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    Koi Zen Cellars

    4.8 (173 reviews)
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    Updated 2 months ago

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    Recommended Reviews - Koi Zen Cellars

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    Koi Zen Cellars owners, Lisa and Darius
    MJ C.

    Koi Zen Cellars is a hidden gem in a business park in Carmel Mountian Ranch, located in San Diego's North County. Once you walk thru the doors you are transferred to a warm and welcoming place where people gather to drink a variety of award winning wines. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly, as are the customers. Many friendships have been formed over a glass or 2 of wine. On weekends you can listen to live music or maybe catch a game of Trivia. You also maybe catch a Bingo game during the week or a fundraiser going on. Koi Zen Cellars is a great place to hang out with friends or even hold a private event with more of your friends or associates.

    Bianca A.

    When I'm in the mood for a quiet moment to read my book with a nice Port or Bubbly and a little nook/space to hide, Koi Zen Cellars is my favorite spot. Or perhaps to hang out with a friend to "catch-up" on our lives with snacks (yes you can bring snacks). Sure it's located in a business park, but that's it's secret charm. The owner Lisa & Winemaker Darius are the most gracious hostess and if you ask for a "tour" of the winery - they will gladly show you around.

    Wonderful friends having some Christmas cheers!

    Last year I purchased a 12 days certificate, I used it for 12 of my friends, Lisa always welcomes us and had everything set up for my friends. We had such a great Christmas happy hour. The wine was great and we will be back, Darius stopped in to check on us as well! Love them both!

    Jason N.

    Service is great, friendly. They make their own wines here, been open 10 years, and a hidden gem in the RB area. Relaxing environment , and space can be reserved for book club and such. They also have club memberships for wine bottles and tastings. Wines are tasty and prices reasonable for small batch production. Really enjoyed their 2019 Petit Petite and 2022 Barbera. And enjoyed each story behind how they came up with the names for the some of the wines.

    Petit Petit
    Sena Y.

    An amazing local wine cellar! Service was amazing and it is so relaxing inside. We stopped in one afternoon and it was such an amazing experience. Truly a new favorite of mine in the area, cannot recommend it enough.

    Brandi P.

    Koi Zen is a great little escape from reality. We stopped by on our way Wednesday to the grocery store to pick up some last minute items for Thanksgiving dinner. It was so crowded everywhere it was nice to sit, chat and enjoy a glass of Cab and some chocolate. Koi Zen has various activities throughout the year (upcoming shopping for small business Saturday and a ceramic wreath making class on Sunday). The location is great, small business area but very peaceful and tranquil when you walk inside. The staff is always so welcoming and nice and their wines are great (I am more of a red person but their others are tasty as well). They sell little snacks like chocolates that were really good and have different wine themed gifts if you want to enjoy a glass while doing some light shopping. Great place, well worth checking out!

    a hand holding a wine glass

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    9 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Darius M.

    Darius M.

    Glad you had a good time Leigh and thanks for the kind words. Cheers.

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    10 years ago

    Lisa and Darius are the nicest business owners you could ever meet! I recommend this place to everyone!

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    9 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    Darius M.

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    10 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Such a fun place with fantastic wines. Highly recommend the blending class! I learned so much while drinking fabulous wines!

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    10 years ago

    We love having Koi Zen as our local winery. The atmosphere is personal, the wine is terrific!

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    Page 5 of 5

    Ask the Community - Koi Zen Cellars

    Do they have food available during events?

    HI BOnnie, We have prepackaged cheeses to select from and then we add dried fruit, nuts, honey, jam, chocolate, crackers and breadsticks. You are also welcome to bring in your own food at this time too.… 

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Koi Zen Cellars

    Lisa and Darius are great hosts at this urban winery which we visit every other week on our trip to Costco.

    Mentioned in 18 reviews

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    Bernardo Winery

    4.3
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    I had a wonderful time in the tasting room! A young blond woman helped us both with so much cheer…read moreand patience and we found, thanks to her, a wine we love! And we had a great meal with it! I love this place!!

    This place is fantastic! Whether you want to come for a date, with friends, or family - I think…read morethis place is great for all. I love the feeling of unwinding and I don't feel rushed. I'm glad this place gives me the space to do that. I want to go back to try different dishes and wines, browse the shops, and save room for dessert! Perhaps I will come on a Friday since they have a farmer's market that day from 9am-1 pm! I had a date night and went on a Saturday, 2 hours before closing. We ordered Calabrese Pizza, Apple & Gorgonzola Pizza, Parmesan Fries, and Rigatoni & Vodka Sauce Pasta. My goodness, everything was GOOD! The Apple & Gorgonzola Pizza was my favorite, pure perfection of flavors. I know there's always a debate with pineapple on pizza but this apple and gorgonzola makes sense, I don't think anyone would ever question it. The parmesan fries was so yummy as well, you get a HEFTY amount. We actually didn't finish a good amount and took this home along with a few slices of pizza. Pasta was delicious as well, there was leftover pasta sauce that we just scooped up with the crust of the pizza. The ambience - amazing and beautiful. It is pretty spread out. I've only been here a couple times but I was able to find a table both times aside from the good amount of people the times I've came. We sat inside the tasting room and the food came out promptly. I do love that on hot days they will turn their misters on, great touch Way to keep us cool! We decided to do the Traditional Wine Tasting where you get six 1.5 oz pours of your choice for $32. Also, you can get free chocolate to pair with your wine at the dessert shop. Delicious, everything I ordered was what I needed. Everyone here just seems incredibly nice. From the people who took your order at the Kitchen, food runners, pourers, even the lady at the dessert shop (even though we didn't get any dessert lol) was friendly. We wanted to get dessert, but we had 15 minutes left till closing, however she didn't rush us out the outside area. I saw that there was a sugar free pistachio gelato flavor. I love that, seems like it was a hit because it was nearly all out! Next time I do go, I definitely want to try that and their cannolis!!! I love Cannolis. Anyways, back to the wine tasting, I believe her name is Cecilia (?), She was great. Great service along with the other pourer at the counter. I did not catch her name but she has blonde short hair and was very nice and friendly as well! Overall, 10/10, & I will be back very soon.

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    Castelli & Pizarro Coffee Shop

    Castelli & Pizarro Coffee Shop

    4.8
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    Amazing experience every single time. The professionalism, service level and ambiance is 5 star…read more The wine selection is great. This is my go to place after work, girls get together and morning coffee stop. I love it and strongly recomand.

    This wine bar and coffee shop is an outlet of the CPF winery where locals and visitors can enjoy…read morewine tastings, espresso drinks, baked goods and snacks. They have a lovely wine bar staffed with welcoming baristas and a lovely outdoor patio, and are situated in a little suburban neighborhood just off the 56 at Camino del Sur. I stopped by to pick up a few baked goods to take home. The barista was very pleasant and informative. She told me that the baked goods were from O'Brien's, that they have live music most weekends, and sometimes host food vendors to offer patrons their wares. We tried a chocolate croissant--crispyand delicious, a 4 after rewarming at home, banana walnut muffin--3, chocolate espresso scone--3. There's a happy hour W-F featuring 50% off bottles of wine and $2 of glasses. Check their online menu because it changes daily. Extra points, both for being a wine bar and for being the first (and only) to open shop in this little neighborhood. I wish we had one in ours, but CPF is convenient enough that we'll be back several times. Service--4 Wine selection--5 Baked goods--3.5 Ambience--4

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    Orfila Vineyards & Winery

    Orfila Vineyards & Winery

    3.9
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    We have been members for three years, through past and new ownership, and every visit levels up to…read morea better experience. The wine is incredible, the new food experience with Amalfi is delicious, and the staff is so kind and attentive. The views are so beautiful, both on the vineyard and grass field sides of the property. Truly versatile and incredibly welcoming of small and large parties. Such an incredible investment to have a membership here, we love our home away from home at Orfila!

    We love Orfila! We come almost every week for trivia and occasionally for line dancing, and it's…read morebecome one of our favorite places to hang out. The ambiance is beautiful, the property is gorgeous, and we really appreciate all the free events they offer. The food truck is always a solid choice with pizza, burgers, sandwiches, and even gluten-free options. If you're just looking for a snack, they also have items available inside. The wine selection is excellent, and one of our favorite things is that it's dog-friendly, so our pups can join us. My only suggestion would be to improve the wine line. It can take 10-15 minutes to get a refill, especially during trivia, which sometimes means missing the next question. It would be awesome if there were a separate line for guests who just want to order a glass of wine instead of doing a tasting. Overall, Orfila is a beautiful winery with a fun, welcoming atmosphere, great wine, and events that keep us coming back week after week. Highly recommend!

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    Forgotten Barrel Winery

    Forgotten Barrel Winery

    4.6
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    I just got back from an afternoon at the Forgotten Barrel Winery. What an amazing time we had. No…read moreonly so they have a wide choice of wines to choose from, by the glass and by the bottle, but the prices are reasonable. They also offer tasting menus, so you get healthy pours of different wines to try. They also offer some premade food for sale, charcuteries, hummus, crackers, cheeses. Plus there's a food truck that sells amazing burgers starting at 3. While we were there, there was live music being played in the Central courtyard. Guests could sit on their provided seating under a large shaded tree and some had their small dogs with them on leash. Because we were a medium size group and had made a reservation, we were placed in a separate room with plenty of inside and outside covered seating. The winemaker even gave us a tour of the facilities. Showing is the process from the grapes, to the hopper and ending with the barrels where they age. It's definitely worth driving out to visit this beautiful winery in Escondido.

    A friend was having a gathering here recently and invited us to join. I have been hearing about…read moreForgotten Barrel for a few years now, but I assumed it was pretty far out there in Escondido. I was wrong. It's not far off the 15 freeway in a small unassuming neighborhood. If you didn't know it was there you would never discover it. We arrived and took the last spot in the front parking lot. There is another parking lot, it seems like there's plenty of parking around. We found our party in a courtyard next to the tasting room. There was plenty of seating and tables for everyone, and it was sectioned off from the rest (if you need a private area). We went in the tasting room and tasted several wines before deciding. The staff were friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable about their wines. After we got our wine, we decided to walk the property. It's a very quaint, unique piece of property with old buildings and new ones made to look old (bathrooms). You can walk through the vineyards and there are various areas where you could have parties. There is a barn, which is beautifully decorated and lit inside. It would be perfect for a wedding reception or any other type of party. There are several areas where you could put multiple groups of people or use the whole facility for a giant party. When we were there, there was live music. The band was really good and we enjoyed sitting under the umbrellas and trees while listening. There was also a pizza food truck whilst we were there. I ordered a pepperoni pizza and they delivered it to where we were sitting. I shared it and we all enjoyed a slice. I can't believe I didn't know this existed here before, but I'm so glad to have discovered it. I will definitely come back and bring friends. It's just the perfect little spot to spend some time. Maybe listen to some music, eat some food and drink some wine.

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    Oak Mountain Winery

    Oak Mountain Winery

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    We recently celebrated our 25th anniversary vow renewal at Oak Mountain Winery, and it was…read moreabsolutely perfect. The Cave is breathtaking, and the entire team made us feel so welcomed and cared for from start to finish. Everything was beautifully organized, making our day completely stress-free and unforgettable. We loved it so much that we returned on the Fourth of July for dinner with our dog, and once again received exceptional service. The food, wine, and atmosphere were just as amazing. A special thank you to Ashlyn and the entire staff for going above and beyond to create memories we'll cherish forever. Their kindness, professionalism, and attention to detail truly set Oak Mountain Winery apart.

    Oak Mountain Winery became my selection for new wineries to visit this weekend based on their…read moreprevious reviews, and the photos on their website. Upon arrival, the property checked one of my requirement boxes: paved parking. I cannot tolerate parking in dirt that removes the shine on my tires and rims. After some confusion, I finally arrived at the correct tasting room for non-members and began my tasting with assistance from Eric, a fine young gentleman who offered to guide me through my journey. He provided the history of the winery and the background of the various wines I sampled. I was not fond of their white wines, but their red wines possessed character, complexity, and depth. The price of the tasting was on the high end, but I enjoyed it all the same. The property is very large, and well-maintained, and also hosts a distillery, somewhat hidden in the form of a speakeasy of sorts. Didn't partake, but intend to return in the future to sample. Overall, I enjoyed my visit and will give some thought to joining their membership. Great views atop the hill, and a mellow vibe. Thank you Eric! Great customer service.

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    Barrel Riot

    Barrel Riot

    4.4
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    2.1 mi
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    You seriously HAVE to check this place out. The wine is so unique and so good that I'm still…read morethinking about it weeks later. The food is just as impressive, everything tasted flavorful and high quality. The service was also top notch! We hosted a wine tasting and bites event here for our alumni group and it ended up being one of our favorite events we've done. They set us up on the private patio, turned on the TVs so we could play themed videos, and even changed the string lights to match our school colors. The level of thoughtfulness really stood out. The salad, veggie plate, and french fries were all amazing and they also have gluten free flatbreads that were incredible. Every time food came out, they made sure to call out any dietary notes, which we really appreciated. I've already been telling friends they need to go try it, and I'll definitely be buying a few bottles as gifts this year. It's that good. Perfect spot for date night, happy hour, birthdays, or any kind of get together or event.

    We live close to this restaurant. The previous restaurant at the location was called the Barrel…read moreRoom, and it was a good restaurant, great wine, great food, good service. This one doesn't even come close to it. The service personnel obviously lacked training. The tables lacked the basics, not even salt and pepper, although the water sevice was served in cold bottles and glasses, which was a good touch. The menu was limited, best for luch. My wife ordered a salad, which was average. I ordered a chicked pesto sandwich wich was pre-heated, and did not taste fresh at all. It was barely warm. We ordered focacia bread that was served with some garlic cream. The food presentation was amateurish. We did not finish our food and promptly left the restaurant.

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    Koi Zen Cellars - venues - Updated August 2026

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