10 reviews for Renault Winery
10 reviews in English
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Review from Dave D.
Bolingbrook, IL
12/26/2011
This place is cute and full of history. I went here on a wine tasting and tour with my family over Christmas week, so obviously the place was dead. The woman who did the tour was really interesting and fun and I could probably listen to her talk for hours about whatever she felt like talking about. For $5 each, we got to tour the place, get a fun run down of some historical stories about the past owners (more interesting than you think), drink way more wine than should be allowed at 11 AM, and take home a wine glass. Overall, I'd say that's way more than my money's worth.
Then when you're good and tipsy, they drop you off into the gift shop where you can buy wine. And we did. Probably a little because we were tipsy and a little because it was good wine.
This place is definitely worth a cute day trip with a small group. The restaurant we ate at (Joseph's) afterward was part of the winery too. It was ok, nothing amazing but nothing bad. -
Review from Michelle L.
Arlington, VA
9/26/2011
Review of the Hotel & Winery Only
This is my 2nd time writing this review as I've had a minute to calm down and decided to write a more relevant review that was less ranting and more, um, relevant.
The WINERY itself is neat with a unique glass collection as well as odd, yet historical, portraits of previous owners and just random people in general. I'm not gonna lie... the photo of the young girl staring blankly into the wall was a little creepy. There are banquet halls (although a bit small... more for intimate parties) along with small private dining areas that boast photos and memorabilia from the times that Renault shine a la prohibition era. The decor is a bit corny and gaudy but it compliments the winery well. Just a note, too, that a lot of the paintings, portraits and wine bottles that were on dispaly were covered in dust so it cheapened the look slightly.
The outside, the "vineyards", are a bit comical. There are no vines of grapes except for a small bunch which I would gather is just for show. Most wineries and vineyards I've been to have had gorgeous views of their grape vines that stretched as far as the eye could see. Here... I just saw about four rows of dying, dried out grapes. This leads me into my semi-rant about the wine and just how truly awful it is.
Because the vineyards are scarce to say the least, I am convinced that there is no way in hell this winery grows their own grapes. The obnoxious tour guide, when asked, did not know where they got their grapes from. All she could say is "somewhere in California" and "some place in New York." This information makes me convinced that Renault puts out a request from all of the grape growers in America and asks them to quote their left over grapes because the quality of the wine here is terrible. The wine tasting ($5 which includes a tour and the glass) showed that there are over 20 wines they manufacture (note, you only taste 5 wines). There is no way in hell that Renault grows enough grape variety to make all of this. The wines ranged from Chardonnay (which I can believe they might grow), Pinot Grigio (now you're pushing it) to Chianti (NOW I KNOW YOU'RE JUST FUCKING LYING). And even if you're like "Who cares where it's grown... good wine is good wine" LOLOLOLOLOLOL. No, the wine is horrible, unpalatable garbage wine that I wouldn't even use for cooking. BUT... Renault is more of a destination with the wine being an afterthought versus say their main goal. If you come here for the wine, then, well, you obviously have unique taste. Just a side note as well: Renault has this "blueberry champagne" which is disgusting but aside from that, it is not champagne. To be classified as champagne, it must be from Champagne, France. Just another reason to show that Renault is all about show and less about substance.
There is also a golf course on site (not PGA approved) as well as banquet halls for weddings. I think it would be neat to have a wedding here so long as I could BYOB. I'd totally Indian Gift my wedding present to you if you made me drink this shit. Seriously.
The hotel was lovely, but for $300 I would expect a better television. I'm not trying to be a brat but my God... it's 2011, the Junk in the Trunk televisions much be thrown out already. Let it go. The staff was friendly and ordered us a cab but there is not bellhops to assist with bags. The trade offs! The room, the King Suite, had a balcony with tables and inside was a sofa and double vanity. While the hotel room was clean, I was saddened by all of the cigarette butts littered throughout the property. It could be a sign of laziness or the patrons being RUDE. Either way, it was an eyesore. There is also no valet.
I've glad I hit up Renault just for the experience of a New Jersey winery. There were definitely some hit and misses along with room for improvement. The establishment is a bit over priced (like their wines) for what they offer but all and all a fun trip. Just BYOB.Listed in: Wineries, South Jersey (Fat & Sassy)
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Review from Robert O.
Updated - 3/20/2011 9 photos
Last evening Gert and I returned for another meal at the restaurant. Unfortunately, a decent meal was marred by lousy service.
We arrived a couple minutes early for our 8:00 reservation. There was discussion between the hosts as to where to sit us. The restaurant was less than half full. I could not believe the restaurant would fill at 8 (it didn't). Nevertheless, we were seated at table 15, with a complete view of the wait staff area of the kitchen. So many other better tables were available. That soured me right off.
Jen, our waitress arrived soon enough. Then she disappeared for a long time. When she returned she took our order including drinks. The Renault now has a full liquor license. I have mixed feelings about that. Anyhow, it was at least 10 minutes before our drinks were delivered.
Our first course was fine. It was a phyllo pouch filled with brie, nuts, and dried fruit (cranberries). It was better than we expected.
The next course was a southwestern black bean chowder. It seemed a touch heavy for a spring soup, but it was tasty. This is my kind of soup. It had good flavor.
Then came the long wait. A really long wait. After sitting for some time, Jen served us our sorbet. We pondered that. We were pretty certain the pasta was to be next, but thought perhaps we had the order mixed up. Then our entrees were served. We mentioned the pasta. Jen threw the kitchen under the table. Yeah, I am not buying it. She pushed through the order and brought it out halfway through our entrees. Sigh . . .
The crab-filled manicotti wasn't worth the effort. It was the definite low point of the meal.
Our entrees, however, were very good. Gert had a filet mignon that was perfectly grilled. There was a butternut squash puree served with it. Despite being in the mood for "meat", I ordered grilled wahoo. It was excellent! It was perfectly seasoned. The accompaniments were a little weak (mushrooms, bok choy, and jasmine rice). It was a very white plate. Jen, when she served us plopped the "fish" in front of me.
We had our salads after dinner. The maple dressing was a touch sweet, but it was a fine plate of mixed greens. Then we sat forever while Jen neglected us. We had decided not to have dessert, but the wait was inexcusable.
The food was fine tonight. It was not our favorite visit, but it was fine. A six-course meal of which the diner only can select the entree will result in some inconsistencies. The service, however, led virtually everything to be desired. In a time with such high unemployment, it would seem like those who are working are the best of the best. That was not the case for this meal.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/13/2010
Gert and I like dining here. We make the haul to enjoy the six-course meal. The chef selects the… Read more »
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Review from Edward V.
9/12/2010
I have been to many events at Renault Winery over the pass 20 years including our wedding in '93. Beside that event, which was fabulous my favorite is the Sunday Brunch!!!
Great Food, Great Company and Great Price. 19.95 includes The Buffet, Fresh Pasta Bar, Cutting Station, Choice of Entree and Blueberry Champagne.
.The gift store is always open with lots of wines to choose from and you can also setup a wine tasting tour.
Check out the website for pricing and special events.
http://www.renaultwine...
Let me know how you liked it.
Eddie
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Review from Steve V.
11/3/2009
Came here for a wedding and had a wonderful time. The cocktail hour food was great, espacially the pasta and passed items, the wine was tasty and hearty, and the atmosphere was very quaint.
My only complaint would be that the facilities were hosting more than one wedding at the same time and there were no signs directing us to the appropriate wedding. -
Review from Wendy P.
Wanaque, NJ
I loved this little place. Beautiful Winery with a nice tour. Very good wine and the restaurant was delicious. We had lunch sandwiches. Yum
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Review from Bizz M.
Philadelphia, PA
5/9/2010
This review is mostly about the golf course at the winery, but I did eat some food so that's an extra little bonus for ya.
I've played this course 3 times in 3 years. Every time the temperature is above normal for the time of year. Either 106 degrees in June or 90 degrees in early May. Its about a 45 minute ride from Philly and about 5 minutes from the AC airport. I find it to be an easy ride but I also have no problem driving two hours to play golf so....
The course is in great shape. Well maintained and a fun, not overly difficult layout. Portions of the course run along side or straight through the vineyards which is a nice change of pace. I have always played well here because even with your typical amateur blunder off the tee box your ball will usually come to rest in a playable spot. If you play smart and don't just pull a driver out every hole you can score well. I thought the greens were somewhat fast and as the day heated up they definitely rolled even faster.
The only drawback would be the marshals. They were a little crazy with keeping us on pace. Letting us know we were 3 minutes at hole 4 and five minutes behind at hole 10. We did stop at the shack to grab some food/drink...maybe that's why we were 5 minutes behind at the turn. A wee bit too strict. I'm glad they really pay attention to pace of play but let people golf and pay attention to the people that really slow up a day. We finished our round on a Saturday at 1pm in 4 1/2 hours and we never changed our pace from the start.
After the round I went across the street to the hotel / restaurant and had a burger at the bar. Nice wood bar with some TV's in the back. Super attentive staff. The burger was cooked perfectly and it actually came with fresh toppings.
Overall this is a great spot in NJ for golf and bite to eat. I will hopefully get there another time this summer to beat the white balls but I know next year is definitely in my sights. -
Review from Kevin W.
Philadelphia, PA
8/6/2007
The Renault Winery is a small empire of class sandwiched between the debaucheries of Atlantic City and the peacefulness of the Pine Barrens. In business since 1864, it serves as an ideal road trip for Philadelphians seeking adventures into the 609 area code.
Here's what you should expect to find:
- A well kept estate with garden walkways, wooden bridges, and all manners of water fowl.
-A golf course that often requires players to hit over grape fields.
-A store filled with excellent South Jersey wine. I'm by no means a wine expert, but I think it's good and that's all that counts right? I was once told that the acidic soil of the Pine Barrens is very similar to that of France, so go figure. I suggest trying the May Wine.
-An excellent restaurant that requires patrons to ascend a ramp through a giant redwood wine barrel to get inside. I've only had the brunch and I can attest that the food is pretty good. However, the $21 that you'll pay for the brunch may not seem worth it, even though it's "all you can eat." I've occasionally had some "misses" there, such as the dry salmon I ate yesterday.
-An apparently nice hotel that I honestly know nothing about.
-An excellent banquet hall for weddings, etc.
So, if you're bored out of your wits and looking to escape the city, this could be a fun destination. As an added bonus, you should drive down Route 30 to get there. You'll notice giant concrete wine bottles along the side of the road (once featured in Weird NJ) will help you find your way. -
Review from Joe M.
Tuckerton, NJ
5/9/2010
Mother's day dinner. I don't want to knock the food cause it was good. The service was inexperienced. I called to get directions and the young lady on the phone assumed I knew where the place was. Never been to Renault winery and I needed directions. Walked in and the hostess was nice. I went to get my wife one of their more famous wines and the bartender assume I knew which was the best wines. Once again our first time to Renault. The waiter are inexperience. Out of our 6 course meal four of the six meals I had to inquire what I was eating. The waiters also had to go back and inquire what was in the salad. The other waiters were experienced and seem to know the menu inside and out. Once again was good, service was aweful.
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Review from Katheryn M.
Staten Island, NY
6/22/2009
I don't play golf. I don't drink. I stayed at the Renault Winery Hotel from June 20th to the 21st for father's day as well as my parent's anniversary which was on the same day. Upon arrival, we were given a coupon for a free wine tour and free breakfast or brunch. Our room on the first floor was nice. We looked right out to the gazebo and pools (that we didn't get to go in due to the massive rain). On Saturday we took the drive to Historic Smitheville to do some shopping and get some dinner. In the morning we went to Joseph's for brunch, which, for 17 dollars, was outstanding. I admit, I drank the free Blueberry Champagne. The brunch was wonderful. We went to the gift shop and did a bit of shopping, took a walk and went to dinner, back at Joseph's. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy the dinner as much as the brunch. A major plus though, was that we recieved free golf vouchers for father's day.
The hotel in general was very nice. The one negative thing about the hotel was that there were very few places where I had good cell phone reception (I have Verizon Wireless, for those interested). If you do not drink or play golf, there is not much in the area to do except for shopping in Smitheville, going to the wine and gift shop, and taking a walk around the grounds. However, this place is still wonderful for a weekend escape, romantic or not.
