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100 reviews for Hop Kiln Winery
100 reviews in English
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Review from Jenn C.
12/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had my second visit to Hop Kiln this week and was extremely disappointed to discover that they have discontinued the practice of allowing customers to taste all the fabulous types of mustard they offer for sale. Apparently it has something to do with the health department, double dipping and "sneeze guard" requirements. Alas, they were also out of the super spice IPA mustard. My mom doesn't drink and she was looking forward to checking out all the different mustards (she's a fan of mustard) but we had to content ourselves with buying an assortment of mustards without tasting them.
I also tasted the wine, of course. And ended up buying some - delicious as always. I highly recommend going on a weekday - we were there on Tuesday and the place was so quiet - we had all handsome young men behind the bar to ourselves! The day was gorgeous and we didn't have to deal with traffic or parking issues. -
Review from Michelle S.
Roseville, CA
12/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Chris and I had an amazing time at Hop Kiln! We were with another couple who had been to the winery before and highly recommended it--we were not disappointed!
We really enjoyed their Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, and Zinfandel, but there wasn't a bad wine on the tasting list! We bought one of each of these, plus an extra Zin for our picnic :) The thousand flowers white blend is very good as well, but since it's winter time, it just isn't the type of wine we want to drink right now.
The guy pouring our tastes gave us a little tour of the kiln, where they used to prepare hops back in the early 1900's...very interesting!
We had a picnic out in their patio area, overlooking a little pond. Such a great afternoon, we ended up staying longer than planned! -
Review from Alita M.
San Francisco, CA
11/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Group of 20 in Russian River on a charter bus can get a bit rowdy for Halloween weekend, but these guys just went with it. We had Ozzy Osborne service us our wine (customer, my friends, costume) out by the pond with picnic tables to hold our large crew. It wasn't the polished, overly architected landscaping with fancy hedgery gardening going on, just simple but pretty.
Overall had the best wines of the entire day wine tasting at other places - plus we had the super cool tour of the underground traditional hop kiln, supposedly the only remaining intact one in all of NA. And getting to taste some hops also was a nice touch, going off their "alma matter" as we'll call it. We also were given some extra tastings - keep in mind, we had about 7 already and got another at the end inside for a Malbec (wasn't a huge fan) and a Zinfandel (quite tasty). At that point it was hard to remember all the wines we had after having done a few tastings all ready. -
Review from Mack S.
San Francisco, CA
2/5/2012
The building seems to be one of the main draws to stopping here. I liked the shop and foods available inside. I also got a kick out of the crazy Centellino thing the server was using to pour some of the reds (looks like a little test tube attached to the wine bottle), so I bought one :-). I thought the wine ranged from just okay to very good. We did buy a few bottles of the ones we liked (Pinot Grigio, Big Red and Zin).
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Review from Rachael W.
Glen Ellen, CA
10/17/2011
Beautiful winery with lots of history. Wine tasting fee refunded with purchase. But had extreme pressure to join the wine club. Maybe it was just the day, so I would still recommend their wines...even though they aren't dog friendly :)
http://www.2travelingd... -
Review from Kristina M.
San Jose, CA
9/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
So I visited Hop Kiln twice this summer, once for a bachelorette party with 13 girls and another time with a group of 10 people. It was the 3rd stop for the bachelorette party, so by the time we got here I was taking a break from tasting (I'm a light weight). We did get a bottle of red and white (I really don't remember what kind) to share while we ate some hot rustic rolls, cheese and meets. Now this is what I remember, the food. They have the cutest little picnic area and we bought a bunch of different cheeses (the goat cheese was my favorite!), which a variety of meats and most importantly their hot, soft and amazingly delicious rustic rolls.
So when a group of my friends were planning a trip to Healdsburg, I suggested we go back to Hop Kiln. I again didn't taste their wines there because this time I was DD, but I heard that they were just okay. Everyone sure loved those rolls though ;) -
Review from Tiffany M.
San Francisco, CA
8/11/2011
Really pretty grounds, solid, tasty wines and great service. I couldn't have asked for more on our last Sonoma wine trip stop!
I'm actually a bit surprised that this place doesn't have at least 4 stars. We rolled in at 4:45 pm, which is a bit of a faux paus on our part, but I was really impressed w/ how friendly the wine pouring staff still managed to be. I didn't detect any annoyance or real rushing on their end, so that was much appreciated! We did however do our best to get in/outta there fairly quickly.
We tasted about 5 wines a piece and settled on a couple bottles of the '09 Big Red Blend. I wouldn't have actually minded purchasing a few bottles of their other wines as well, especially their well-balanced Rose! Plus, an added bonus was that Hop Kiln's prices were the most reasonable I have seen in a very long time. What a great deal!
Hop Kiln's tasting room overlooks a small lake that has a few umbrella-covered picnic tables, which was all very tempting for enjoying a glass of Hop Kiln wine. They also have many picnic tables to feast on towards the entrance of the tasting room, in addition to a couple big grassy areas by the parking lot. And if you don't come prepared- don't fret! They have a great deli case that includes Cowgirl Creamery cheese, meats and an impressive variety of mustards, dips and even chocolate sauce. Their chalkboard also mentioned that they were selling hot, rustic rolls! When I saw that, I felt a tinge of regret for eating so much beforehand, but that'll just be a good reason for me to come back and visit again!
I have a strong feeling that this place can get really packed and overrun w/ visitors, so I feel like we got really lucky and came at the right time. I think if it were crowded and cramped, I might have a slightly different take on this place. We'll see what my next visit is like!
SIDENOTE: Not only is the winemaker a Cal Poly grad, but he started as their winemaker at the early age of 24!! Very cool. -
Review from Nina S.
Bay Area
5/17/2011
3.5* for Ambiance. Pretty grounds, picnic areas, large tasting room, pond. Someone also told me much of Lassie was filmed here, which I thought was interesting.
2* for Wine. I had the wine and cheese pairing. Tried the Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and the Rose. Nothing blew me out of the water by any means but maybe I should have tried the Pinot Grigio for Flowers based on previous reviews.
2* for Service. Granted they were very busy the Sunday we were there but friendly is not how I'd describe the couple people that helped us.
If you love trying mustards and oils I'd say check this place out. They have a few tables of different mustards, oils and even chocolate that you can try with pretzels. Samples like this weird me out a bit because I have a fear of everyone double dipping :P but I couldn't resist trying a feta/peppercorn spread. That was delicious! It was better than the cheese we were served. If you want to save yourself a picnic buck skip buying meats and cheeses there and just fill up on pretzels and dips :) -
Review from William A.
Healdsburg, CA
Updated - 1/9/2011 ROTD 9/5/2011
Went back to Hop Kiln a few months ago; definitely on the upswing; new owners, new staff, new investment, talented young new winemaker; its showing, in their new HK brand; pinot, chard, and if you can get it, Pinot Grigio.
On top of stopping for the wine and the grounds, their tasting room sells an awesome assortment of mustards, oils, vinegars and more. If you are a foodie, you will buy something :)
Also, a new tasting room in Glen Ellen/Kenwood is now open, I need to go check out.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/30/2009
revisited HK for first time in 4 or 5 years just to check it out, and their new Pinot was reviewed… Read more »
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Review from Linda S.
Sonoma, CA
8/20/2011
Pinot Noir is yummy. Attended radio listener party there recently. Enjoyed the facility. Grassy, rustic with great feel.
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Review from Donald P.
Downey, CA
9/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
The wines here were just OK! They had several Pinot Noir options, all of which were average. Don't get me wrong, the staff, people at the wine bar, and the grounds were all very impressive. Maybe it was just my particular taste.
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Review from Sonnia K.
2/12/2011 2 photos
The five stars go totally towards all their multi-flavored bottled mustard dips. I love them all! I wish I could say that I've tasted their wines but I was so busy tasting all their dips that I didn't have time to go wine tasting. Seriously, I love their Tequila Jalapeno Mustard. I want to go back so I can try their wines. But I'm afraid that if I do go back, I might just get stuck at their mustard dip table again.
The winery also has a cute pond at the back with table benches. You just buy your wine, crackers and dips and just stay there. So lovely and peaceful! -
Review from Unicorn g.
San Francisco, CA
11/6/2010 5 photos
With picturesque views of Wine Country,and its rustic building, Hop Kiln provides a great setting for wine tasting. My friend took us here and thought that we would enjoy Hop Kiln's wines.
Once we arrived on the premise, we went straight to the tasting room. Inside, there was an abundance of oils, mustards, and wines that people could sample, it was a "Costco" experience. The wines we sampled were from whites to red to blush, my favorite was Pinot Noir.
I also took advantage of trying the chocolates and pretzels and the mustards, it was delicious and surprisingly made a good combination with the white wine. I ended up purchasing the mango mustard which I put in sandwiches, a tasty treat. Behind the historic building, there is a small lake with a miniature version of the Hop Kiln Winery, a sight worth seeing. I left Hop Kiln having to pay $5 to taste a few small glasses of wine and try some bar food which left me a little tipsy and full, overall a good time! -
Review from Shana F.
Santa Rosa, CA
9/11/2010
The tasting room experience at Hop Kiln was, well, odd to say the least. I had heard great things from a few acquaintances, and the mixed bag on Yelp intrigued me, so I decided it would be worth a try.
We walked in 25 minutes to closing, which I know is bad form on our part. We made it clear right away that we are locals, we understand if it is too late to be served, and we were happy to leave if it was just too late in the day. The tasting room staff was gracious and assured us it would not be a problem. There were still a few other people in the tasting room as well, but they were finalizing their purchases.
About two pours in, the woman stops suddenly and asks if we can pay our tasting fee so she can close the register. She said if we bought a bottle she would happily refund us. I was a bit confused by this sudden request, and also how could we buy a bottle and get our fee refunded if she had already closed the register? Weird.
The wines were just okay. The Thousand Flowers was really the only memorable pour I had. I know the Rosé of Pinot Noir was exceptionally dry and I almost considered it, except that it cost $24! Who pays that much for Rosé?
We didn't buy anything mainly because the quality of wine didn't match up with the price. The grounds are attractive, and the tasting room staff is friendly if not a bit eccentric. Unfortunately, grounds and staff do not make up for lousy wine. -
Review from Kelly S.
San Francisco, CA
4/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Love, love, love the Hop Kiln winery. We did the Groupon Helicopter & Wine Tastings. What a fun experience. The helicopter ride was so pleasant and this time of year the hills are all greeen and beautiful. Then we drove over the the Hop Kiln. What a gem. We really enjoyed the charm of the area. The wine we had was gorgeous! I particularly loved their Bridge Pinot and ther Estate Pinot. The service was wonderful. And all the fun things to taste in the tasting room like the mustards and were so nice. I will definitely be back to the Hop Kiln.
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Review from Ams T.
San Francisco, CA
8/29/2011
I'm shocked Hop Kiln doesn't have better reviews!
We did a group wine tasting and this was recommended by a friend. We got there a little bit early so we could eat a picnic lunch before our tasting. The grounds are spectacular! I was shocked at how pretty the garden was, as well as the architecture of the winery itself (true to the photos). They have a bunch of picnic tables set up around the grounds as well, which makes it easy to waste away the day here :).
One of the Davids served our group (at a private table near the pond) and he was AMAZING. He was clearly so excited about the wine and the winery itself, that it got us just as excited. He was great about answering all of our questions, joking around with us, subbing in wines when we had a few picky drinkers, and he even let us stomp some grapes. One off the bucket list!
If we had more time in the store, I prolly could have done some major damage as there was food/olive oils/geeky wine gadgets galore.
Will definitely go back! -
Review from Jackie m.
San Francisco, CA
4/12/2010
Hop Kiln and Preston are my two favorite wineries in Healdsburg. We headed to Hop Kiln after our shitty and rude experience at Armida. Check my profile for that review.
The staff at Hop Kiln was friendly and able to handle our big group of 12. The prices were reasonable as well. $5 tasting fee. The mustards here are out of this world and I really enjoyed the wine. The grounds are beautiful and there is plenty of space to picnic. Everyone who worked here was friendly and professional. No wonder the impolite staff at Armida feels threatened by them ("hop kiln? why are are you goign to go there?" staff bro at armida).
Everyone in our group agreed that Hop Kiln was the best out of the four spots we went to. Relaxed atmosphere, good wine, tasty snacks, zero ageism, friendly service= A+ for Hop Kiln. -
Review from Jennifer B.
Oakland, CA
12/29/2009
3 reasons to save Hop Kiln until the end of your wine tour:
1. All those pretzels and dips for the munchies.
2. Uncouth crowds easier to deal with.
3. Lack of flavor in wines won't be missed; likewise, a drunken purchase is unlikely.Listed in: Sonoma County, Forget about "dine me"
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Review from Robyn H.
San Jose, CA
8/9/2009
When debating Napa, Sonoma, Healdsburg, etc for a day of wine tasting, there are a few places that go on the "pro" list for each area, every time. For me, Hop Kiln is FOR SURE a reason to go to Healdsburg.
Yes, the grounds are beautiful, the wine is good, the tasting is cheap, but the real reason to check it out... THE SNACKS! I stock up on mustard (the curry mustard is redic) and their famous hot sauce is always a crowd pleaser.
The picnic grounds are great for enjoying your lunch with a newly purchased bottle of wine.
I would say to skip this spot if there's a passport weekend going on. The giant tasting room is less than intimate and gets super loud and crowded. -
Review from Jeff P.
Oakland, CA
3/15/2010
There are two ways to run a tasting room. The right way and the Hop Kiln way. The latter involves under-staffing and ignoring customers who want to pay for things.
Each time our pourer poured a wine for us I asked where it was from. By the third wine she should have caught on but didn't. And that was the last wine she bothered to pour for us although we should have tasted 5-6 wines.
After being ignored for at least 15 minutes my father and I scooped up the mustards we wanted to buy and stood at the register like two losers waiting to be discovered at a prom. We eventually left the $50 worth of products we wanted to buy on the counter and left. We never completed our tasting although we paid $10 each for it. $20 to be ignored? I know some better places for that!!!!!
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Review from Heather M.
Cincinnati, OH
8/29/2006
Hop Kiln embodies everything that Healdsburg has to offer and Napa lacks. No pretension. Beautiful grounds. Picnicking allowed. Affordable wines (for the most part). Their whites are really solid, specifically the Thousand Flowers, at $14 a pop, is great on a hot day or with hot, spicy food. (It's a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Gewurztraminer and Muscat Canelli... but without tasting like sugar water.)
Hop Kiln practically gets 4 stars alone for the beautiful cornucopia of mustards, jams, chocolates sauces and other things that you can dip pretzels into. After a long day of tasting, its hard not to act like a kid in a candy store and gobble everything in site.Listed in: Healdsburg - The Ins, Outs,…
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Review from Suzanne B.
San Francisco, CA
1/8/2010
Somebody called this the V Sattui of the Russian River. I wouldn't necessarily argue (the tasting room is given over to approximately seven million different mustard/vinegar/infused oil options plus all the gourmet accoutrements) but that seems a touch harsh. Let's call it V Sattui Light.
We may have ducked the larger, wine-guzzling crowds by being in Russian River over New Years weekend, but Hop Kiln was a perfectly pleasant stop along the way. One member of the party bought olive oil. None of us bought wine. I think that kind of says it all. -
Review from Tori E.
Napa, CA
Updated - 9/9/2009
Ok so I took a friend wine tasting for the first time last weekend and halfway through our day we decided to swing by here since we were close by and wanted to grab some picnic items. We had planned on heading back up to Healdsburg to grab lunch but once we got really hungry this seemed like a better idea. Right?
WRONG! The place wasn't too packed (ok it was but not as packed as I have seen it before) and there was absolutely no way we were making it up to that tasting bar. We grabbed some snacks and we were out.
Also, they have such awesome spreads, dips, mustards, olive oils, etc that you have to try. I strongly believe its gross because of all the germs and stuff from other people, but seriously who can resist?? I fell totally in love with this Feta and Pink Peppercorn Bread Dip but they only had one jar left and wouldn't sell it to me :(1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/5/2009
I like the wine and the grounds are beautiful to visit, but this place is like the V. Sattui of… Read more »
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Review from James L.
4/21/2011
Awesome winery! I liked how the wine here paired with the food that i had really well. The service was excellent providing nice tips and help on what wine goes with what.
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Review from Ryan G.
San Francisco, CA
6/8/2008
Need a scenic spot to picnic and sober up a bit before you hit your afternoon session of wineries? Go to the Hop Kiln. Look for the distinctive three kilns that did something with hops. Like my logical deduction from the name.
Inside of Hop Kiln is a tasting room and store. Plenty of dipping sauces and salsas to sample. The tasting area was crowded and nothing on the menu looked to interesting. Instead go next door to Rochioli for tastings and stumble back here. If you forgot some food at home, you can stock up on some goodies.
Head outside, grab a picnic table and enjoy the view. Around back there are tables with umbrellas right along the pond. Grab the white bread left out to feed the local residences too. -
Review from Art S.
New Haven, CT
10/29/2007
Beautiful grounds, as many people have stated, and I agree that it is also unpretentious.
It's also unfulfilling if you're touring wineries, because most of the wines here are terrible.
If you are trying to hit every winery, then go here, but if you're from out of town and only have a day or so, you can do much better. -
Review from Michele K.
Oakland, CA
6/9/2009 5 photos
Hop Kiln is sooo cool in a groovy, chic, bohemian kind of way. It is a great place to buy a bottle of wine and picnic at. Their are several picnic tables that overlook a small lake. Hop Kiln has alot of history and is one of the oldest buildings in Sonoma County. The facility was originally designed for hops in the 1800's when hop farming was prevalent in Russian River Valley. Hop Kiln has been producing wine since 1975 and has a lovely Sauvignon Blanc and a knock your socks off pinot! The tasting room is filled with yummy gourmet food items. I fell in love with the Hop Kiln Grape seed oil and Hop Kiln Blood orange Vinegar that together make a blissfully delicious bread dipper or salad dressing. After visiting Hop Kiln I felt refreshed, relaxed and inspired.
Thank you Ellissa for being the most gracious Director of Hospitality ever!!Listed in: Wineries I LoVE
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Review from Summer C.
Long Beach, CA
8/8/2010
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience here. The grounds are beautiful and historic, and the tasting room is big and welcoming. When I visited on a Saturday, it was not busy at all. Both a man and lady behind the counter pretty much focused on my and my boyfriend the entire time. Very informative and educational about the history of the winery, the different styles of wines, etc.
The wine flight was 5 bucks, and we chose the reds. Most were excellent. The Rushn River and Big Red were our favorites. We bought a bottle of each.
The mustards, oils, spreads, and dips were plentiful and perfect for the mid-afternoon hunger I was experiencing. I also bought 4 different spreads/cremes. My favorite so far have been the espresso and spicy carmel cremes. Both are delicious. Also bought the kalamata olive spread and the dark chocolate one.
Seems as though some have had poor experience here because of the customer service, however I thought the staff were excellent (but it was an empty day, given). -
Review from Amanda R.
Eden Prairie, MN
6/25/2011
Cool building. Wine ok. Service/experience not as good as some of the others we've visited. $7 tasting fee waived if you buy an estate wine.
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Review from An u.
San Francisco, CA
12/19/2005 2 photos
So Hop Kiln in a little known winery that makes decent wines. Thats sounds like a million other wineries in Sonoma/Napa AVA. But I like em little more than others for one simple reason, they have this cutesie pond in their back yard, and has rather picturesque surrounding, it completely (the pond and the couple of rustic benches on the edge) reminds me of the my grandparent's countryside home where I used to play in for countless hours.
Anyways the wines are decent, but if you start a wine country tour of the russian river valley AVA, then chances are that you have already stopped by at couple of other wineries and slowly your taste bud can care less. However, their "A thousand flowers" is worth mentioning, it is an un-specified white grape blend. Beside the name and description being awfully suggestive, its a decent sip, and you mind might start picking up some flower in its boquet. I on the other hand was not so lucky, but it could have been the fact that I was left with last couple of ounces in the bottle for tasting so...
They also have a modest selection of nibbly (pretzel sticks, etc) and dipping sauce/chutneys etc. Overall however its an honest place with decent wine and good prices and amazing settings.
And yeah a little tid-bit, the place is a California landmark, the Hop Kiln building was built as the name implies to serve the hop industry in 1905. Winery staff told me that the place was in use as hop kiln from the mid 19th century.
If you get lucky you may be able to try out the last batches of their Pinot Noir from the old Vines that have now completely ripped out for the new plantatations, they were fun to drink, jammy but fun. (I like jammy).
And yeah while you are on your way to hop-kiln, dont forget to stop by the korbel champagne cellars! Yea sure some people consider them low end sparkling from california, but they have stuff that is not available in the grocery stores, and its good, but thats a whole another yelp! -
Review from Cecelia E.
San Francisco, CA
6/24/2008
I debated whether to take guests from out of town to this winery. I almost drove past it, but decided at the last minute to stop, hoping that this visit would be more similar to my first visit.
I honestly would have liked to have given them 4 or 5 stars. The first time that I came here a few years ago, I really liked the visit. It wasn't overcrowded, people took time to talk with you, and the grounds were lovely.
I have been less impressed each time I came back. The second visit was because I enjoyed my visit the first time and I thought it would be a good place to bring friends from the East Coast who don't drink a lot of wine and would probably like their Thousand Flowers. The place had changed: new entrance, new place to park, more crowded, and not that friendly. (Yes, I still liked the picnic tables beside the pond.)
Yesterday, I took more guests from out of town, thinking that Monday would be a good day to go. Yes, they weren't as busy and yes, the grounds were lovely. You would think that the personnel would be friendly and helpful. Instead, I felt rushed. I can't say that the personnel were unfriendly; they just didn't put themselves out to be personable. I left with the distinct feeling of just not being....satisfied. I almost felt as if I had been herded through like cattle, as if I was at a fast food restaurant being served by someone who had no particular desire to make this a memorable experience. -
Review from Emily R.
Walnut Creek, CA
6/13/2011
I know it was Monday, but not even a hello when we walked in? And so we walked out...
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Review from Shanna K.
6/5/2006
I think Hop Kiln is worth visiting once.. it is a landmark after all, and they've been in business a long time, but it was a little too commercialized for me.. what with all the schwag and mustards/sauces/pestos for sale. There are like... a hundred.
That being said, I liked their un-oaked Chard, and I couldn't get outta there without a jar of curry mustard, and a bottle of apricot vinegar. Damn the foodie in me. -
Review from Gabrielle J.
San Francisco, CA
12/8/2009
HOLY PRETZEL DIPS!!
That is all I could see for miles (or feet) looking around this guest shop.
I've by-passed Hop Kiln a few times in the past thinking it was a brewery...yes, stupid me.
Very lively (as in PACKED) tasting room- great stocking stuffers and lots of fun wines to try.
Not blown away by any wines specifcally, but the birthday boy did take home some Rushn River red as some table wine.Listed in: Rush'n River
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Review from Susan W.
San Jose, CA
10/26/2009
We came here because we thought it had a deli, the history sounded interesting, and we were looking for some good bottles of wine.
The term "deli" was a huge stretch of the imagination, it consisted of a small cooler with cheese was all that could be found. There were tons of mustard and sauces, but there wasn't anything like the deli's at Korbel or V. Sattui.
To make matters worse, the people pouring were just plain rude. Paying for a tasting would be ok, if you receive good service. But paying for a tasting, being treated poorly, and watching others not have to pay is just wrong. (they treated the non-payers just as poorly, so at least it was constant)
Unfortunately the tasting cost doesn't go towards anything you purchase. (I've started to notice that the places that charge for a tasting but don't apply it to your purchase usually have crappy wine... perhaps it's the only way they can make money?)
Anyway, the grounds are pretty, and the place has potential. Unfortunately the wines lacked substance, and the staff were far from pleasant..
If you want some yummy mustard and condiments with good wine, skip this place and find Viansa in Sonoma! If you want a good deli at a winery, visit Korbel. -
Review from Dave P.
San Jose, CA
12/21/2009
Wow. Walking up to the building I thought this was going to be great. The building is amazing on the outside. They could really have something special here. But alas, they don't. On this inside it's like some crazy flea market of pretzel dips, lollipops and fruit flavored sodas.
We tasted the 2 "high-end" wines they had and didn't like either of them, but that has very little to do with the 2 stars. Some wine you like some you don't, that's fine. But then we did the $5 tasting and I was surprised to find that at least 2, maybe 3, of the 4 wines were from El Dorado county fruit. There's nothing wrong with wine from El Dorado County, I've had some fine wines from there, but maybe HK should have their tasting room in El Dorado County. -
Review from John G.
9/21/2006
Deserves at least one stop. Grounds are really pretty. Nice big open field with picnic tables. Structure really is an old hops building from early century.
Nice tasting bar. Wines are nice to taste, but not as good as some of their Dry Creek colleagues up the road. Lot's of commercial items such as olive oil, sauces, etc. to purchase.
The white wines are mediocre, while the reds the better. -
Review from Marlene T.
Cotati, CA
6/9/2009
Hop Kiln is one of those places that is surprisingly relaxing but also uplifting and a beautiful place to picnic.
That aside, the last few years the wine hasn't been my cup of tea. I do love the thousand flowers but I can't say anything else held my attention.
I'm a huge fan of the condiments here. I own three of their mustards, but we use them sparingly because they are a little overpowering and not as natural as I'd like. Still interesting flavors like garlic zin, cognac and pepper, and horseradish.
Honestly most of the stuff is overpriced but it's quaint all the same. I just wish the wine stepped up a notch. It's not the greatest, and they just charge too much. -
Review from A K.
Lutz, FL
6/6/2011
We were recommended this by family and the first thing we saw was the amazing building and grounds. The tasting room is quite large and includes a market with mustard tastings and tons of other things to choose from. They were kind of busy with a large group so it took them 10 minutes to get to us but once they did, they were very helpful. We tasted the wines and loved the Pinot Grigio, which we purchased. It was a fun experience and we would definitely come back!
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Review from Beth K.
South San Francisco, CA
We like visiting Hop Kiln and usually bring friends along, but it's definitely not for the wine. The building's design is really cool, the grounds are lovely, and they have an awesome selection of mustards, dips, oils, and vinegars. So that explains my 3 stars.
The wines....eh, skip them all together! It bugs me to no end when a winery charges you for tasting, and the wines are ALL no good. I know that wine preference is a personal and subjective, but I haven't met anyone who likes Hop Kiln wines.
