Wine Tasting Series, Part 2 The DAOU Family Estates is located in the hills overlooking much of the Paso Robles Wine Country and if you're seeking an upscale wine tasting experience, this place certainly deserves your consideration. The grounds are situated at an elevation of 2,200 feet, making it the highest winery on the California Central Coast. A wine tasting here costs $50 and includes 6 different samplings including a Rose, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Cabernet Sauvignon, but sparkling options are not offered. For those of you participating in the wine tasting experience, minus the wine, your options are limited to only the complimentary water they provide. There are several quality culinary pairings available and we found the Cheese & Charcuterie Board, coupled with a Baguette, to further accentuate the experience. Even mid-week this place is busy, so we'd highly recommend making a reservation. There are wonderful indoor and outdoor seating opportunities and the views to the valley below are majestic and create an outstanding ambiance. Finally, our "Wine Educator" demonstrated considerable knowledgeable of the wines available, as well as the winery itself, and provided outstanding service. And that's...Henry Take. #pasorobleswinetasting read more

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Amanda was a delight and so helpful! It was a cold and windy day. We were seated outside with the heating lamp and extra blankets. I looked like a complete bum! I would definitely recommend coming late spring or summer so you can enjoy the views and weather without freezing your arse off like I did. That really killed the experience. Wine was average and not amazing and that was because the weather was so cold that it didn't allow the wine to open up and become approachable or enjoyable. Amazing views! And a beautiful property. read more

DAOU Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Paso Robles, California

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Wow. Wow. Wow! The mother of all vineyards and wineries. Easily on the top of our list to visit in Paso Robles. The ambience, the view, the service, the menu, and most of all the wine... impeccable. We came across this diamond by accident. It was the only thing we found open at 10am on a Saturday. We didn't have reservations but they were able to squeeze in my family of 4 with 2 kids for an hour. Our plan was to stay long enough for a tasting and go somewhere else, but we were so impressed that we stayed the whole time and were later moved to an indoor seating. The Rosé! The best I've ever had. We came home with a case. The Patrimony Black Label Cab, out of this world! Brought 1 home. It's extremely limited. We were so happy that we became members too! The wine tasting fee is waved when you buy 3 bottles (one fee of tasting is waived for every 3 bottles). Cheers! read more

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When I arrived, the main parking lot was full so we were diverted to another lot that gave us an opportunity to sit in a swanky party bus to ride up to the tasting venue. The vineyard was beautiful and very serene and relaxing. We ordered some appetizers to go with our tasting which were delicious and the wines were decent. But, we mainly went here for the views and atmosphere! read more

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We showed up at the gate at 4pm today and wanted to proceed to purchase a bottle and sit out on the patio; were turned away even though the winery was open until 5 and we did not want to do a tasting read more

DAOU Vineyards is a spectacular place to go wine tasting in Paso. The views are unparalleled! In terms of wine, the experience is a bit pricey at $50 per tasting, but you can get some of that credited if you purchase wine. We felt mixed on the actual wines, but enjoyed most of them. Plus they give you an extra pour of whichever wine was your favorite at the end. The food was actually way better than expected. The cheese board, while pricey, is HUGE and a good value. Parking was easy, and they have a shuttle to the top. All in all, a great experience. read more

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Wine with a View What a great time we had up at Daou Vineyards. Their tasting room sits on top of a mountain at 2200 feet in Paso Robles. And as you can see, it's a stunning view of the Daou estate. They grow their own grapes, olives, olive oil, honey and nuts. Now about the wine... the wine is awesome. We did their full wine tasting menu (along with an amazing Charcuterie Board). Some of the wine tasting highlights is their Reserve Eye of the Falcon and the Estate Soul of the Lion. Needless to say we had to buy some bottles. This is not the first time I've been to Daou, and it won't be the last. read more

DAOU Vineyards - My wife and me. - Wineries Near Me - Paso Robles, California

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The setting is absolutely phenomenal and the views are stunning! We came here for the tasting which is pretty pricey at $45 each. We also had the charcuterie board which was delicious and fabulously presented. Also a little pricey at $33. Alejandro was our host and was gracious and so knowledgeable. He made our experience totally enjoyable. We loved the vibe and the whole setting. The wines are very enjoyable too. read more

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What a beautiful winery! We were coming to Cal Poly SLO for SLO Days so we made a reservation here months in advance. Dropped our boy off and drove to Paso to enjoy the wine. The drive here was spectacular. We parked at lot A and took a shuttle through the vineyards to the most beautiful winery. We were greeted with a glass of Rose. I've gone to two Daou Wine dinners in Orange County but that is nothing compared to drinking the fine wines here at the gorgeous winery. We were seated and we noticed that there is no bad view all the way around this winery. We enjoyed the charcuterie, sea bass, and the scallops. The food paired perfectly with our wine tasting. We really enjoyed our time here today. The staff is so friendly and knowledgeable. Thank you Daou for making the experience so amazing. We will be back again soon. Happy Yelping! read more

Service is excellent. STUNNING ambience and even better VIEW. You get an extensive menu including daou wines exclusive to the location. Oyster platter is delicious. Charcuterie board is also so good. read more

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If you are reading this review deciding if you should visit this winery, go make a reservation NOW - you won't regret it! This definitely made the top of my list as my all time favorite winery. The view is definitely breathtaking. Doing wine tasting at this spectacular location takes wine tasting to a whole new level. Really enjoyed my visit here. Will certainly be back in the future. read more

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Beautiful winery on the hill top of Paso, delicious wines, food and wonderful service. Would highly recommend.

One of our favorite stops in the Paso area. The grounds are BEAUTIFUL, with great wine. We made reservations far in advance, although there wasn't a large crowd there and they seemed to be taking walk ins. Service was good, but on the slow side. This was definitely done purposefully and it was relaxing. The gentleman helping us was very knowledgeable and made us feel at home. read more

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I've had many of Daou wines. Our friend wanted to buy some wine while he was in town and asked if we would go with him. We decided to go to Daou. Recently they were voted the best tasting room. We decided to try it out for ourselves. It is a little distance out. Finally, when we reached the winery there was a booth with someone standing there with an iPad. They asked if we had a reservation. We didn't, but told them we wanted to buy wine. He told us to drive down to lot A and a shuttle would pick us up. We drove all the way down to parking lot A. At one point, we thought we went too far. That's not the case. Just keep driving. You will see the lot, and know it, when you reach it. The shuttle comes ever 10 minutes or so. The driver was super friendly and kind. Once we got up the mountain we reached another podium, with a young lady who asked if we had a reservation. She was able to find someone to do the tasting since we didn't have a reservation. They start you off with a glass of rose. This is before they seat you. I love the presentation of all the glasses. Their rose is very good. They sat us in the corner at a table outside. It was very private and away from everyone. I don't know if they did this on purpose or that's just the way it worked out. I'm hoping they put us there because it's the best seat in the house and not for other reasons. We also had a great view. You can't beat the views when you are 2200 feet up. We told our tasting attendant we wanted to do a very fast tasting because we were on a time restraint. We had 5 different wines. We also asked to try their Cabernet because we love Cabs. I didn't like that they gave you one glass for all your tastings. I do believe that the remanence from the last wine will affect the taste of the next one. I also thought the pour was a little less than I have gotten at other places. Our top 3 favorites were: 1. Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2. Cabernet Sauvignon 3. Soul of a lion We bought 6 bottles. They waived 2 of our 3 tastings. We spent over $500. In my opinion, we should have gotten all 3 tastings waived. Wine tasting is not like it use to be. Before you would get a free tasting if you purchased a bottle or two. I think that the cost of the tasting is a little much here. Definitely not inclusive. Not just the average person could afford it. I think $15-30 is reasonable. I also think if you buy 1-2 bottles that are 85+ each you should get your tasting waived. The winery is beautiful and they wines are one of the best around. It is on the pricier side compared to some of the other wineries. I've had many wines and while their wine is good, there are some others that match up pretty well without the expensive price. Overall, I wish we got to spend a little more time here. I would have also like to try some items on their menu. I do think they are a little over priced when it comes to the tasting. But in saying that, their wine is very good. I would have to say their Estate Sauvignon Blanc is my absolute favorite. read more

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5 stars for the views. 4 stars for the tasting. The food was good. We got the charcuterie board, the oysters, and the scallops. We also got a side of bread and butter that was not necessary since the charcuterie board came with bread already. read more

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Oh my goodness what a view, what good wine, just a fantastic visit. Alejandro was our wine host person and he was awesome! Shared some off the list wines that ended up being our favorites- we were there with 2 other couples and we joined the wine club. We were in Paso Robles celebrating my turning a new decade and when Alejandro found out, brought me a gift. Did I mention the views? Oh he also brought some sea salt chocolate caramels. With the wine, yum. Make a reservation and go visit! read more

DAOU Vineyards - Mountain View - Wineries Near Me - Paso Robles, California

If there's ONE winery you have to visit while you're in Paso Robles, it's DAOU Vineyards. The DAOU Family Estates sits on top of DAOU Mountain and features a panoramic view of the rolling hillsides of Paso Robles. They offer tasting, culinary food pairings and outdoor picnics on the extensive grounds. You can also book a private tour of the estate and explore the vineyard and barrel room via the "DAOU Hidden Mountain Experience". Founded by Brothers, Georges and Daniel Daou, DAOU Vineyards specializes in producing a variety of Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux blends. Price Point: $$-$$$ Tastings at DAOU are $45/person and wine ranges from $80-$150. Tastings are by reservation only and are extremely difficult to come by so plan accordingly. read more

DAOU Vineyards - Photo op spot with the famous signage overlooking the valley - Wineries Near Me - Paso Robles, California

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You have a beautiful vineyard and property. I loved the landscape and the scenic views. Everyone was nice, friendly and very knowledgeable. We visited as a family with our kids. My family enjoyed the food and sparkling grape juice while we did our tasting. The wine was excellent! We really enjoyed all the wines we tasted. It was definitely an enjoyable experience. Making a reservations online was easy and convenient. I had to call a day ahead to try to move our reservation time a bit sooner, which wasn't hard at all. As for parking, when it is full, they will have you park at a lower lot which is a bit far but they have a shuttle service to bring you to and from. Really awesome service, thank you! read more

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We did 4 different wineries/vineyards during this trip and the VIEWS definitely set DAOU apart from the others (in a good way!) During a scorcher of a late Saturday morning in July, it was already like in the 90s.. with a high of 112 for the day. The heat was somewhat bearable with a slight breeze and the property's shady areas. Our wine educator made sure we were well hydrated between glasses and even gave us a separate carafe full of ice since it was soooo hot out. Our group of 6 consisted of wine connoisseurs, wine novices, and people who just wanted to enjoy the relaxing good vibes-- all collectively enjoyed the experience/tastings and made several bottle purchases and 1 membership sign up that waived majority of our tastings. Overall, will definitely come back on a much cooler day or cooler part of the day. Looking forward to try food pairings next time as well! read more

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Omg. Love this place. The view is incredible, the atmosphere is fabulous and if you like their wines from the grocery store you'll love their wines at the winery. You can't get them in a store and worth every penny at the tasting room. And Cooper is super! read more

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Reservations were so hard to get on short notice so I would suggest booking ahead of time at least 3-4 weeks before your visit. It does make it hard if you plan a spontaneous trip to Paso Robles. We were able to book a Sunday 10am reservation. Wine for breakfast? why not! The tasting was great! We enjoyed every wine that was brought out to us except for the orange one :( The view is probably the best in Paso Robles. You can get great pics and videos. It's just so beautiful. the service was great! I recommend coming here if you're in Paso. read more

On this trip we had planned to two wineries and Olive oil tasting. We absolutely loved the location, setting and the beauty of DAOU. Thank you DAOU family for this amazing and beautiful setting you have created for everyone to stop by and visit for the day. Lauren was very very nice, informative, knowledgeable and she knew so much about the wines and Daou history. We love DAOU wines and shoukren Elef mahbrook read more

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One of the better wineries I have been to - with the best views too. They only take reservations right now & thankfully my friends are members and we were able to lock in an early morning slot - which gave us the best seating in the house. However, the only downside of sitting outside is the bees/yellow jackets were highly attracted to our cheese & charcuterie platter - mainly the salami. We got the Mezze plate and the cheese & charcuterie platter for 5 of us and we really enjoyed it. Server was very attentive, refilled waters and made sure our wine glasses were always full. Had a great experience and really enjoyed the wine tasting. read more

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DAOU vineyards is an iconic property with beautiful views and superb wine. The tasting room is elegant yet comfortable and relaxed and the staff are cordial and professional. So, why not rate this a 4 or 5 star experience? 2 reasons; memorable experience and cost. We've spent the last few days exploring some of the best of what SLO and Paso have to offer in the wine world. We've visited everything from the small family farm vineyards to the more corporate wineries. This place is somewhat in the middle. A standout feature (and not in a good way) is the $50 tasting fee which is something we're used to in Napa but haven't seen in this region. The wine is great, don't get me wrong, but there are dozens, if not hundreds of other places who have wines that compare and they ask for a much more reasonable $25. Enough about cost. The experience itself was well paced and our hostess was cordial and professional. She knew a fair amount about the founding family as well as the wines but she showed little enthusiasm for transforming the tasting experience into anything particularly memorable. The tasting was well paced with wine replenished in our glass shortly after being finished but little was done to ask us about our likes and dislikes or to suggest other wines we may want to try. Perhaps this is not within her control so I can't place blame on her. However, every other winery we've visited has shown more enthusiasm and interest in tailoring the experience to fit our preferences and the tasting room staff have been warmer and a bit less stiff. Our hostess would forget conversation points we just had and repeat herself while regurgitating the talking points on each wine. This felt robotic and impersonal and really dampened the overall experience. Is the wine good? Absolutely. The view? Wonderful. But if you're looking for a warm experience with something unique, then keep looking elsewhere. read more

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Probably one of the pricier tastings but the location is beautiful! We visited around Christmas time and it was freezing outside but we decided to still go with the outdoor seating to take advantage of the great views. DAOU vineyards is apparently one of the highest vineyards around the area which is why the view is so beautiful. Each table had its own strong heater so we didn't feel cold outdoors. Our host was nice and knowledge and let us take our time; he also encouraged us to walk around during each tasting. He also offered to help us take pictures at different spots which was really nice. DAOU is known for the cabs and it was definitely my favorite out of all the ones we tasted. It was good but I agree with some of the other reviews that said the wines are a bit overpriced for what they are. The food on the menu is also a bit pricey. Overall, I still recommend checking out this spot if you're visiting Paso Robles. It's a bit pricey but it'll be a fun experience for a date or a group of friends! read more

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Simply beautiful, ambiance, food, wine and service will make your day. We went for my husbands 60th birthday and could not have been happier. It was a perfect day. read more

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First visit - seated promptly for our reservation at a beautiful table on the perimeter of the terrace which offered the best view. Service was friendly but nothing special - to hear the same rehearsed spiel for each wine at every table is laughable for a $50 per person tasting fee - I mean come up with something different to say even if you have to make it up. We ordered the chopped salad and octopus, both of which were fantastic although you'll get the same at half the cost in Sonoma or Napa. They make a point in emphasizing you can't get their retail wines in the tasting room and that's fine but the experience is far less than what they are trying to prove. read more

Stunning Views! Could spend the whole day here taking in the fresh air, looking at the rolling hills and enjoying great wine! Host was extremely nice, I walked in as party of one, she got me seated at the bar quite quickly. (definitely recommend a reservation, but they accept walk-ins). Jolene was my server she was amazing and so sweet! I enjoyed their tasting flight which was $50... my opinion well worth it for the quality and the views alone! So many spots to relax and enjoy food and wine, great spot for a date or a day with friends! Favorite wine of the day was 2020 Patrimony cabernet & the Reserve Rose! read more

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We decided to do a tasting at Daou during our time in Paso Robles because their view/ambiance looked incredible, and they seemed to be pretty kid-friendly and was able to accommodate reservations for our large group of 12 (4 adults and 8 kids). The wines here were average, but the view is truly breathtaking, and they have a decent menu with pretty tasty food. We ordered a charcuterie plate, salmon, fries, and salad - and all were good. It was a great way to spend the afternoon eating and drinking while overlooking the gorgeous valleys of Paso. read more

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I've been to Paso Robles 3 times and I am saddened that it took me this long to discover DAOU because now I feel like I have been missing out. The views of this vineyard are breathtaking, no picture I have seen or taken myself will do it justice. The service is also very accommodating and not rushed at all. The wine and the food are also very much incredible. If you debating whether to make a visit, I definitely suggest you do and if you're taking my suggestion; I also suggest you try the meats and cheese board as well as the oysters! read more

DAOU Vineyards - View - Wineries Near Me - Paso Robles, California

1 star for multiple reasons. I would strongly recommend not going to this DAOU vineyard. There are many other excellent vineyards in Paso Robles who do a wonderful job and are far less expensive. But that is not the reason that I give one star The reason DAOU vineyards gets 1 star is for the following points. My family drove all the way up there for 4 hours one day and we had arranged to park in the handicapped parking lot as soon as we pulled in some gentleman who was a shuttle driver, almost smashed into our car and demanded that we leave the vineyard and insulted us and said all sorts of really nasty things. Finally, somebody from the inside had to come out and tell him we have an appointment with which I had made over two months ago. That was the first encounter. It gets far worse than that, then in an effort to try and mend the relationship I spoke to the vice president who was a very pleasant gentleman, and I decided to purchase 30 bottles of high-quality library wine very expensive. we spent two months preparing the wines, and how to handle it. The sales process was very cordial and friendly to deal with then it came to delivery. I received one box last night. The bottles were warm and packaged very Poorly. Those two bottles which were very expensive are in the trash due to heat then today the other 28 bottles arrived. They were damaged boxes leaking with broken wine package poorly. obviously absolutely no care and the UPS driver even brought an interesting point and said "you know these are wine bottles and there's not one sticker on the box that says fragile and the vineyard use the cheapest ground delivery they could use which puts it through all the conveyor belts" and has no white glove care you think if you were spending thousands and thousands of dollars on wine that at least $100 would be spent on a good shipping technique that ensures hand care not putting them on conveyor belts. for all those reasons DAOU vineyards is a very poor vineyard and we will probably never go there again, nor will my family, how can we trust them with everything that has happened everybody who asked me I will give them my personal experience of what I personally went through and they can decide on their own if they want to deal with it. I can only reiterate, that there are many high-quality vineyards in Paso Robles and every other vineyard I went to was on the order of half the price and the quality is just as good. so for our family it seems like an SNOB NOSE attitude with this particular DAOU vineyard. read more

DAOU Vineyards - broken bottles wines. poor packaging damaged boxes. No care taken at all in shipping these very expensive libraries wines - Wineries Near Me - Paso Robles, California

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We're so happy we went to DAOU for a tasting! Some tried to shame us for going to the big wineries - but there's a reason they're successful. The road was being worked on, so they had a shuttle set up and the drivers were just as great as the rest of the staff so we didn't mind. The views, wine, and service were all special. Even our dog was given water with ice! I'm not gonna lie - one of the bottles we brought home is the most we've ever spent on one bottle, but my husband is excited to have it for a special occasion in the future. read more

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This is a mixed wine and winery review. Full disclosure, we visited this winery in 2023 and it was great. Generous pours, gracious service and some really great decor...felt comfortable and like we were in our own dining room ....with friends drinking wine. Now the wine, great mid priced reds with solid fruit forward flavors with strong berry notes. Wines that pair well with meals and concerts! Widely available and well priced. The cab and the Pinot are favorites... read more

DAOU Vineyards - Great wine for a concert - Wineries Near Me - Paso Robles, California

Stunningly gorgeous winery, a must see! We came to Paso for my birthday, and we tried to book a tasting at DAOU but they were sold out for both days we were there :( We decided to try our luck and just pop in, without an appointment. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to do a full tasting but the hostess, Bridget, was SO kind to let us experience the winery still. She gave us a sample of a few wines and let us walk the property. It was the perfect experience to be able to see DAOU and taste their wines. We were blown away by the kindness and the property, we will without a doubt be back! Thank you again to Bridget for the hospitality! read more

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DAOU never disappoints. Greeted at the door with a glass of bubbly, quickly sat for our reservation of six. Cooper walked us through a wonderful tasting of wine . He suggested food that complimented the wine , was friendly and beyond welcoming . Of course the best view in town . Thank You DAOU for another great memory . read more

I was very excited to visit DAOU Vineyards. I made a reservation for a Saturday afternoon and was really looking forward to it. The location itself is beautiful with gorgeous scenic views. However, the service was extremely poor. Upon arrival, we checked in and were greeted kindly. We arrived earlier than our reservation and were told we could sit outside and enjoy the view. We were given complimentary sparkling wine. After waiting for half an hour plus, and past our original reservation, I checked in with the front desk who informed me that yes! Our table was ready. I was a little disappointed that no one had reached out to get us but at least we were being seated. We sat down and after 10-15 mins, no one came by, no one offered us water, no one told us they would help us shortly. We were ignored, not acknowledged in the very least (as well as someone seated after us got service) so we got up and left. Upon exiting, I informed the young woman at the front that we were leaving because we had received NO service to which she stared at me blankly. No apology; nothing. I will never go back to DAOU and think twice about even buying their wine (which is good - but so are many many others). read more

Daou is one of the best vineyards in all of Paso. We had a great waiter named Will. He was insightful and a pleasure to converse with. The views are really beautiful. The food was soooo good! Much better than some of the restaurants in downtown Paso. Would go back! read more

DAOU Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Paso Robles, California

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Fantastic experience! The wines were outstanding but the view was even better. It's a beautiful winery with great food. Everyone was very helpful and really knowledgeable about the wines. We became members our first time there and will definitely be back. We also went to the members only tasting while we were visiting and that was a highlight. Can't wait to visit again read more

DAOU Vineyards - Margarita Pizza - Wineries Near Me - Paso Robles, California

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If in Paso go here for the best views, wine and food!! Our server Gabriel was the best host, will come back!!

The scenery itself is a reason to be here. This is by far one of the most amazing wineries. The onyx Mezze is a must have! It's absolutely amazing with the wine. I can't believe the flavor it packs! Wow. Just come you will not regret the decision. Omg the different sauces in this board are out of this world. The sun dried tomatoes in the sauce, the feta omg it's just amazing. Yosh poured our wine and he was so nice and explained each wine and also the board we ordered. What a great experience I will defiantly be back. The wines were amazing and the food was just as great! read more

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