Carruth moved a couple doors down the street and Yelp started a brand-new review page for them. I'm moving my Summer 2015 review, as the wine is the same and the owner is the same: I, your humble Duke of Carruth Cellars, had refrained from posting a Yelp review for the 5 years I've been drinking Carruth wines. But at this time, a review is due. Your Duke had been a member of Carruth's Wine Club for about 4 of those years. Over those years, I've extended the courtesy to withhold a Yelp review for the simple reason that I didn't know how to word one: the fun social experience of the tastings and Carruth events offset the mediocrity of the wine, and I didn't want the business to suffer based on my honest opinion. Today, that fun environment went away. Owner Adam Carruth berated me on bringing in my 1y4mo Pit/Lab mix, the lovely Wee Baby Ava, saying she growled at someone, insisting it wasn't the first time, reminding me that he's the owner, and stating she's not welcome there. Recognize that everybody loves Ava: she's as friendly as they come. Granted she sometimes does bark and whine at other dogs, but it's a brief behavior I contain without incident. Plus she's never growled at a person or a dog. Ever. It would have been fine for Adam to quietly express his feelings to me politely and on the side, but his dicky attitude, insistence that He Is The Owner! and generally inhospitable arrogance led me to immediately cancel my wine club membership. Welll... in all fairness, I tried to do just that. In fact, I'm still trying*. I would have loved to cancel the recurring credit card charges, then and there, and have Adam process it himself, but that's simply not possible. Instead, unlike the immediate signing up on-site, cancellation has to be done by email, to wineclub@carruthcellars...., an email address that those of you who are in the latest rendition of the wine club, and getting charged for two bottles of wine a month, may want to note. There are some very friendly and top-notch staff working at Carruth -- Andy, Renee, and Josh in particular. However, when the owner behaves douchely, that combination of poor attitude + mediocre biting wines = me no longer financially propping up his enterprise. Speaking of which, there are plenty of other "urban wineries" around here serving middlin' wine. I'm out of reasons to continue to support this one. * UPDATE, 6/15/15: You may also want to note that I sent two emails requesting cancellation with no response. Finally got that cancellation a couple weeks later.. read more

Great place friendly people great concept awesome wine , music was really outstanding the personal has so much knowledge about all different wines We had a blast read more

I stopped in here with a girlfriend after some shopping in the design district, and we were happy to find that we could do a $10 tasting of a handful of wines. There was a wide range to try, but we weren't able to choose which ones we wanted to taste - this was dictated by the winery. I believe we tried 3 whites and 4 reds overall, but it's difficult to say because we were there so long. I would have personally only tried the reds, because I'm not a drinker of whites. It's worth noting that while the staff was helpful, they were overworked and it took a long time between our tastings for someone to come over and pour another one for us. It was fine because we were chatting, but if we had a timeline at all, we would have had to bail on our tasting. The tasters themselves were fairly small as well, which added to the long waits between tastes. All of the wines we tried were good, but none of them were show stoppers for me. The atmosphere was nice, and it seems like if it had not been so busy, I might have enjoyed my visit a bit more. I may have to stop in again another time and hope for more attentive service. read more

Cedros Design District = so cool. A friend brought me here a few years ago and I shared the love with my parents a few months ago while looking to kill a few hours on a Saturday afternoon. The area is great for exploring and a little wine tasting. Stroll up and down the sidewalk, go into the boutiques, enjoy the sunshine and SoCal vibe. Carruth is on the far end of Cedros tucked away behind a long driveway. Follow the art and you're headed in the right spot. You'll be greeted by a friendly face and glass of vino. My folks aren't enophiles like myself. How could they be in central IL? Our guide took it easy and explained the wine in simple terms, skipping a few varietals along the way that she knew wouldn't be too popular. Other guests were on the same level, drinking what they liked and steering clear of flavors outside their comfort zone. No snobbery here, folks. Take advantage of the Yelp check in offer while there for a small discount. And if you purchase a few bottles while there, tastings are complimentary. 5-stars for the smiles and making everyone feel like they belong inside. Will be back. read more

I have to say I was a bit underwhelmed. The wines were just ok and most tasted too young, they needed a little more aging. I purchased a yelp deal I've been meaning to use forever. My friend and I each had a tasting and less than impressed, we skipped ordering the typical glass or two. Also, their wines by the glass were $10-15, way too high! The winery itself is simple and small, with limited seating and standing room. Nice people but I probably won't come back. So we said thanks and mosied on down to Culture which I would highly recommend. Tip: For a better urban winery experience in the area go to Solterra. They have tastier wines, a nicer atmosphere, and more reasonable prices. read more

This place is very small and the wine is "eh". I've been to many wineries and this place is by far have the worse wines I've ever tasted. Maybe mine and my fiancé's taste buds are diff, but this place sucked. I even chatted with other folks that came in for wine tasting and they agreed as well. Luckily we had a Groupon otherwise, so it was cheap, but still not worth it. There was only about one or two wine that I thought was 'ok' but the rest was terrible. I gave it an additional star because the staffs were very friendly and nice. read more

WATCH OUT FOR THE MEMBERSHIP We had a nice wine tasting experience though many we tasted were just not that good. The place has a lot of potential and I decided to become a member because I thought it would be fun to make an occasional 25 minute drive to taste new wines, and we brought a couple of bottles home. I got a call 2 days later asking for my credit card number (they had the number wrong). I told the nice gal on the phone that I had several questions about the membership, which could not answer. So I asked her to cancel it until I could speak with KK, the owner. I was told she would have KK call me. The reason I had decided to cancel because I found out it was mandatory for someone to accept the shipment when it was delivered (due to alcohol contents) and we just can't be here. And, we did not want to pick them up at the winery. After I hung up, I tried sending an email through their web contact page and got an error (twice) so I waited a few days and tried again but still got an error. THEN I GOT THE CHARGE ON MY ACCOUNT. I wasn't too happy but called the winery again and was told they would pass on the message to KK and I was given her direct email address. I sent her an email immediately. Now 3 weeks later with two calls and two direct emails to KK, I get an email from her telling me my membership cannot be canceled and I must accept at least 4 shipments of 3 bottles of wine before I am eligible to cancel --- REALLY?? I responded to her email with all the above explanation and asked again that she credit my account; citing that I was confident I was legally entitled to cancel any contract within 3 days, which I did over the phone. We're talking about a wine membership for goodness sake! Too complicated and I really need some wine now! GOOD GRIEF! read more

We had the displeasure of meeting Adam Carruth the owner recently. Tiffany was a real pleasure and fun, but Adam turned what was going to be a day of fun into a miserable experience. Their wine is ok, not the greatest we've had but average, definitely doesn't justify the pricing, but we're ok with spending a bit more. There are several other wineries in town, I suggest visiting those as our experience with this winery has not once but twice left a bad taste in our mouth. Adam barked at a customer in front of everyone because he didn't leave a nice enough tip and then continued to tell the customer they should probably buy their wine at BevMo. When we suggested that maybe they discuss their issue outside, Adam launched into my husband and told him that we should all take our business else where. Really rude and inappropriate. No wonder this Winery has its share of community complaints. Just a forewarning, don't risk spending a nice day at this place as the atmosphere can be really edgy. read more

Wow ! I'm a multi prior time customer and a dog owner . I have visited this winery with both of my dogs and never encountered the owner until today. A non- dog friendly establishment in dog friendly Del Mar/ Solana beach. I guess he would rather have tourist pay big bucks and never return. I am a customer well connected and unfortunately will never recommend going there . The wine is good . The owner killed the experience. Customers service always comes first .! This place isn't a Napa exclusive winery or even close. It's a back alley experience that was great until today. Too much competition out there sir. I will never return. Will never recommend to my northern cal friends. read more

I did not meet or deal with the owner but a fabulous woman that made my very first winery experience fabulous! Went in here on a late sunday afternoon after a wonderful day at the beach. Friends told us of this place and we showed up to meet them there. Upon arrival the woman instantly took me on a wine adventure. She didn't care it wasn't "wine tasting" hours she just wanted to make sure this experience was the best one I have had. She engaged me, told me the proper way to taste and really watched my facial reactions and told me whether I liked it or not without even speaking. VERY GOOD EXPERIENCE!! Will meet up with friends again. Thank you for a good sunday evening. read more

FIRST IMPRESSIONS Nestled back off Cedros Ave behind Coles Carpets, this venue is cozy. Staff is super friendly + excited about their products. From the moment you walk into Carruth, there are smiles on everyone's faces and you feel like long lost family returned home for celebration. THE CORKS While our friend behind the bar, Renee, poured a broad selection of wines for us to try. However, the selections below were not our own. 2013 Sauvignon Blanc -- Fantastically fragrant, this wine's nickname is "Pool Boy." Clean, bright, + citrusy. 2012 Chardonnay -- Delicious and creamy with hints of vanilla, the grapes were sourced from the Bacigalupi Vinyard in the Russian River valley. I am not a Chardonnay person, but this is very tasty. Zin Rosé -- Family used to drink white zin all the time, so my palette really doesn't favor this kind of wine. That said, their description of melon + candy apple is appropriate. It's a sweet wine. 2012 Mendocino Pinot Noir -- A pleasantly tannin(y?) red. This Pinot is light + tart in very nice ways. 2012 North Coast Barbera -- Such a smooth drinking wine. Barberas are among my favorite reds. Carruth's offering has gently present tannins + a beautiful nose. I could drink this all day long. (fave) 2012 Lake County Merlot -- Tastes like fresh red berries + a pleasant dry finish. Easily a Merlot you could spend an evening drinking without a second thought. 2010 Dry Creek Zin Port -- Among ports I've had, this is a very sweet wine. Flavor profile is raisin + sweet cherry. Carruth claims a bittersweet chocolate flavor in there, but I couldn't pick it up. THE VERDICT If you like delicious wine + hidden little gems, then this place is for you! GO check them out! read more

Excellent wines, great atmosphere, friendly staff (and crowd for that matter) and dog friendly plus a killer wine club and events...does it get any better?! Oh wait...it does, because they are also located in the adorable town of Solana Beach blocks from the ocean. Bam. Go here. read more

You should definitely check this place out. Cute and comfortable tasting room. Good selection offered with the tasting. I enjoy the whites but the reds are good too! Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Always relaxed atmosphere and nice vibe. If you enjoy wine and live in the San Diego area stop in to this place and give it a try. It will be worth it! read more

Barrel tasting party was so fun. Staff is fun, knowledgable and engaging. Cute tasting room. Casual vibe. Delicious wine.

My fiancee and I have been here twice now and love this place. The staff is incredibly nice, knowledgeable, and helpful. As in hugely above and beyond nice, knowledgeable, and helpful. We most recently stopped in on a Saturday and were helped by Renee. She was attentive, friendly, and just overall great. While we're frequent wine drinkers, we don't really know anything about wine. You could put a glass of wine in front of me and I'd be able to tell you if it was red or white, not really much else. Renee suggested that we could just do impromptu wine classes if we stopped in while she was working. To offer that up was awesome. Aside from that we were also treated to a rare barrel tasting. Adam the winemaker was in giving a winemaker tour and invited us to join in with that portion of it. Including everybody in that was awesome and shows that Carruth is really in it for the love of wine and fun. If you're not, I don't know why else you'd become a vintner. We ended up joining their wine club which is a little bit different than everywhere else in that it's a monthly fee and you can just pick up a bottle a month. The price ($35/month) was in line with other wineries, plus there's the added bonus that you can stop by on any random weekday since you don't have to go all the way to Temecula. Plus they have pretty expansive tasting room hours. In terms of experience, this was a fantastic one. Big high fives to Renee, Adam, and the rest of the crew at Carruth. read more

Shopping in the Cedros Design District....and WHOHOO a winery!! I felt like I hit the lottery. I love nothing better than shopping and drinking wine. Carruth Cellars was charming. Plus, if you are a Yelper -CHECK IN! You received 50% off the tasting. The wine host was absolutely fabulous. Their pours were generous if you wanted another taste, no problem. The wines were great too, so unexpected. Our party of 7 were all very impress with Carruth's. I did purchase the Barbera which was my favorite...their reds were great! Dog friendly tasting room, just a great vibe and great wine host. I will make this a must stop in the future when shopping with friends in the CDD. read more

Favorite urban winery in San Diego! The staff is super friendly and cool and the wine is so good! Tastings are only $10 and every time I come in for a wine tasting, they always let me taste more than I'm supposed to. My favorite is their red blend! But you can't go wrong with any of them! It's located just a few blocks from the beach so I love coming here on hot days. It's a little hard to find since its tucked behind a building. I purchased my urban winery passport from here. You pay a flat fee and it's good for wine tastings to 11 urban wineries throughout San Diego. Carruth also has fun events like movie nights so check out their calendar! read more

Fun little urban winery. I often meet my fiance here on the way home from the train station. Cute rustic decor. It's very dog-friendly and you can get snacks to accompany the wine, although none are vegan. There is a wine club, but I just don't think their wine justifies $30+ prices. You can pick up a real nice Tobin James at Vons for example, less than $20 that has real character. Carruth wines (to me) just don't justify their bottle price. For now, it's just a neat little place to meet for a so-so glass of wine and can bring the dog. Carruth Cellars has a restroom and has a few handicapped spots up top. read more

I came here on an exciting adventure with Cooking with Jason yelp event. We stopped here to experience a tasting hosted by Carruth. Unfortunately my experience was not so special. I have been too a lot of wineries and every place has very passionate people who tell groups about their wines. I didn't feel much excitement nor overwhelming welcome from our host I felt it was a routine speech and we were a nuisance. I hate to say that, because they were nice enough to host us, but I feel saying this lets the owners be aware. The wine was decent, but it seemed very expensive. It cost 40 for a bottle of red wine. I did like the atmosphere in there and will return one day to check out their new location. I have been to this place before and had a blast, just didn't have the same experience. read more

This place is awesome (when there isn't a special event and you can't come in and have a glass). The folks who pour are great. Let them explain or tell you about the wine, the grapes, and anything else they talk about pertaining to the glass or taste you just got. Great place! Oh and get a membership, it's pretty sweet. ps - Leave your kids at home and they are dog friendly if yours doesn't attack everything that walks. read more

Seriously....I LOVE CARRUTH CELLARS!!! Totally awesome wine staff - super friendly and the VINO is off the charts yummy!!! I joined the wine club (which is awesome) just moved to Solana Beach from the Bay Area and love that they have wine tasting hours open until 9pm weekdays (+ you can cruz to the Belly Up right after) Check it out...it is a awesome find ~ you won't be disappointed! read more

I was excited to try this winery that my friend recommended. I love how it's tucked off the main street, a little hidden. It has an open air feeling and there are barrels throughout the tasting room. It was pretty crowded in there, but we found a spot on the end of the bar. The tasting is $10 each. He poured us a couple of whites first and then went on to the reds. It didn't seem like he was pouring in any particular order and I wasn't sure how many wines we got for the tasting. After a couple more reds, I asked the woman who wasn't initially pouring for us if I could try the Syrah, which was one I was really looking forward to trying. She said she didn't have it opened and then offered to our me a port. Oh I thought, not a big deal if she didn't want to open it or if it was one that wasn't being poured that day. But then, I heard someone else ask the guy to try it and he pulled out an already opened bottle of it and poured out for them! I was a little shocked. I told her I noticed that there was one opened and she said to me that I reached the number of pours they do per tasting. Well, I wish they would have made it clear how many we got, but mostly I wish she hadn't lied to me and if I had reached the amount of tastes, why did she pour me another one? The wines were decent, I loved the Cabernet, but the lack of communication and customer service is what knocked two stars off. I would go back when I'm visiting again because I liked the atmosphere and most of the wines, but I hope they step up their customer service. read more

Carruth Cellars - Loving this place! - Wineries Near Me - Solana Beach, California

Tried both of the flights and really enjoyed all of them! Ended up getting a bottle of the Malbec and had a great time. It's a very fun, casual place and the staff are all very pleasant. read more

Carruth's wines are fantastic! I work just down the street and we happened into the tasting room on the first day that it opened and MAN. You really can't go wrong. Everyone's fantastic and very willing to educate others about wine - even total wine newbies can enjoy the experience. Bonus? If you join the wine club, free tastings. Just saying. read more

The Carruth Cellars truck drivers need to stop at a red light like everyone else. A driver in Solana Beach hit the gas when the light turned red and made a left turn right through the light. When I called, an employee on the phone said, "I'm sure he looked. Don't you ever do that?" My husband and I have almost been hit at that intersection of Las Banderas and Lomas Santa Fe too many times for me to count. If they don't care about the community they are working in, I don't care about their business and won't go back. read more

Great little place in Encinitas! We joined the club and will definitely go back. Damian was a lot of fun behind the tasting counter and gave us good info on the wines. We had a really great tasting with a good variety to choose from read more

Darren was so awesome. The wine was top notch and he was super knowledgable. We had a great experience. I brought my friend from NYC here and she was blown away. The ambiance was so inviting and the service was attentive. I have been here multiple times and I will definitely be back! Thank you Darren!! They also have an awesome baguette and cheese plate. Random but last time I was here I bought 3 of their baguettes because I love them so much! The Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah are my favorites! Also worthy is their Petite Syrah Port! If I lived closer I would join their wine club asap but it's not worth it for me since I only come down here every 4 months or so. Thank you Carruth Cellars! read more

What I love most about Carruth is the community feel. Adam, the owner, is pretty much always there, as well as the same employees. My friend is a part of the wine club, which means she gets free tastings for her and a companion - and we pop in there every once in a while to use this perk! The wine is fantastic, and sometimes we stay and buy a glass so we can stay and hang out. I wish the tasting area was a bit bigger and had some seating, because it can get crowded sometimes. Carruth also has movie nights and other events for members. The pricing on memberships is great, and you get wine each month plus those free tastings. I highly recommend!! read more

We recently had our wedding reception at Carruth on 03/14/15, we rented out the entire venue, tasting room AND barrel room. Tiffany and all of the staff at Carruth made the event simply magical and PERFECT. Completely exceeded all of my expectations. Tiffany coordinated with the music, food catering, flowers, and made sure every last detail was perfect. If something came up that needed a decision I trusted her to take care of it and she did, and then some. Thank you to everyone at Carruth for putting together my perfect day, I wish we could have a party like this every year (wait, maybe we can). I will post pictures from my photographer when I get them. read more

I really enjoyed my tasting of the lighter options. It was a sunny day and there wasn't a lot of shaded options. Other than that, it was very pleasant. read more

What a great spot. The service is incredible and friendly, the ambience is great and the wine is excellent. Thank you Rachel for your kind and hospitable service from start to finish. We couldn't help but sign up for the Wine Club with service like that! Thanks for a great time! read more

i cant say enough good things join the wine club tip the employees this is the place to be read more

Really like this place! Great spot for an event too. The wines are yummy and the staff is very knowledgable!! The prices are great. You can come in by yourself and meet some cool locals or go in with friends for a fabulous time. There is a private tasting area as well. Luv it! read more

Carruth Cellars - Loving carruth cellars in Cedros!! - Wineries Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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So, I have been a wine club member at Carruth's almost since they opened. Most wine clubs I end up joining for a few months and then cancel because what I get sent doesn't seem to compare to what I tried. This has never been the case here. My wine fridge at home contains 80% Carruth wines! My real review is based on my 50th birthday. My friends organized an AMAZING 50th party at Carruth's! I could not have come up with a better place to have this at. Adam and his staff were amazing. He opened his business to 140+ of my closest friends!! Everything was taken care of and it was by far the best night of my life. No lie. So anyone that is looking for a private event location, talk to them first!! Andy (the now 50 year old) read more

I can't tell you how much my husband and I love this place. We live in Solana Beach, and I don't think we'll ever get tired of swinging by for a glass of wine. We love the staff and how wonderful they are along with the wonderful wine itself. Every time we have visitors from out of state, we always bring them by here first. I would recommend doing a tasting or even becoming a member! read more

Carruth Cellars - Halloween 2016 Event "Hallowine" - Wineries Near Me - Solana Beach, California

So happy to have found this gem. Andy is a true gentlemen and the wines are outstanding!! If you're in the area this is a must visit. read more

Carruth Cellars - Wine bar - Wineries Near Me - Solana Beach, California

I would give this place 5 stars for the staff and the atmosphere. My wife and I attended a Yelp event here, and we were very pleased with the layout. In our opinion this was a fantastic place to host an event. They had an outside courtyard, a tasting room, an adjoining room, all replete with wine barrels and a nice inviting layout for a reception....especially the way they had it lit up with candles when we were there. Upstairs they had multiple couches and a pool table. The staff was very friendly, and did a great job throughout the evening making sure everyone was happy. As for the wines, we found them to be so-so. We enjoy a good wine when we have one, but are by no means connoisseurs, and we probably couldn't accurately describe to you what it is that we enjoy in a wine, so take our review of the wines with a grain of salt. We are the type of people who buy wines from Trader Joes in the $9-$15 price range, and from BevMo in the $20-$30 price rance (can we say 5cent sale :) ), and in our opinion none of the Carruth wines stood out in any way from the ones that we buy at the lower end of this price range. So, we were a bit surprised to find out that Carruth was selling these wines at $35+ per bottle (http://carruthcellars.com/the-winery/carruth-wines/). Wines are a very unique thing, however, and just because our tastebuds found nothing special in their wines, it doesn't mean that yours won't; case in point, one person standing next to us bought a couple of bottles. read more

great place to stop by before a show at Belly Up! read more

Carruth Cellars - Wineries Near Me - Solana Beach, California

This is a top little winery with great staff, great wine, great tasting room and great customers. You can smell the sweet and dry notes of a cellar as soon as you cross the threshold. Its a familiar smell that sends me back to the Barossa Valley every time I visit Carruth. The staff are very friendly and accommodating. They know their wine and enjoy it too ;) It is a good place to come unwind after work, even if you are solo. The staff are great for a chat if they aren't too busy. They have a variety of different wines. A couple whites and a lot of different reds. The grapes are sourced from good vineyards from central CA up to northern CA. And bottles run in the 30s. Which is an expected price for this quality of wine. This isn't that Temecula slop. I liked it enough to sign up for the wine club, its a pretty good deal getting a bottle a month, and 2 free tastings every time i walk in the door. read more

I wouldn't, by any stretch of the imagination, call myself a sommelier--much less a wino--but I do enjoy a nice glass of vino every now and then. My wife and I had first been here for the Yelp v-day event (shout out to Hey Hey for making us feel welcome), and were looking forward to going back. We finally did this past weekend. First, totally relaxed, non-stereotypical-winery atmosphere. A big plus (I can't tell you how much distaste I have for smooth jazz/silly kitch home decor/stenciled vines on walls). Second, solid wines. The pourers were really chill, friendly people. Another plus. I'm a bit foggy on the samples I tried, but I've nary a negative comment about any of them. Also, six tastings for $10?! This thrifty taster is in! Definitely be back in the future, with friends in tow. read more