I spent an enjoyable couple of hours here getting to know the wine, the owners and what they are about. I liked many of the tastings they offered and may try a blending class in the future. If I were asked to suggest any improvements it would be to be open more hours, offer food and develop a marketing plan. This area needs this kind of establishment and I would be sad if it couldn't sustain itself. read more

New member here...the Pinot Noir was out of this world. I'm not normally a fan of that varietal but this Pinot stood out because it was more full-bodied than I'm used to. They also have an amazing Petite Sirah which is my personal favorite. The staff are knowledgeable and very welcoming. One of my favorite places to enjoy a glass of wine solo or with friends. read more

Discovered this gem last night at a "Meetup" event. Everything and more one could want from an Urban Winery. Great owners, attentive staff, warm decor with fabulous photographs, oh and did I forget to mention, fabulous wine!!!! Everyone in our group loved it. Bravo!!!! And Salud!!! read more

What an amazing place. The wine was spectacular. The atmosphere is warm, friendly... we will definitely be going back!

I went to the ribbon cutting for the new expansion at Koi Zen last night. What a great evening! Great wine, great people, and wonderful ambiance. Alyssa Walker, a young vocalist/guitarist, provided delightful music. She's an up and coming talent who writes her own songs and has a lovely voice. As far as the wine goes, I hadn't yet tasted the Malbec, and I loved it! I also bought a bottle of Pinot Noir, as I had already consumed (shared) the bottle from my wine club pick up the week before! At Koi Zen there is something for every wine lover. You can browse wine-themed art work, jewelry, etc. You can take classes, listen to music, or attend a lecture. With the new expansion, you can do so in some lovely, comfortable spaces, and you are sure to make a new friend or two, as well. read more

First timer on Dec 7,2019 and had a great time! Casual atmosphere with small intimate couches to sit on while sipping their Cab Franc and watching them bottle wine. The wine maker stopped to chat several times which was a nice touch! Cat and Catherine were lovely wine tasting tour guides. My wifee and I will certainly stop by again! P.s.... get the cheese plate! Excellent read more

Very good wine, cute atmosphere and the two owners were very friends. Can't wait to return and drink more wine here! Also the jelly that they sell which is made from a few of their wines is delicious! read more

A winery and tasting room in Carmel Mountain? Of course! Koi Zen has a quiet, warm and charming atmosphere. Owners Lisa & Darius and their team are amazing hosts and offer the best wine. We hosted a private event here recently and it was the perfect setting. Cheers to Koi Zen! read more

This is a fun place to visit. Darius and Lisa are a wonderful couple that make you feel welcome. They are both very knowledgable about wine making. The wines they sell are all very good, whether you prefer white or red. There's also a women that makes jam out of the various wines. Come and check it out for yourself, you'll become fans and it will probably make your 'fav' list! read more

Nice interior decor-including Koi pond. Nice proprietors. Wines are all made on premises. Tasty treats and reasonably priced wine club. Will definitely be back. Don't be fooled by location!! read more

I went to a wine tasting here with no great expectations and was surprised and very impressed with the winemaker's knowledge and the absolutely delightful wines. It was such a wonderful experience. I have been to wine tastings before but this was so much better. We came away with so much more understanding of the whole subject. A fantastic evening! Berniece D read more

This is a wonderful place. The people are knowledgeable. The room is beautiful. The wine is amazing. I will invite everyone I know.

Love Koi Zen! Darius and Lisa have built this lovely urban winery into a charming and comfortable place to enjoy good wine and good company. And the wines are actually better than good - they are great! Although this is a young business, Koi Zen wines are already winning awards. The winery hosts loads of events for visitors to both learn more about wine or relax with a new experience, such as Yoga, music, or wine crafts. Another fun aspect of this winery is their volunteer Crush Crew - an opportunity to provide hands on labor while learning every step of turning a bunch of grapes into a bottle of wine. Join the Crew and you will appreciate your next bottle of wine just a little bit more. Also, I have belonged to many wine clubs but have not had so much fun at wine Pick-Ups as I have at Koi Zen. They treat members like family and throw a great party! If you are a wine lover, do yourself a favor and head to Koi Zen. You will enjoy both the wines they make and the comfortable atmosphere of this special winery. read more

Perfect place for a first date. Great atmosphere and awesome people. Was allowed to bring outside food so I decided to make a picnic out of the experience. The owner helped w/ adding some finishing touches to really impress. Highly recommended and will go here again. read more

We came in for the first time and were greeted with a smile immediately. The venue is small and pretty quiet, the staff is very polite and knowledgable, and the wine was superb. We aren't normally fans of Pinot Gris, but there's was very pretty good. The Cabernet was amazing, very fruit forward and smooth but not dry/tannic, bold but at the same time light, we bought bottles of this one! The Malbec also, just wow! Delessa, the wine rep was super nice, down to earth and easy to talk to. We Heard they have music and other small events here too. We will definitely be visiting again! read more

Koi Zen is amazing and their owners are amazing (Lisa & Darius). They have the only Pinot Noir I like, period. Their memberships are great!

Stopped by here when I was on vacation and in the area. My first time visiting a "micro" winery. Owners were great and wine was very tasty!

I joined the wine club a few months back and just attended one of the first nights the host for members to come in and pick up their wines. They were so good that I ended up buying 4 additional bottles and so did my friends I brought in as guests. It such a great hidden gem and can't wait for their extension to open this next month and plan a private event. read more

It's like Cheers, only it's a winery, and it's in Carmel Mountain! This small, family-owned winery is constantly evolving and improving. We have visited a few times, and finally decided to join the wine club. The timing was perfect because they just debuted a wonderful pinot noir, which is not generally available in local wineries. I'm looking forward to their next steps, as they are already working on expanding. read more

Great little boutique winery with great wines and great people!

Great wine, amazing people, I'm so excited about the Mourvedre I just got for myself and as gifts! They even ship to many other states, making my gift-giving easier. read more

We love Koi Zen! Wines are some of the best we've ever had! Owners and staff are very nice and welcoming! Their new room is great for more people. Wish they had some outdoor space! read more

Koi Zen Cellars is my wife and I favorite wine spot in Rancho Bernardo/Carmel Mountain Ranch. Darius & Lisa are two of the nicest people you will ever meet who truly love making wine and sharing it with their members/guests. I learned more about wines in 30 days visiting with Darius and Lisa than the 10 years visiting vineyards in Temecula, Santa Barbara, Sanoma, and Napa (Yes Napa). Darius the winemaker has a tremendous amount of information and rich history in sharing his wine knowledge with everyone who visits. He is extremely patient with everyone and explains everything in a casual format that leaves you wanting more. They were recently ranked as one of the top 3 wineries in North San Diego. I promise you will not find a better quality glass of wine in all of San Diego County for the price. All San Diegans are entitled to some "FUN" and Koi Zen Cellars delivers! read more

These owners are AMAZING!!! Love the vibe here. Love how low key and personable they are. And the wine is FAB!!!! The atmosphere is so relaxing and comfortable. Excellent all the way around. Love them! read more

Wonderful local place, great atmosphere and wine! So glad I was introduced to this local winery/ wine bar. Will make good use for work, fun and lots of wining! read more

Koi Zen is a hidden treasure! The owners, Lisa and Darius are extremely nice and present most of the time making sure you are happy. The atmosphere is comfortable and relaxed. The employees are knowledgeable​ and friendly. The wine is outstanding! Very happy about this little gem we have to gather with friends! read more

Love this wine tasting spot! So close to home and the wine is excellent! Definitely on my list of places to share with friends and for a happy hour visit! read more

Koi Zen is a very relaxed place to enjoy excellent wine and the company of good friends. Don't forget to join the wine club to take advantage of the discount and special offers. read more

This is a wonderful "best-kept secret" in North County San Diego! The recently remodeled area is very inviting and a wonderful, peaceful way to enjoy a glass or two of exceptional wine. They also offer some fun classes and events, too. Darius and Lisa are friendly, welcoming, and knowledgeable; the overall experience is one to be savored! read more

My first time ever at a Urban Winery...It was a private party at Koi Zen Cellars. The 2013 Petit Verdot was stellar. Darius and Lisa, you definitely know how to host an event! Look forward to coming by again (: read more

Hubby and I stopped in to check out this little urban winery on Friday night for happy hour and were greeted with smiling faces and a positive vibe. Since it was our first visit we did the tasting and got to taste all 6 wines for $10 each and I must say that they were all pretty decent. They have a Symphony Sparkling which I'm gonna call Sexy Bubbles and they call a mistake, but probably the best mistake they will ever make as it was very nice. I'm not generally a sparking fan but I could happily drink this sparkling jewel poolside any day. My fav was their "go to" cab and hubby particularly enjoyed the Owners mix of cab and verdot - both are winners! No food but they did lay out a complimentary cheese and cracker spread which was a nice touch and I also enjoyed the slideshow sharing the build out, corking and other events as a visual. Welcome to the neighborhood Koi Zen - you're a great addition! read more

Darius and Lisa are wonderful! We had a great time Friday night enjoying wine, music and the warm hospitality at Koi Zen Cellars in their new expanded space. read more

We love KoiZen!! Besides great wine, the friendly and inviting atmosphere bring us back over and over again.

We love this winery! The owners were extremely friendly, the wine was delicious and the ambiance was great. We sipped our wine while live music played in a beautiful, relaxing room. The winery felt very welcoming and made us feel like we belonged there. We will definitely going back. read more

Passed the winery signage many times but finally stopped in while my daughter was visiting from NY. The owners were friendly, knowledgeable and very welcoming. Did the tasting and was impressed with the selection they offered. This is a great "go to" place with friends or visitors. read more

Awesome wine and service. Owners were friendly and had a great time. Will definitely come back!

Great little urban winery in an unexpected location. The wine is great - my favorite the Petit Verdot- but the best thing about the place is the owners. Friendly, knowledgeable, and they make you feel like a friend stopping by for a glass of wine. Plenty of tables and chairs.This place would make a nice meeting place for a small group. read more

Love Koi Zen, its a nice cozy tasting room in RB. I've never had a wine here that I didn't like and they have a lot of fun events like Paint and Pinot. Highly recommend. read more

A wonderful little hidden gem and close to my home. The owners Lisa and Darius are very friendly and social. They make it a point to introduce you to the other members. Wines are excellent.. Great little urban winery to pop in for a glass of wine to unwind. They also have a lot of social activities which is perfect for us single patrons. They have meat and cheese snacks you can purchase and you can also bring your own food. Very pleasant atmosphere and its decorated very nicely. read more

Went in with a girlfriend at the recommendation of a co-worker. Small and quaint place and not like the more established wineries. We were greeted by a older women who seemed friendly in the beginning. After reviewing the menu we were anxiouisly wanting to taste from their wine menu even though it looked like the typical varietals you see everywhere. We were generously poured the first wine (I think it was a Pinot Gris) but by the second tasting our hostess seemed to come unglued by her husband and went off on a subtle tangent of his mistakes checking out guests. This seemed totally inappropriate and made my friend and I extremely uncomfortable. We managed to continue through the tasting of the rest of the wines but by then it was no longer enjoyable. I would give this winery a two star if the wines were exceptional even though the service was horrific but honestly, the wines were equal to the ones I buy at Trader Joes for a lot less price tag. Not worth the time. read more