to spend the afternoon then watching sailboats, sea otters and kayakers out on the water while drinking wine. Throw in a few friends and you have the perfect event.
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Review from Erin M.
Redlands, CA
11/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
As most of the reviews about this place say - the view is to die for. Amazing. The only reason I'm giving this place a 3 instead of a 2 star review is because the view alone makes a visit here semi-worth it.
The wines on the other hand were pretty disappointing. I guess this place hosts a lot of wines from various vineyards. That being said, maybe we came in on a bad batch. All I know is we paid for the reserve tasting and left without even thinking about buying a bottle. For me and my husband that is really rare. The woman who was pouring for us kept asking how we liked each taste and I basically had to answer with "interesting" or "unique" because I didn't want to say that they sucked. My manners sometimes override my honesty in situations like that. I felt myself searching for adjectives that didn't imply good or bad. I realized that day that I simply don't have enough ambiguous words to fall back on.
Personally I enjoyed Bargetto Winery which is downstairs from this place a lot more. Granted the view was nonexistent but the wine was awesome. We left that place with a bottle of Zin and Port.
I wouldn't say not to come in to A Taste of Monterey - I'd just say that you should go for the view and probably not waste your money on a reserve tasting. Just get a glass or the standard tasting. -
Review from LeeLee C.
Milpitas, CA
11/26/2011 6 photos
Loves this place! We found it by accident while wandering inside a building and this large tasting room offers unlimited view of the Pacific ocean. Lots of seats for the ocean view and it even has a small kids corner for parents to hang out.
We tried their red and sweet wine flight. They were on sale, 2 for $10, so a saving of $5. And they give us 2 $5 rebate coupons to use on 2 bottles of wine purchases. We like their grenache and orange muscat.
The staff was attentative and gave us timely service despite a crowd around the bar area. Although I have to say that their wine knowledge was not as in depth, but the overall service was good. Their wine bottle Christmas tree deco in the middle of the tasting room is also a nice spot for photo taking. -
Review from Kara M.
Manhattan, NY
10/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is a MUST every time I come to Monterey. The view is amazing and the wines are tasty and give you a nice overview of the wines in the area.
A basic tasting of 5-6 wines is $10. It comes with two $5 coupons for bottle purchases in the store, so the tasting is actually free.
My only complaint is that their cheese platters are chilled to the point that the soft cheese is hard. They seem to be a bit of an afterthought. however, cold cheese/crackers are made up for by the view of the bay and a nice glass of Cab.
Sublime! -
Review from Nicole H.
San Jose, CA
8/30/2011
We are Taste of Monterey members and love it! We have never joined any other wine clubs because we don't want to be limited to one winery, and enjoy getting wine from a variety of wineries in Monterey County with Taste. As members, we get free tastings for us and guests, and use the pick up as an excuse to head down for a taste every couple of months.
There is no beating the atmosphere and view here! We love it when we really like a wine from the tasting and can get a glass and a table in front of the windows. The pourers are knowledgeable and nice. The biggest draw back is the crowds-sometimes there is no room at the bar or tables and the pourers really don't have time to talk. But even then, we would definitely recommend going if you are in the area! -
Review from Terra R.
Santa Rosa, CA
10/25/2011
This is as good as it gets for the Monterey area. I went to several wineries and tasting rooms during my visit and "A Taste of Monterey" was by far the best experience/best wine.
The staff was friendly and knowledgable and really listened to the style of wine I prefer and poured some great wines for me. They have a great wine club, especially if you live locally as they have some fun events on their calendars.
You can't pick a better location over looking the coastline.
This is the only wine experience I would repeat and recommend it to anyone. -
Review from T A.
Alameda, CA
5/1/2011 3 photos
Ya know when you walk into a place and you know immediately what you want to do there, but ya do something else anyway? That sort of happened here.
This is THE perfect place to grab a glass of wine and sit and look at the ocean at one of the many tables with a fantastic view.
Well, I ended up doing the wine flights and... meh..the wine was OK. my favorite was the final wine, the Riesling. We grabbed a bottle of that and the guy waived both tasting fees.
Our wine tender was nice but, sorry man, I'm not convinced that the smoky cabernet wasn't a result from a fire in some wine cellar. I may not look like I know what's up with wine but, I know when it tastes like smoke, that ain't right.
Great place, I'd definitely go back to enjoy that view the way it should be.Listed in: Wine Tasting w/T.A
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Review from Deanna A.
Torrance, CA
Maybe since we arrived 30mins prior to them closing the service was not that good. However the view is amazing.
Here is why I only gave them 3 stars. I really did want to learn about wine. While we were told a very quick description of the wine, I really could not ask any question because or server was talking to other people laughing and giggling. Not a big deal however she would pour the wine and keep taking. I was just annoyed I went here to learn about the wine instead was drinking.
The plus side if you buy a bottle of wine from them they give you a list of local restaurant that don't charge a corkage fee.. -
Review from Brianna D.
Long Beach, CA
5/25/2011
Fantastic place to just relax and try out the wine and get a glass or so and sit right above the water watching the sea otters and other animals out in the ocean.
The people that work here are very nice too even when they are busy.
I suggest coming here :-) -
Review from Caitlin L.
Kailua, HI
4/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have to minus one star right off the bat because this place definitely caters to the older (read: wealthier looking) crowd. I hate feeling ignored or passed over because we are the youngest couple in a place like this. While we are far from rich, we are DINKS! (Double income, no kids!) And one of our biggest indulgences is food and wine! Entertain me even slightly and I'll be more loyal to your business than that yellow lab you had your entire childhood!
We hit this place up for some evening wine tasting. Mozied up to the bar and were easily the youngest couple in the joint by about 20 years! That being said, I know my stuff! I have even read Wine for Dummies! We decided on going with a tasting menu that was a blend of whites and reds. I am writing this review to late to remember specifics, but that also tells me there was nothing memorable we tried. I couldn't tell you much about the wines anyway because the girl behind the bar completely ignored us aside from filling our glasses.
From what I did hear her telling other patrons, she was very knowledgable and passionate about her job, just towards those she thought would be beneficial to her commission!
The venue is gorgeous!! I would love to come back here with a bottle and sit at one of the tables to watch the sunset. Hubs and I both agreed this would be a great place to host a party or reception of some kind. Just make sure you dress in designer duds and act your age! :) -
Review from Charesse C.
Santa Maria, CA
12/31/2011
classy little wine bar that allows you to taste or buy by the glass. They have window seating or you can stand at bar. Was $10 for 6 tastings. They do not overpour, they use the measured spouts and strictly stick to them. However, you also get a $5 coupon for a bottle of wine with each tasting. We walked out with 2 new bottles that we are excited about.
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Review from Robert K.
Sacramento, CA
12/19/2010
I am not a picky guy, and certainly not a wine aficionado, but this place was terrible!
First, most of the wines we sampled were bland and ordinary. They were cheap wines that can be bought at my local grocery store (I live in Sac, so I am not talking about a local Monterey store).
Second, the couple next to us had three kids. I love kids, until they start tipping glasses over, slobbering on my shoulder, and screaming in my ear. I could understand if we were on their turf at a Yo Yo Gabba show, but wine tasting is my turf. Take your kids to the seating area and away from the bar!
The gorgeous ocean view is the only reason I gave 2 stars instead of 1.
Tip for travelers, go to Schied. It's across the street and a much better experience.Comment from Ken R. of A Taste of Monterey 3/5/2011
The vast majority of the 90+ wineries we stock are not… More » -
Review from JMarieLB C.
Seaside, CA
3/5/2011
If your going for just the tastings, I think you'd be disappointed. The pours are the smallest that I've seen on the Row at the steepest price. The staff seems more engaged in selling their wine club than anything else. 3 stars
come from being able to order wine by the glass and enjoy the stunning views through the picture windows. Definitely a romantic place to be to enjoy a glass of vino..... BTW, I can tell the difference. Between a large glass and a small pour, LOL! That's why I joined Scheid's Wine Club across the street....Comment from Ken R. of A Taste of Monterey 3/5/2011
We have some pretty big glasses, therefore the taste seems… More » -
Review from Ires A.
San Jose, CA
9/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
The bartender was super nice and gave us our space but was quick to show up with some more wine as soon as our glasses were empty. Fun and relaxing experience. Great view of the bay!
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Review from Peggy H.
San Jose, CA
3/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
I did the wine tasting....$5.00 for five tastings.
Enjoyed the white wine tastings; but LOVED the sweet wine tastings!
Went home with a Pomegranate, Olallieberry and Port by Chaucer's.
I wish I had time to bake brownies, chunky peanut butter cookies or a peanut butter sandwich to go with these wines. They are like JELLY!!!
:D -
Review from Jen B.
Sacramento, CA
10/15/2010
What a HORRIBLE experience I had here. Passed by here on our honeymoon in September on an EARLY Friday afternoon. There was one elderly couple being helped and a woman in her mid-30s. My husband and I were the youngest customers (mid-20s). That being said, the YOUNG staff behind the counter came up to us, asked which flight we wanted poured our first glass and went over to chat up (and get a higher tip of course) the older customers. My husband and I waited around between each glass of wine they poured!!!!! And did they even bother to try to start up conversation with us?.....NO! It took us FOREVER to get served.
Well once those people left a new couple came in and they were SERVICED AND GREETED RIGHT AWAY. The guy helping us out chatted them up as well! And NO they weren't SHORT STAFFED. There were initially 3 couples in the beginning, including me, and there were 3 people behind the counter.
Anyway, my husband bought 2 bottles of wine even though I tried to convince him not to since we had horrible service. We decided to sit by the window for awhile, rest our feet and take some pictures of the scenic view. After 5 min, this lady from behind the counter told us to leave since seating is reserved for people who bought a glass of wine. IT WAS FRIDAY! THERE WAS NO ONE THERE!!!!! AND WE JUST BOUGHT 2 BOTTLES OF WINE WHICH WAS MORE THAN 1 FREAKING GLASS!!!!
I'M NEVER COMING BACK TO THIS PLACE. -
Review from Julianna L.
West Sacramento, CA
10/20/2010 1 Check-in Here
A Taste of Monterey earns high marks not for its myriad picks, but for its patronage to the Monterey community by promoting sustainable vintners, artists, and restaurateurs. Also, several local restaurants waive their [sometimes steep!] corkage fee for bottles purchased here. You better believe we seized that opportunity to pick up a bottle of Ventana La Danza Tempranillo for dinner!
My general attention-deficit approach to wine tasting perturbs oft-snooty staff who look down their nose at me as I sip once and nod for the next selection on the tasting list, but the staff here are remarkably different --they are quite accommodating.
My top choice after the tasting: the Faun Port, appellation unknown. Polished, fruity and dreamy. -
Review from Niki P.
Placentia, CA
3/2/2011 1 photo
I came here for two things; a glass of Syrah and an ocean view.
I was not disappointed. I had to wait a little because the tasting room was busy and they don't offer table service. But, for $21, I got two glasses of wine and sat in front of the solid glass windows and enjoyed the panoramic view of the ocean. Doesn't get much better than that for a relaxing Sunday afternoon :) -
Review from Jamie W.
1/13/2011
I wasn't expecting much from A Taste of Monterey, but it's a great place to get a feel for and information about what the region has to offer. We did a mid-priced tasting and whereas there were maybe only a couple of wines that were worth buying, with the coupons they give you, the price is right and the service was great.
The tasting room is large and spacious with a fantastic ocean view. I would definitely recommend this place as a stepping off point for the area's wineries. -
Review from Gary B.
Monterey, CA
8/22/2011
Best place, bar none, to try out Monterey County wines. VERY friendly staff (kudos to Beth and Jeff in particular, but they're all great) with wonderful views of Monterey Bay, otters, kayakers, boats.... Add a dry glass of locally grown Temperanillo to that.... you're golden! (And begining memberships are $29 -- best deal around!)
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Review from David P.
8/3/2008
Fighting the tourist hoards of Cannery Row, I went here looking for an education in local wines and left disappointed.
Which varietals are best around here? How would various wines from a particular varietal, say pinot noir, compare with each other? There were a limited number of tastes and flights to chose from, and there was generally only one of a particular varietal open at any given time.
Its got a great view. If I wanted to relax in the area over a single glass of wine, I would highly recommend it. Its hard to leave the touristiness of the area though. You have to make your way past the Harley Davidson souvenir store and the candle shop in the same complex as well as folks buying wine related souvenirs at the front of the center to get to the tasting area.
My biggest mistake was expecting a place like Taste in San Luis Obispo. Not even close.Listed in: Whining for Good Wine
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Review from Ti B.
2/27/2009
Can we say VIEW! Wow! After doing wine tastings at two other locations, we stumbled upon this place...just upstairs from Barghetto.
It was packed with a happy hour crowd and very busy bartenders. We did two tastings. The normal one and the reserve. We fell in love with Heller Estates Reserve Cab. It was lip smacking good! We stayed here until the sun went down and then ventured downstair for dinner over the water.Listed in: California Central Coast Wine…
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Review from Christine H.
San Jose, CA
7/12/2010
$10 for a tasting of six wines from the Monterey area. I liked the wines that I tasted here. I did the first tasting on the menu, forgot the name, but I really loved the Souzao Port, so much that I purchased it. Mmm mm!
The store has a beautiful display upon entrance of the wines that they have for tasting/purchasing. The room has a beautiful panoramic view of the bay and I especially enjoyed perusing all things related to wine in their store. It was very hard not to buy any of the goodies I saw.
I thought that everyone was very kind and service was good. I came 15 minutes to closing, so my tasting was very quick. -
Review from Kate P.
Marina, CA
6/11/2006
This is such a great place to bring dates, out-of-towners...even family members that you actually like! Especially after you're tired out of walking through the aquarium, or all the boring shops on Cannery Row.
My favorite thing to do is buy a glass of wine (cheese plate too, depending on how hungry), choose a barrel table & stare out the wall window overlooking the beautiful bay. Very relaxing, no one harrasses you to leave...it's such a delight. The nice thing too is that most people (tourists) have no idea it's in the the upstairs of the "mall", so usually it's not too crowded. If you're into the wine tasting thing, it's also a great place to sample local stuff.
Anyways...it's very cool. Plus they sell a very pretty assortment of things wine-related. Well worth visiting. -
Review from Jim U.
1/9/2010 2 photos
On Cannery Row, this location of A Taste of Monterey (they have another one in Salinas) is in the same shopping complex as Bargetto Winery. The quality of the wine is better here, but the cost of a flight of wines is $10 making it the priciest place we stopped at in town. Located on the second level right on the water's edge, this place boasts a gorgeous view of Monterey bay. That's an ambience you can't readily create anyplace else. Our pourer was very knowledgeable and friendly. She happily snapped photos of us too. Strangely I preferred the location in Salinas. The cost of a flight was cheaper there, so I felt like they were just trying to gouge tourists here. Also, being in a smaller place, I felt the Salinas location was much more intimate.
3.75 starsListed in: Wine Tasting in California
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Review from Joey J.
7/6/2009
A good friend of mine moved from Monterey to San Antonio about two years ago. Among the gaggle of things she misses most--a lack of humidity, the ocean, etc.-- is A Taste of Monterey.
The wine tasting component of Taste of Monterey is just like any other wine tasting place. Some are good, some are not so good, some are fairly average. The focus is on local Monterey Bay wineries, which may seem odd given the name. While a flight of tastings is solid, if you're not a club member I suggest just buying a glass of wine for $8 or so and grabbing a table. There's usually a sea otter or some other form of wildlife at play in the bay to entertain you through the window. You've gotta love that kind of a show while drinking. -
Review from Lisa L.
5/11/2008
Not going to lie, I totally felt like second class citizen here.
My roommates from college and I were having a "reunion" in Monterey and thought it would be great to go wine tasting. But after we got there, we just felt out of place, too young and ignored.
I still bought some Riesling for my Corporate Security friend at work -- but I was very turned off by the rude behavior demonstrated by the people behind the bar.
Other than the service, the wine was good -- I feel like I met someone recently that told me they knew the owners... hmmm... maybe if I could remember who it was, I would remind them of the Golden Rule: treat others the way you would like to be treated... -
Review from Jennifer T.
Redwood City, CA
8/14/2007
After a few hours of screaming children, crowds, and just feeling a little ill at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, walking into a wine tasting store was such a nice change of pace.
It was kinda random we had time to kill before our reservation at Fresh Cream, so we went in and tried a bunch of Monterey and Salinas Valley wines. MY GAWWWD they were good! Who knew?
The other thing is you are sitting there drinking great wine and looking out the big windows at the kayakers, scuba divers and otters playing in the sea kelp! Just a great little store, with lots of wine to buy and knick knacks for the wine enthusiasts.
Definately will go back!Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Chris S.
San Jose, CA
5/13/2007
Thee are some great wineries to taste at in Monterey county. However, no place has a view like this. The chance to taste from multiple wineries coupled with one of the most fantastic views around makes this place a five star in my book.
It can get a little busy on Fridays (and I imagine Saturdays) but all you need is a little patience, though, and the very helpful staff will be right with you.
Great place to buy a glass and relax after wandering around Cannery Row or whatever you've been up to.Listed in: My Pubs, Bars and SpeakEasies
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Review from Nhung T.
Oakland, CA
8/17/2009
Very nice view, ended up getting the $10/person tasting menu. The collection is okay, comprise of Pinot, Merlot, etc. Very low end around $20 a bottle. For me I prefer a full body wine. Therefore, it's better to pay a little more, like the $20/person menu.
In the end it was a great experience. The bartender was really nice. We left buying two bottles of wine around $30 - $40 each.
2002 Heller Estate Merlot: Full Body - so good. We bought it without trying it.
Joyce (forgot the correct name, but it's a Merlot) - pretty good -
Review from Marcy M.
Visalia, CA
10/17/2007
The service was really bad. My fianc and I were married locally on Saturday and went in to taste wine with a group of family and friends on Sunday. The guy pouring for us shared no more information about the wines we tasted than what was on the label and wouldn't continue our taste until we had all 7 glasses lined back up in a row on the counter. We were so busy chit chatting that this was easy to ignore.
Then, I decided to buy a round of pinot for us to sip as we enjoyed the gorgeous view. This same pourer took several minutes to break away from casual conversation he was having with another worker. About twenty minutes later, my new husband went up to the counter for the next round. He was standing at the counter for over 5 minutes and no other customers were there. The same pourer looked at him and just continued talking to his coworker. My husband literally raised his hand to get the guys attention.
The quality of service here was not only lacking but was unacceptable. We sat at the window and tried to make the best of it. We bought a couple of bottles. Someone in our group stuck a glass in the paper bag that their bottle was in. She mistakenly thought that the glasses were free. So, as we were on our way out this same server walked up to her and said "guys, ... guys.... you have a glass." She was honest and gave it to him and explained that she didn't realize that she couldn't take it. We were all heading for the door and one of the servers shouts "Six dollars a glass guys!" and then the icing on the cake.... "Don't come back!" Our group just spent around $300 and they literally told us not to come back. I was furious. Thanks for the memories and no problem, I'll never be back. -
Review from David K.
6/13/2011
Super nice workers! The wines were okay. But the view was very nice and it wasnt busy at all when we came to visit. You also get a $5 discount card to use on your wine purchase and you get a list of restaurants in the area that have free corkage fees.
