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37 reviews for Twisted Oak Winery
37 reviews in English
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Review from Jim P.
Turlock, CA
1/13/2012
My favorite winery in the Murphys area. Check out the winery in nearby Valecito. The twisted Oak winery is just off of Highway 4 on your way to Murphys, you can't miss the turn off on Red Hills Rd. Just look for the barn and the rubber chickens.
The staff at the winery is very helpful with the tastings. My favorite Twisted Oak wines are the Tempranillo and The Spaniard. I recommend that you join their wine club if you enjoy the wines. Not only do you get some good prices on some great wines but you also get some other perks as well. -
Review from Richard G.
Provo, UT
12/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
Nice tasting room, great tasting staff, incredibly tired jokes, and mediocre wine. Spend a little less time on the rubber chicken stuff and a lot more time on your winemaking.
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Review from Michael J.
Phoenix, AZ
4/19/2011
I have not been to the tasting room but I have tried most of their wines and I love them. The people on the phone are always very nice and helpful. Try the *%#&@!, the Spaniard, and the Murgatroyd.
I gave several bottles out as gifts and my friends love it also. -
Review from Joe B.
San Mateo, CA
2/28/2011
ehhhhh...
Compared to the other tasting rooms in the area, this one was our least favorite... It wasn't bad, but we probably wouldn't come back.... -
Review from Nathaniel A.
Lodi, CA
11/1/2010
When it comes to wine tasting, their barn in the rubber chicken forest is the best in the west! This is, by far, my favorite place to hide out in Calaveras County. The tasting room on Main Street is nice, but the real experience is the winery tasting room on the hill.
If you are in the area definitely check it out! The people are great, and they encourage you to have fun and enjoy yourself.
Their Tempranillo and Spaniard wines are the best! -
Review from Jeff H.
Whittier, CA
8/11/2011
Great place with an amazing view of the hills. Don't pass up a picture with the Chick/frog and of course enjoy some of the various vino they have available....
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Review from Elizabeth G.
San Jose, CA
9/29/2008
Forgettable wine. Seems like the place to go if you like obnoxious crap all over the walls and to be served by an old hippie who thinks he's funny but you're never quite sure if he knows anything about wine....?
That's what I remember...and it's crowded. So many better tasting rooms in Murphys with much better wine. I hope it remains a crowd favorite so we're able to enjoy the better wineries with less people.
It would be 2 stars from me but come on....they do have wine there. -
Review from Gary J.
3/31/2010
When a guest brings a bottle of wine for dinner it is proper etiquette to open that bottle at some point during the evening. Bob and Merlene recently adorned our table with a bottle from Twisted Oak Winery. The wine went very well with lollipop lamb chops marinated in lots of garlic and EVOO , then BQ'd to perfection by yours truly. The Spaniard is a blend of Tempranillo, Graciano, and Garnacha. My guess is they got it at the winery as this wine is unfamiliar to me and my wine sources.
Sounds like a day trip to the winery is needed to get more. -
Review from Karen G.
7/28/2008
Twisted Oak has by far the most crazy (in a good way) tasting rooms in the area. There is the tasting room in Murphys and also the main winery in Vallecito off of Red Hill Road. They really like their rubber chickens which make up the majority of the decor at both places. Too funny! Outside of the winery in Vallecito there is one of the giant frog statues found throughout the county. This one is called the Frickin. Ha ha!
The wines are really tasty. As I mentioned in a review of another local winery, I'm more of a red wine fan. But, I have to admit that their Viognier is amazing. So good. The names of the wines are really funny too (see previous Yelp reviews). They have some really funny t-shirts too ("Are you twisted?", "Wine rack" and "twisted in twaining"). All in all, if you are looking for a real fun atmosphere while wine tasting then look no further than Twisted Oak.Listed in: Wineries of Murphys
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Review from Ruth A.
Oakland, CA
2/17/2009
Twisted Oak offers some nice wines, and a memorable tasting room. Other reviewers have described it -- I was amused at first, and then it wore a little thin. The wines were OK -- but the real standout was their port, Pig Stai. That is DELICIOUS stuff.
I was there on a big tasting weekend, and the combo of the party atmosphere and the rubber chickens and whatnot got to be a little overwhelming. Still, go taste that port. You'll never look at a Pig Stai the same way again. -
Review from Aaron M.
Twisted Oak is easily the funnest tasting room in Murphys. The folks pouring the wine make me laugh every time we visit. The tasting notes are hilarious, and there's rubber chickens on the walls. They have a wine named Murgatroyd for crying out loud!
And the best part: their wine. It's really good. I mean, like REALLY good. They've got the gold medals to prove it. And it's priced appropriately to boot.
Visiting here reminds me of the tasting room at Bonny Doon, where everybody's just out to have a good time and enjoy some fine wine and good company. -
Review from Carol H.
Walnut Creek, CA
11/7/2007
Downtown Murphys tasting room
Excellent tasting room! (Rubber chickens and all!!)
Yes, I said rubber chickens. You'll have to go and see why.
We tasted at Twisted Oak in April of 2007 and are preparing for a trip back. Due to the fact that my husband and I were bringing our 2 large retrievers with us, I had sent a note to Twisted Oak to find out whether or not the boys would be welcome in the tasting room. If they are not welcome, we are not welcome (unless we can taste outside at picnic tables which is fine.) We will get into that when I review another winery. Short story, our companions were invited to stay as long as they wanted inside the tasting room. They are real chick magnets!
The person pouring was fantastic! She knew her wines, she was friendly and outgoing!
The wine...FANTASTIC!!!
Why the 4 instead of 5 stars?
If they would add a little deli so that you could imbibe on their wine with good cheese, sausage, etc., it would be a 5. I ran across the street, got bowls of chili at Jones Street Cafe (reviewed also) and we ate at a picnic table on the grounds of Twisted Oak.
Wonderful, simply wonderful!
11/24/07
My husband, 2 dogs and myself visited again today. What a great place to taste wine. We walked about 2 blocks from our cottage, then carried the wine back so we didn't have to carry it around. They are very friendly and out-going at the downtown Murphys wine tasting room. We will be back! -
Review from Lea B.
Livermore, CA
11/19/2007
Thanks to both Aaron M.'s and Carol H.'s reviews, I made sure to visit Twisted Oak when we were wine tasting in the little (but busy) town of Murphys. So it was the last winery we went to (and by then I would've had fun no matter where we went ...) and it was my favorite. I love that it's in this little house up a path off Main Street. It's got a super cozy feeling inside and a sense of commraderie with your fellow tasters. And yes, plenty of rubber chickens.
The rubber chickens plus fun employees made this a boisterous stop on our afternoon of tasting. They actually have wine here labeled "%@#$!" Sweet! I bought a bottle of the Silvaspoons Verdelho, which description online actually says, "Don't be a 'ho, drink one!" OK, I will! I also purchased some sangria jelly here, no idea how it tastes though.
If you're hitting Murphys, you totally have to hit this place. %@#$! -
Review from Heather K.
Half Moon Bay, CA
3/27/2011 5 Check-ins Here
This is wine with a personality....maybe a little attitude. Not my favorite winery due to the lack of whites (only two today) but my husband loves their reds. The tasting room is fun and full of neat stuff to browse through. The people working the counter this weekend weren't as fun and silly as last time we were in town, but they still know enough about the wines to be helpful. The wines tend to be a bit on the pricey side, but they make up for it with presentation - be sure to read the bottles! Oh and they have the best crackers in all of Murphys....
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Review from katie k.
Los Angeles, CA
2/27/2009
Twisted Oak you are fucking fun! I love the small stretch of tasting rooms in Murphy's. If you keep up the good work, you are guaranteed to get a good buzz before dinner.
Most of the tasting rooms are pretty relaxed here but Twisted Oak takes the cake. These drunken ladies are a ton of fun and they keep pouring and pouring long after the tasting is over.
I liked the spaniard a lot and I definitely recommend you try the pig stai. For a California Port, it packs a pretty good punch. Gotta love those Touriga Naçional grapes! -
Review from Nanette T.
Murphys, CA
2/25/2011
The winery tasting room is a fantastic place to go - awesome setting, During harvest you can see their growers bring the wine grapes in, sometimes with a tractor! And meet the growers too. Lovely view of Tanner Vineyards, Vallecito, Ca and Gerber Vineyards - both across the highway!
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Review from Sally M.
9/3/2008
I haven't been to the tasting room yet, but I tasted Twisted Oak's wines at the SF Chronicle Wine Competition in the city a few months ago.
FANTASTIC! Not only did the pourers have amazingly hilarious & chill personalities, with a warm & welcoming vibe, but their wines were DELICIOUS! I especially enjoyed the "*%#&@!" wine ;) & "The Spaniard"! -
Review from Rosemary B.
Sonora, CA
9/10/2009
Off the beaten path, deep in the Rubber Chicken National Forest, you find a haven for wine lovers. A winery with a strong sense of humor and a delicious Vigonier.
Watch for potholes on the way in and be sure to take home one of the limited edition highly collectible rubber chickens - only $6.95 plus tax.
I will be back for more wine soon. -
Review from Amber C.
Hayward, CA
7/6/2010
The tasting room in Murphys is nice but you have to experience the winery and the trip to the winery to fully appreciate this twisted place. The rubber chicken forest is a hoot, or would it be a cluck? Anyway, I love the sense of humor that is so prevalent around this winery.
Oh, and the wine is good too! -
Review from Shannon B.
San Carlos, CA
2/1/2009
Great service here, and rubber chickens all around!! I was not a huge fan of the wines here... nothing seemed very memorable.
I usually prefer red wine to white, but here the whites were better. -
Review from Mark H.
Phoenix, AZ
8/29/2010
Twisted makes some really good wines, but their signature wine the Spaniard is a religous experience!
They also have great release parties and they enjoy their guests and their wine. -
Review from Laila P.
8/1/2009
So many things to love about this place it's hard to know where to begin! First of all, I love both Spanish and Rhone varietals and behold... they have both?!?! A strange marriage but who cares. It's fucking awesome! Anyway, very tasty tempranillo, very tasty rhone blend, very tasty verdhelo, just some very tasty wines in general.
Set in a big warehouse, you wouldn't think this place looks like much from the outside, but that's OK because you've already had a very amusing (and long) drive up the driveway. However, when you step inside, you reallly it's just as awesome as the outside and it's pretty much the best tasting room ever. -
Review from Remaining U.
San Jose, CA
3/9/2011
AMAZING wines and hilarious things to purchase! Close family friends have a cabin out that direction and we can never pass by without going into Twisted Oak to have some wine. My whole family has joined the wine club and we all have this thing about their Spaniard Wine (worth the cost).
We even went there for a bachelorette party and they put up with a lot of over-served ladies acting crazy. -
Review from Linda L.
Oakland, CA
3/19/2011
Steph and Serena were great. The wine was tasty, and the sense of humor a plus
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Review from Melissa P.
San Francisco, CA
9/8/2009
Gotta love the quirky chotchkies in this place along with the humor that is delivered with each pour. Some of my favorites are the Torcido, *%#&@! and the Syrah. I give them an A for effort on coming up with such hilarious out of context names for their wine. I am a big fan of the wines they serve. Smooth and rich at a reasonable price with a VERY relaxed tasting room. Anything goes here!
The only thing that is difficult for me is tasting so many wines. They all start to blur after the first 4. Don't get me wrong, the more the merrier but if you are looking to really taste the wine and make a determination on your favorite selections (and not just get bombed) I find it's a little much.
All in all, a great place to visit. I always come away with a few bottles. -
Review from Melissa B.
Carlsbad, CA
1/20/2011
I've only been to the tasting room on Main but after seeing these reviews we'll have to make a trip back to the winery.
My husband, 3 young kids, and I stopped in Murpheys for just a night on a week long California road trip. Being that we were with the kids we were not planning on doing much tasting but we did want to pick up a couple of bottles for friends and family. We asked our waitress at dinner which tasting rooms would be appropriate if we just wanted to pop in quickly. We had never had the kids with us before to a tasting so we were quite embarrased and in a hurry. No need! They had a bucket of toys and a beautiful lawn for the kids to play while we tried some wines. They poured while I stood near the door to keep an eye on the children. They were so accomodating, sweet, and knowledgable.
And the wines!!! Wow! I don't normally get too excited about white wines but these were GOOD! Really, really good! I was even able to pick up a bottle for my wine snob of a dad!
I love this place and can't wait to go back! -
Review from Lori R.
Pleasanton, CA
2/18/2011
The wine is delish, and the winery is so fun! On your way up the "twisted" road there are funny signs and rubber chickens in the trees. The kids love looking for them, and they also have chalk outside for the kids to play with, so it makes for a great experience for us while we taste. The tasting room down in Murphy's is great too! They let you taste for free, and the portions are generous.
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Review from COSSETTE P.
Morgan Hill, CA
7/15/2011
While staying at the Wyndham in Angels Camp we were told to visit Murphys for some wine tasting...so off we went. First stop, Twisted Oak Winery. Took the twisted dirt road, full of pot holes enough to give me a whiplash while my SUV rocked from side to side. As we trekked up the horrendous road we noticed official road signs with a Twisted Oak Winery twist. It made the journey up the crappy hill funny. I told the husband that it better be a nice winery at the top of that hill. Lo and behold the building at the top was beautiful. Inside the winery was more than what I expected. The doorway was full of award winning ribbons...not bad for a winery who's been in business for only 8 years. The names of their wine is also unexpected and funny. The "Potty Mouth (*%#&@!..yes that's the name)" was great. We also picked up a bottle of Tempranillo and Ruben's Blend. Wine tasting is free and the servers were both super nice. Absolutely a must visit when you're wine tasting in Murphys.
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Review from Charlie O.
Modesto, CA
12/9/2008 6 Check-ins Here
This is not my favorite winery to visit. It's ok but I would not belong to their wine club. I find some of their wines to be a little on the bitter side. Wouldn't refuse a bottle of their Cab if someone were to offer it to me. lol
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Review from Linda B.
Sonora, CA
8/31/2010 1 Check-in Here
Great winery. Love their Voitgner(?).
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Review from Mary L.
Los Gatos, CA
8/23/2010
The sense of humor apparent on the drive up the winery road lets you know that this isn't just ANY winery. Twisted Oak has its own special brand of fun that makes going there a real treat. Just check out the website for a preview. If you really want to experience the full Twisted Oak fun and merriment, go to one of their events. We just went to the Cave Loot, which has become a very popular gathering of pirates. But don't worry, if you forget your pirate garb they'll deck you out with some eyepatches and beads. The 'loot' is a trip into the cave for barrel tasting a selection of futures.
Twisted Oak isn't all about fun and merriment, though. It's also about excellent wine. I don't go to wineries for the fun and games - I go for the wine, and if it's not really good it's not worth going, no matter what kind of event they put on. Twisted Oak's wines are so good that it merits a special trip to taste them. Rich rhones and spanish varietals. And if you can't get to the winery, stop at the tasting room in Murphy's to experience them. -
Review from GC D.
Amador City, CA
2/25/2009
I love Twisted Oak! I cannot get enough of their wine. I wish I lived closer. Very appealing.
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Review from Just R.
Arnold, CA
3/9/2010
Cannot get any better
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Review from Victoria P.
Modesto, CA
2/27/2010
Small tasting room not at the actual winery. Some wines overpriced for the area. Very fun atmosphere.
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Review from Chelle S.
Mountain View, CA
12/30/2009
This Winery has the best Marking for Tourists in Murphys. However the wine was Meh. They had great names to their bottles including a skull one. They also had a nice tasting room with lots of rubber chickens which is their thing. There were others who came in and loved it but not us.
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Review from J J.
Stockton, CA
4/22/2009
My stars would have to be for the props---the amusing signs and twisted road that built up the suspense and excitement as you manuever your way to the tasting room. Then the rubber chickens and Calaveras frog greet you at the door. I was pumped and ready to taste some wine! That excitement quickly fizzled as we waited at the tasting counter. The two ladies were really, really occupied even when they weren't really occupied. I was waiting for the punch line...is this a joke, too? None of the wines impressed me. I used the spit bucket often. The name Potty Mouth, which was labeled something like #!?@#! was fitting. It tasted like #!?@#! I wanted to assault the spit bucket. The only tasting that was worthy of purchasing came late on the list and it was $38! I didn't want my palate to trick me into enjoying it since that tasting shortly followed the Potty Mouth wine. If I spend $38 on wine, I have to absolutely love it unconditionally, and I wasn't feeling it.
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Review from Chris W.
Campbell, CA
11/10/2009
One of our many stops when in Murphys...I think there's over 12 tastings...for free! Enjoy the relaxed tasting room, cute chick shirts and ya, the wine! My favs: Torcido, $#($*# and many more.
