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Tastes of the Valleys
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 12 pm - 8 pm
Fri-Sat 12 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Mon, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
31 reviews for Tastes of the Valleys
Review Highlights
"...a DELICIOUS soda they have made from Pinot Noir grapes."
(in 3 reviews)
"They offer a white and red flight."
(in 9 reviews)
"Had a great time here, and we were really happy with the..."
(in 3 reviews)
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31 reviews in English
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Review from Jamie W.
9/8/2011
I've walked by this place a dozen times without giving it a shot so I'm a little torn on how I feel knowing now how awesome it is and that I'd never gone in before. We popped in for a wine flight pre-dinner. Great crowd without being crowded and an amazing blues guitarist was playing.
I liked that their wine flights varied in price but the quality of my cheaper flight was as good as hubby's more expensive one.
The wine bar is set up so that you can either sit at a bar, around the fire or at high tops. This would be a great place to visit on a chilly winter night.
Overall, the wine was great and the warm, friendly and efficient service was fantastic. As for the entertainment, I'd even make a point of seeking out the guitarist from that night... apparently he plays in a group called "Do No Harm" (because there's a couple of doctors in it). Nonetheless, he impressed as a solo artist for the hour or so we hung out listening to him play.
Well, there you have it... and now you know the way to my heart: good wine, amazing blues and great company = a happy and well content girl.Listed in: Santa Ynez Wine Country
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Review from Kate C.
Los Angeles, CA
1/5/2012
Kris was crazy knowledgable. The perfect wine connoisseur to lead me on a tasting. He also gave us amazing recommendations and even provided a hand-drawn map of his favorite wine trail. This should be your first stop on your trip through wine country.
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Review from Frances L.
Los Angeles, CA
1/17/2011
While this isn't necessarily the place to go for a traditional sort of wine tasting experience, I was very pleased with the service, selection, and atmosphere at Tastes of the Valleys. Tastes of the Valleys seems more like a wine bar than a tasting room. For one thing, they not only feature one vineyard, but a selection of various local wineries. You don't get to keep the glass, there are no tasting notes provided, and the atmosphere is laid back. There isn't a bucket to spit or toss wine in, and you are mostly just left alone to savor and enjoy.
I'm a big fan of any wine tasting experience, so I didn't mind this type of business model, but I can see it reflected negatively in some of the other reviews. When it came down to it, the wine flights were decently priced, the selection was fair, and the sommelier who served our table was informative, friendly, and a lot of fun. We opted for the Club flights ($15) which featured 6 different wines. All of the wines we tasted were pretty decent, but none of them really blew me away. They were all from mostly small-scale producers in and around the Santa Ynez Valley, so it was nice to get to know some wineries that I otherwise wouldn't find at shops in Los Angeles.
My tasting included all red wines, and I was surprised that my two favorite varietals (Pinot Noir and Cab Sauv) were actually not my favorite wines of the tasting. My favorite wine of the tasting was a simple Spanish style table wine-- a 2008 William James Grenache from Santa Barbara County. This wine was light-medium bodied and had a very pleasant finish. The others were medium-heavy bodied and were a little too acidic for me. Surprisingly, I also tasted a 2005 Syrah which I deemed undrinkable. I'm typically a fan of most California Syrahs from that region from 2003-2007, but this particular wine was just too heavy and the tannins did not sit well with my palate.
Our sommelier also told us a great little side story about the William James Cellars, which is why I ended up taking a bottle (inexpensive at only $26) home. While most of the selections and the layout would be 2 or 3 stars, I really did enjoy our visit because of the wonderful lady who served us, so I am going to give this place 4 stars for those getting into wine and want a laid back place to give it a shot.Listed in: Be Mine, Wine., Santa Ynez Valley!, Velkommen till Solvang!
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Review from Maximus I.
Eagle Rock, CA
5/14/2011
I've never been wine tasting in the Sonoma vinyards or anything like that but this place gave me a little taste of what it's like.
Fiancee and I had the 6 flight tasting (or whatever you call it) for $25. 3 whites and 3 reds. Our server, Chris, is a rad dude. Very friendly, informative, and just made you feel comfortable the whole time. He helped me discover the buttery, nutty, flavors in a chardonnay that was stored in aged oak barrels! I say that because if he didnt suggest what I was tasting, I wouldn't have gotten it. Talk about the power of suggestion!
Anyway, this place is a green light for any of you who are spending the day in Solvang. Fiancee chose this place out of all the other wine tasting joints because some yelpers said that it felt like you were being rushed at the other places. Twas a great choice m'love. -
Review from Julia W.
9/6/2011
Beautiful decor! They offer a white and red flight. Unlike the other tasting spots we hit, this spot offered different labels. The guide was very informative and gave us ample time to taste and relax.
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Review from Victoria D.
Huntington Beach, CA
7/21/2011
Our favorite tasting room here! Tasted the best Chardonnay I've ever had. Looks like a wine cellar and always have the best service. We made it a point to come back here this trip! And they're open until 8!
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Review from Wayne W.
Solvang is considered by the wife and I as our little "Getaway Spot" when we need to get away from our hectic lives and take in the sites, sounds, smells and tastes of a place we enjoy. A place that is a short enough drive away (approx. 3 hours) that we can easily do it as a day trip if we want, but far enough away to be enjoyed as a getaway. There are many lovely, wonderful places here we enjoy frequenting. After today I can happily say that Tastes of the Valleys will be one place we'll be sure to frequent whenever we're in town - and we recommend that others do the same!
We've been to Solvang probably 6 or 7 times in the past three years - and how we *just now* found this lovely little gem is amazing. I pretty much discovered it by a happy accident. I'd brought my Ipod Touch with me to look around for any open Wifi Hotspots to jump onto so I could do Yelp "Check Ins" - and wasn't having much luck at all. The wife decided to slip into a nearby shop called "The Mole Hole" and I lingered outside, enjoying the fresh breezy air.
My gaze wandered to the left and I saw this little breezeway path that led down... to a curious little place on the basement level that beckoned with its lovely wine-cafe decorations. Slipping down to investigate - I saw a "Our Customers Love Us on YELP!" sticker on the door - and I knew I was in a great place.
The female employee I chatted with was friendly, and we chatted about Yelp a bit and she happily gave me the Password to their wifi so I could jump on and take care of a couple things. The wife found me a few moments later and we all chatted. We really liked the initial vibe of the place and told the nice lady we might be back later in the evening. That was Act 1!
Cut to Act 2! After an EPICALLY wonderful night and experience at The Hitching Post 2 we drove down Hwy 246 and decided to end our Solvang Daytrip here.
Good move!
This little winebar takes full advantage of its limited space. The atmosphere is open, and yet intimate. There's a small bar where you can enjoy their offerings as well as a few high round tables and chairs dotted around along with a cozy fireplace with comfy seating. They specialize in showcasing wines from smaller, local vintners and often have their reps. as guests at "meet n greets" here too.
Our wine pourer was a friendly, enthusiastic guy named Phil that really made the experience fun. He was quite knowledgeable. My wife, who was full from HP2, decided to enjoy a glass of a featured Riesling whilst I went for a mid-priced flight of wine tastes.
The selections were yummy - although the reds were a bit dry for my taste - but the Riesling was enjoyed and we bought a bottle of it on the spot! The evening was capped off with Phil treating my wife to a chocolate truffle on the house - and to us discovering a DELICIOUS soda they have made from Pinot Noir grapes! It was sooo good and refreshing that we bought 3 more bottles and one made from Rose grapes to take home; which Phil discounted for us for purchasing a 4-pack!
They also have an interesting device behind the bar that keeps the wine they use for their tasting fresh with compressed Argon gas. This noble gas doesn't affect the wine in any way and keeps it from oxidizing after the bottle is opened.
You can enjoy a glass of wine.. or share a bottle and drink it there - or purchase for take home. And what's even neater is that if you have a wait at the Cafe Angelica restaurant just down the street - you can come here and enjoy the wine and atmosphere and the place will call here and tell them to let you know your table is ready.
We were only sorry that we had to make the three hour drive back home after spending time here. The next time we're here for an overnight, we plan on spending more time relaxing here and enjoy the yummy selections and pleasant atmosphere. They put no pressure on you here for purchasing - you can drink and nibble at your own pace and just...veg!
We'll certainly be back. Sometimes the best places are those found by accident. This is one such happy accident! -
Review from Larry M.
8/17/2009
Wow! I was really impressed by this great little wine bar. I was referred here by Babcock Winery. I had some time to kill before heading north and this place is one of a few that is open very late. In Solvang, very late is 8pm weekdays and 10pm fri and sat (which is when Tastes of the Valleys closes).
I immediately liked this place, it is very cellaresque, you step down going in and it is set up like a wine cellar. They have a fireplace and everything, very cozy. I was tended to by the lovely Bristol (hope I remembered her name correctly). She claimed she was not a wine expert, yet she had tons of information about the wines they carried and what they were pouring that night.
I did a tasting that was heavy on Au Bon Climat pinot noirs. This is great because you do not often see these in tasting rooms. Bristol had all the info on each pinot and even made me a nice list of what I tasted so I can enter it in my tasting book. My favorite of the bunch was the ABC Isabelle pinot, named for the winemakers daughter.
This place was not in the movie Sideways. They apparently had some sort of licensing arrangement on using the name at one time, but thankfully it appears they have dropped this gimmick for the most part. This place stands on it's own. They also do have some sort of club, but I had no idea until I went to their website (after leaving).
The owner (Ash) was strolling around and socializing with his customers and drinking a glass himself (as any good wine bar owner should be). I really liked this place and I cannot wait to come back. -
Review from Tanya P.
Santa Clarita, CA
7/4/2011
This is a great option if you don't have the time or desire to visit the actual wineries. They had a wonderful selection, and the tasting prices were reasonable. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. We really enjoyed the atmosphere as well. A good find!
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Review from Lauren V.
9/10/2009
I dont like giving places a 5 star review unless the place was damn near flawless, and Taste of the Valley was damn near flawless. Ok, so number one reason we came in: it was open past 7pm. In all my research of the area and what to do at night, this was the number one spot to hit up. Unless you're going to a restaurant, not much else is open in Solvang later than that. Not only is it open later, it also comes pretty highly recommended not only on yelp but by people I know who are familiar with Solvang. Im glad I went.
The clerk helping us was hospitable and welcoming and so were everyone else working there. They had no other customers at around 7 on a Wednesday night which I was told is the norm for a weeknight, except 2 different guys who rushed in before closing to get a bottle of wine. Both werent staying in Solvang so it adds to its character-people are willing to drive out just to be here.
Like others have said, its like this really cool and cozy cellar complete with a bar(duh), a fireplace with cozy chairs to sit in. If Im worth millions someday, Im building a replica of this place in my house.
After pouring some wine and beers she immediately gave us menus for restaurants in the area. She also asked what we were planning on doing like if we wanted to see a movie, go bowling, etc..They're not only concerned with what you do at their place but what you on your stay in Solvang. Its a very comforting feeling if you're not completely familiar with the area.
Ok so the wines...they have a good selection and thoroughly cover their bases in varietals of reds, whites and even beer. We started with some amazing Rieslings that were sweet and light on the palate. Then some chardonnay, pinot nior and there were some small bites to munch on while you eat. I dont completely remember the prices but the lady was so nice and we were last customers so she only charged us for every full glass that was poured and not the several tastes we tried. For our several glasses of wine (like 5) and 2 beers it was about $30. The clerk even came outside with us and pointed us out to the restaurant we decided on.
We recieved extraordinary customer service and tasted some really good wines in an intimate setting devoid of all pretension. I couldnt ask for anything better than that. -
Review from Lauren M.
Pflugerville, TX
8/22/2008
This was our first stop while in Solvang. The place was quaint and inviting, and we were very excited to get our trip started right. We had a flight of reds, which was fine.
This place had so much potential, but our experience was really tarnished by the service. We interacted with the manager and he was a REAL JERK (which really surpised us). Not only was he short with us, but he was also short with another customer who was trying to buy a bottle of wine. It was very obvious that he was all about the sale which made us NOT want to purchase from him. Don't get me wrong, he knew his wine but didn't know squat about customer service. We even asked him for recommendations for vineyards to visit and he rattled them off at warp speed. So we asked him if he could right them down for us or at least repeat them so we could write them down, and he acted like he were a complete inconvenience to him.
Luckily, he went to tend to another group which left us interacting with a newly hired employee (who was sweet, knowlegdable and gracious) and another senior adult staff member (who was also sweet, knowledgable and gracious). From the experience standpoint, they saved me from completely giving this place a bad rating.
If you go here, AVOID of the young, blond manager guy. It won't ruin your experience like it did for us and the other staff members are just as knowledgable and friendly. -
Review from Sal P.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 2/27/2009
It should be noted that after I posted my review for this place I was contacted by a rep for this wine bar informing me that the individual employee I railed against has gone on to other endeavors.
So...I would imagine that without the aforementioned unpleasantly didactic (I believe I referred to him as a) tool, that this would be a more enjoyable spot to get a full glass of wine in a town where so many of the other establishments can only pour you a taste.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/18/2009
Solvang is almost like an amusement park for winos. Every place is within walking distance and has a… Read more »
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Review from Marcia S.
1/5/2010
I definitely suggest Tastes of the Valley to anyone staying in Solvang!
I was eager to taste at one of the wine rooms in town after a long drive from the bay area. So happy Tastes of the Valley was still open! You try wines from different wineries here.
The sommelier and other gentleman in the bar were a pleasure to talk to. Awesome service and a good time were had here!
The location is in the center of Solvang and the decor is very cute. They have a 4 chair bar and a handful of tall tables for sitting with friends. They were pretty flexible about which wines to taste. I brought home a bottle of Core Red GSM. It is a blend of grenache, syrah, and mouvedre! -
Review from Shelly F.
12/16/2010
Located in the heart of the Solvang shopping district, this wine bar/retail store is a quaint and cozy spot to scope out and purchase a large variety of offerings from various wineries (California and beyond). Visitors should note this is NOT a traditional tasting room from a single winery, but rather a small bar that has multiple brands "on tap" (to borrow a beer analogy).
While the location and concept are good, we were somewhat disappointed with the overall presentation. The tastings are dispensed by a machine which produces an exact 1 oz. pouring of your selected wine -- this seemed somewhat robotic and lacked the human touch (and frequently more generous pours!) that is a huge part of the fun of the overall tasting experience. Also, because Taste of the Valley offers so many different brands in their tastings, the server did not appear to be nearly as knowledgeable about the wine and its growing region as other servers we've encountered in single-winery tasting rooms -- visitors seeking greater education about the wine they're drinking may find this to be as disappointing as we did. Then again, if you're just interested in throwing back a few glasses of vino and don't care about the details of the juice, then you won't mind if a machine fills your glass and it is brought to you by someone who doesn't know very much about where your drink comes from.Listed in: California
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Review from Yvonne T.
Temecula, CA
4/11/2007
If you're looking for a relaxed and romantic place to enjoy some wine, you must check this place out. Dimly lit with a roaring fire and comfy seating, this bar has it all going on. The service was impeccable - knowledge without snottiness, friendly, and inviting. Minus one star because I didn't find a wine here that I fell in love with, but four stars easy for the atmosphere and service.
They also offer classes and events which I would so go to if I didn't live four hours away. They have a wine club too, based on the movie's characters Miles, Jack, and Maya. They didn't try to push the club on me though which was nice, and the place wasn't overly Sideways. Very cool. -
Review from Kattie L.
Los Angeles, CA
6/18/2010
Vacationing by yourself as well as hitting wine tasting rooms for the first time is not the most ideal combination. As I made my way around Solvang with hopes of finding a nice, friendly, and non-judgmental wine bar, I decided on Tastes of the Valleys.
I came on a Monday night and they were about to close, but pretty much all of Solvang was dead for the week so service overall was pretty great. I believe I had a flight that included the viognier, chardonnay, riesling, pinot noir, makor, and syrah. Mayapple, the person who helped me, really made the visit so much better. The flight list was okay but nothing to cry home about -- I did get to taste three types of pinot noirs thanks to Mayapple and took home the bottle of Riesling.
Overall, I would give the service a solid 4.5 stars but the wines were alright. The atmosphere was great, the company was fantastic so it's a solid four stars. I'll definitely be coming back, but hopefully the flights will be cheaper. -
Review from George B.
1/26/2010
I agree with all the other reviewers that the atmosphere is great and the wines are excellent.
However, the "glass" of wine I was poured for $13 was imperceptibly larger than a typical tasting.
The pourer kept on asking me if everything was ok. I decided not to say anything because my wife had specifically wanted to come here, but I really wanted to say: "Yes. Pour me my Goddamn 5 ounces so I can enjoy this wine."
Oh yes, and the cheese and crackers plate we ordered was presented to us with three kinds of cheeses still in their plastic wraps. These were not the kind of plastic wraps that you just peal away; the kind that you have to cut open.Comment from Ash M. of Tastes of the Valleys 1/26/2010
We apologize if we were a little overzealous in asking if… More » -
Review from Jim M.
Thousand Oaks, CA
4/6/2010
I can't rate what they had because I didn't get a chance to look around. I was stopping in to buy a bottle or 2 and the woman from behind the bar said I couldn't be in there with my 7 month old who was asleep in her stroller.
You won't see me going back there.Comment from Ash M. of Tastes of the Valleys 4/8/2010
Jim, We have no control over limits to our license. We have… More » -
Review from Crystal S.
La Mesa, CA
5/16/2010
Love this fabulous tasting room!
We escaped the Santa Barbara gloom on a mini vacay and headed up into the hills to Solvang. The bf thought that Solvang was a little tacky, but we ended up having a great time, thanks to Tastes of the Valley.
We wandered into about 4 tasting rooms, but liked this one the best. The bf liked that there was a beer selection, and I enjoyed many local wines.
The flights are very affordable and Elizabeth was knowledgeable and extremely friendly.
I recommend!! Go here and enjoy the delicious wines and ambiance. -
Review from Joe B.
8/3/2008
My buddy suggested we stop in here because "heeeeyyyyyyy, it was in Sideways". I agreed, since we had started late and we had been to a few tasting rooms in Solvang on a previous trip. Inside, we found a cool (as in not hot) dark, pleasant little cave to come in and sample a few of the best local wines. We went for the smaller flight of estate reds, and weren't disappointed. Some of the very good pinots this region produces were in there, and it was a fine place to start. We had just gotten started and were just getting our "wine legs", so not too much stands out, but our server was an excellent host.
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Review from Marcy C.
Oakland, CA
5/25/2008
When we are in the area, we always go here. You can taste wines from some of the smaller wineries that don't have tasting rooms. The staff is friendly and knowledgable. We were able to taste and purchase wines we otherwise would never have gotten to try. The cheese plate makes an excellent snack if you are looking to taste wine but have dinner plans later. It is the best tasting room in Solvang!
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Review from david b.
Solvang, CA
5/28/2008
I am a local and this the only spot where you can get it all in one place. My wife and I frequently stop by for a tasting or just a glass of wine before going to dinner. Great atmosphere and knowledgeable staff. Enjoy.
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Review from Alured P.
San Francisco, CA
6/5/2010
A really nice wine bar with a lot of different wines to try.
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Review from Sean M.
Woodland Hills, CA
Updated - 3/23/2010
This place was fun and I will go back every time I am Solvang. Very nice customer relations by the way!!!!!!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/21/2010
This is a fun little place that is run by a nice South African guy who is very knowledgeable about… Read more »
Comment from Ash M. of Tastes of the Valleys 2/22/2010
Sean - thanks for the review. I would appreciate it if you… More » -
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Review from larry b.
Woodstock, IL
11/1/2009
nice little place that actually stays open after 5 pm in Solvang! LOL. classy little tasting room/wine bar. attentive bartender who gave some great tips on the surrounding arewa Recommended highly.
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Review from Kaaren D.
Newbury Park, CA
1/29/2010
Had a great time here, and we were really happy with the wines we tasted. In addition, the Cheese Plate really hit the spot. Prices were very reasonable: $3.50 for a tasting for the wines we chose.
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Review from Michael R.
El Paso, TX
1/8/2010
We had a wonderful time here. Ash and his wife were terrific, we ran into another group from Texas and had a great time. They have published tasting flights, but seemed very flexible in designing tastings (ie a flight of Arcadian pinot noirs) based on your interests. These are not grocery store wines. Prices on bottles seemed very competitive, and unlike many tasting rooms in town, they do not represent just a single winery.
Unlike most of Solvang, they are open to 7 and later on weekends. Also, if you buy a bottle here, you can take it to a very good restaurant in town (root 246) and they will waive the corkage fee. -
Review from Kitty N.
Benicia, CA
1/28/2010
Truly deserving of a 5 star rating. An awesome place with great product and amazing service.
The wine selection featured many unique, local tastes. We got excellent local hospitality and tons of information about the wines and things to do in the area.
Top class all the way. You must stop by. -
Review from Kerin S.
San Diego, CA
1/12/2010
amazingggggggggggg experience. I went to visit a friend who is living up in solvang temporarily and she and i went for a late night walk (8PM is late for solvang) so she told me that we can go for a walk but she can't promise that anything is open...? Ha. So we begin walking and hear an amazing voice coming from down below..... so we followed it. When we walked in I was shocked, first at home amazing and quaint the place was and shocked because it was EMPTY. WHAT??? Even on the off season it was wild to me for a sat night. Anyways...good for us. The first girl who did our tastings for us was great. I mean she wasn't overly friendly but I think she could tell we were looking to catch up and were super chatty. She told us exactly about the wines, and when we kinda seemed to want to know more she told us more, but was never overbearing. But the staff member that stood out was Andreas (sp?). He cares. HE CARES! I mean seriously I work in the service industry and that is a rare find. I am the server who will run to the store to get you advil if you say you have a headache, so when I see other people who care as much it really is a wonderful thing. We were talking about how we are hungry and brought us over a menu from a restaurant right around the corner, and said we would be more than welcome to bring the food in to listen to the music. THE MUSIC! WHAT is this guy doing here and not on tour yet? His name is Ray, and I am so bad cause I dont' remember his last name or info, but he was incredible. I love folk, acoustic guitarist, (my biggest thing i brag about is knowing jason mraz, john mayer, matt nathanson before they were big) and this guy was right up that alley. He did mostly covers, but he was just trying to appease the crowd (all four of us). Anyways- we went in for a tasting and stayed for at least two more glasses and some food thanks to Andreas and Ray. I wish I lived closer this would be my new favorite spot. :)
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Review from Steve B.
Beverly Hills, CA
5/15/2008
Great ambiance and wine selection. Lots of smaller central coast wineries are represented that can't be found easily elsewhere. Staff is very friendly and prices are reasonable. Sometimes their wine reviews are a bit enthusiastic, but not nearly as fierce as most of their neighbors. Solvang is drenched in wine bars and tasting rooms now and the guys really stand out. They even licensed the "Sideways" brand, which is great. Wish they would open more shops around California
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Review from kit t.
Mar Vista, CA
1/30/2008
they rotate their tastings of local wines, so it's nice to go back every time. we're wine novices and alot of the stuff that comes out of our mouths describing wine may sound like garbage, but the staff didn't make us feel like trash. they were quite nice and accommodating while tayloring a wine flight tasting for us. we did a tasting from all over the valley the first time we went, and this last time we asked for specifically syrahs. you can try eight different vineyards in twenty minutes. comparing them side by side makes it much easier to buy what we like.
