Justin set a great mood and atmosphere for our tasting experience. Brought knowledge and flair to our experience. Thanks much!

Only come here if you are looking for a luxury wine tasting experience. My husband and I were on our way to Laguna Beach and enjoy trying new wines, so we stopped in. The tasting prices are on par with the mid/higher end Napa wineries, which caught me a bit off guard for being in a strip mall with a small interior and no view (especially due to the tent they have up). We opted to split the Red/White tasting. The bartender/server was truly top notch. He let us make it a very slow tasting as we just enjoyed the crisp air and worked on a few things. He carefully explained all the different wines before serving, which was appreciated. The wines were all good. The server provided us a menu with the tastings and food offerings and added that there is popcorn with branded olive oil. This sounded delicious. The popcorn options weren't on the menu, the server told me the choices and I opted for the Black truffle and garlic popcorn. Think I was surprised I was just given the bag for a higher class experience. The popcorn was different and pretty good. I was even more surprised when getting the check that the popcorn was $19 for the 2.7 oz bag. I suppose shame on me for not asking for this price prior to selecting - might suggest adding the popcorn to the menu to prevent sticker shock for future customers. We enjoyed our time here but ultimately weren't prepared for the cost of the experience at this location. I think it would be different if we were actually at the winery. There was shared parking among several eateries - was easy to park on an off-season weekday though I could see the lot filling up on a busy weekend. read more

McClain Cellars - Black truffle and garlic popcorn - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

The best thing about this place was the bartender! The wine was so so. And for going there on a Friday night the place was a bit dead. Not enough to bring me back but it was good while I was there. read more

McClain Cellars - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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Love Justin!!! He's amazing, gave us some free samples. So friendly and welcoming! Would totally come again for him. Sadly, i think his daughter? Told him not to serve us anymore :( shout out to Justin though read more

My husband and I are wine lovers! We always try to find places near my house. This little gem is located in the heart of Laguna. In the same area you have foods restaurant and breweries that you can order food or walk to your next spot. I truly enjoying coming here on the weekends and support small business. As you know your local business need you more than ever! If your looking for a place to relax and and enjoy a bottle of wine, this is the place. On the weekend you sometimes have someone playing acoustic. Which makes the vibes more relaxing. Highly recommend you make a reservations since it's a small place. Cheers! read more

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We came here for a live music event that ended up not happening, but we stuck around for the wine tasting because we figured that'd be fun in itself! Well, we can confidently say that the employees are awesome folks that we'd love to have a couple glasses with some time! Taylor, Ian, and their newest team member were a lot of fun to talk to. They provided informative background descriptions about the regions where the grapes were grown, and provided a little slip of paper to track our tasting experience. It was a great time. We were curious about the restaurant next door, so we didn't order any appetizers, thinking that with the ~leisurely~ pace of the tasting, we may not want to test the kitchen. read more

I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for the exceptional customer service I recently received from McClain. Your genuine willingness to help me me when the error was mine truly stood out and made my experience outstanding! It's rare to encounter such dedication and professionalism, and I genuinely appreciate the effort you put into addressing my needs. Your assistance not only resolved my issue but also exceeded my expectations. Thank you once again for your remarkable support. It has certainly made a positive impression on me. My wife and i are proud members and LOVE going to the Solvang locations. We cant wait to try some of your other locations!!!!! read more

My daughter and I had such a great time wine tasting on Mother's Day at this little gem in Laguna... The flight of wine we tried was very tasty, and we also enjoyed mingling with everyone there... They have live music and little snacks you can purchase to nibble on like; cheese, crackers, popcorn and etc but if you're really hungry, you might want to grab a bite to eat somewhere else before coming to McClain Cellars... All the employees were also very pleasant and helpful even though they were busy... Can't wait to go back and try some more wine again... read more

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I had such an amazing and memorable (although I was buzzed) time here! Parking: PLENTY and free!!! Service: Top Notch. Wooow did I love the staff and felt SO welcome! I connected SO well with our server. She's a tall blonde female and we bonded over being engaged and our future wedding/ eloping. She was sooo kind and gave me such a great perspective in life. Her energy radiated with her and our conversations were so enjoyable. I wanted her to just take a seat and wine taste together LOL If you're reading this, I appreciate you, girl! I wish you the very best in your future marriage at Yosemite. You're going to be an AMAZING bride!! Wine: Such a great selection! I sampled 2- the all white one and the 3 whites and 2 red? I think i enjoyed the 3 whites and 2 red more. My Finance tried the reds and ended up getting a glass of it Popcorn: Amazing!!! We ordered jalapeno, lemon, truffle and caramel. We were so astonished by the taste! By looks only, they were barely seasoned but wow was the flavor powerful!! we couldn't understand why, but our amazing server explained that it was from their oil. My oh my this is a great snack. My Fiance ended up gobbling it all and making a huge mess I love this place sooo much and look forward to visiting, each time we take a trip here! read more

McClain Cellars - I loveddd the truffle! - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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Two good friends of mine introduced me to McClain Cellars when they became members of their wine club last year. I've tried various wines from them whenever I visit and I was always intrigued and drawn to the artwork on the bottles. I'm not a wine connoisseur by any means but I appreciate good presentation as well as knowledge provided by the staff. I recently went to the winery before the holidays and got a chance to do their members-only wine flight which comprised of a sparkling chardonnay/pinot noir (pretty much a rose), chardonnay, red blend and cab. My personal favorite was the 2020 Five Hearts Reserve (blend) and I ended up splurging on a bottle for a special occasion. The bar was set up beautifully and I loved their outdoor seating with the fire pits and couches. Can't wait to come back soon! read more

McClain Cellars - a woman's face painted on the wall - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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This place is spectacular with the most amazing wines! I met up with a colleague who lives in Laguna, and we have the most amazing wine experience. The ambiance here is so classy, yet so Laguna Beach vibes. The wine selections are very impressive, and the service is top notch! It is rare to find a wine spot where everyone has knowledge at that level. Kudos to the owner/management, as I have visited numerous wine bars in California, and this place is at the top of my list! I can't wait to bring my fiancée here on a date, and also my medical team to have a private wine event! My colleague and I loved the wine and the entire experience! -Suzy read more

Wine time!!!! They don't sell food but they sell cheese and snacks I think they will prepare for you. I can't recall exactly. Great wine tasting great location and it was a perfect time for us to go. No crowds!!! Service was great read more

McClain Cellars - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

My partner and I came in on the last day of the Sawdust Art festival this month. It's not a place we would normally go to, but after our experience with Alexis, we would definitely come back! She was knowledgeable & welcoming and we enjoyed our conversations with her! This was the highlight of our day trip to Laguna, the wonderful experience is really owed to Alex! Pro tip; the chili fig spread is bomb. My partner enjoys wine more than I do, and he enjoyed the samples and the red wine selection. read more

This is one of our faaavorite stops whenever we're in Laguna. It's a great place to just hang back and enjoy some great wines. My personal favorite is their Camping in the clouds. Not to mention it's dog friendly AND located next to a beautiful dog park. They also have a market where you can build your own charcuterie board! The service is always amazing and we will be coming back time and time again. read more

McClain Cellars - two glasses of wine on a table - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

We were at McClains last night, we knew about it before and wanted to check it out. Its quaint but small, what turned us off was the service from the hostess. Didnt get her name, older lady short brown hair, was not very attentive and was generally snippy. We left disappointed and will NOT be returning. read more

I was so glad to find this wine bar over the 4th of July weekend. We wanted to do some wine tasting and also we trying to support Black owned businesses and to my surprise, we were able to do both. First of all, we had to make a reservation due to social distancing regulations. I was happy to find an open reservation. The wine bar is very close to the hotels and beach. Our reservation was at noon and we were also told that lunch was available provided by a partner business. We enjoyed a wine flight featuring white wines. Our server was hospital and well versed on the wines. She even let us try their sparkling wine which was a wonderful surprise. We added the flavored popcorn flight which really served as our appetizer to the lunch. We ended up staying a few hours and leaving 6 bottles of wine for the road back. I was pleasantly surprised in the service and the wine selections were very impressive. It was the most memorable point of our Laguna Beach experience. We will beck and will be Ring my friends. read more

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Caitie and Taylor Slap!! best customer experience of all time. super duper service. flight life Tanks for the good vibes read more

My boyfriend and I came here last night for my birthday and absolutely fell in love ! We both tried the laguna canyon white wine flight ! Ariel the wine connoisseur did an excellent job explaining how the process worked , how to properly taste the wines, and all the different flavor profiles that came which each wine we tasted ! While pouring sample size in the glass she would explain what types of grapes were in the said wine and what we should be able to taste ! She was prompt with getting the samples to us in a fair amount of time ! There was a lovely performer there last night serenading us ! So definitely stop in if you want excellent service , quality wine and a little live music . read more

McClain Cellars - 2016 Summer Breeze White Wine - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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Give me books, French wine, fruit, fine weather and a little music played out of doors by somebody I do not know -- John Keats I've been remiss in not reviewing McClain Cellars, OC's only black owned winery. I've been a wine club member for almost a year, here are the pro's and cons. First, the tasting experience (pre-COVID) is sublime. The servers/sommeliers are fabulous, the setting is hip but not pretentious, good food for members with usually great music by local artists every weekend. The people around you are usually nice too, even though it's Laguna. The wines are excellent too which leads into the con: price point. The wines are almost at Temecula stupid pricing, even though they come from Santa Ynez. They are beyond the price points of SB County wineries like Melville, Loring, Story of Soil, Dreamcote, Tercero, etc. In fact the only member level the price point makes sense is at the Founders Club level where you get 30% off. Otherwise, my recommendation is to lower the price points. The wine is very good but it hasn't yet hit "greatness" level that would demand this price point of $50-$80 (before club discount). That nitpick aside, go there to taste and during COVID, they have food from local restaurants. You will enjoy the experience, enjoy the wine, dig the music and if you are richer than I am, join the wine club at the top level and invite me to drink ;-) If they start producing wines with lower price points, or if the wine hits the greatness level that they are striving for, I would happily add another star to this review. Recommended! Recommended! read more

McClain Cellars - A fun place to chill...hopefully they reopen soon as we flatten the virus curve - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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I love McClains! Their own blends of wine are so exquisite and everyone is so nice and knowledgeable. They also have live music where great local talents are featured. I highly recommend this place! read more

Super cool hang on a Sunday afternoon with very generous pouring sand huge wine glasses. I love the signs in the bathroom! It's a great winery and I recommend you all stop by and check it out!! read more

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Really enjoy this wine lounge/tasting room. Great location, easy parking, relaxing atmosphere, super staff and, of course, superb wine!

The wine tasting started off great. Our server was very knowledgeable about the wine and was very welcoming to my girlfriend and I, both first time guests here at McClains. It was quite slow for a Friday night, a few guests had just left so it was just the both of us and another gentleman in the back so we had no issues getting our servers attention when needed. Low and behold, the owner was in the establishment also, as explained by our server. As I was heading to the bathroom, the owner..Jason MCCLAIN, shouts "CAN I HELP YOU!?" and because I knew he was the owner I kept my cool and didn't say anything, as I was shocked and appalled. Our server quickly corrected this goofy ass and said I was there doing a tasting at HIS establishment. A paying customer so rudely questioned. Skip this place, the wine was good but the owner left our palate sour. "Family, Friends, Faith and Freedom. At McClain Cellars, we believe that every day is a gift to be enjoyed with those you love the most. Cheers!" This is your motto straight from your website... Thank you to your staff, however We did not feel welcomed at all by You, Jason. read more

Taylor gave me the best welcome and was patient and kind as she went over the different types of wine. Highly recommend this establishment and can't wait to come back. The Riesling is delicious! read more

McClain Cellars - Glass of Riesling - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

We went for wine tasting and to hear a book author's presentation. The setting was very pleasant, the wine was very good and the presentation interesting. We will be back! read more

I hosted an event here last night and the McClain staff did an amazing job! We had about 30 people in attendance and the staff was so quick, efficient (and personable!) while serving our guests. The attendees had such a wonderful time and loved the venue as well! I was going back and forth with catering or ordering their charcuterie board. I went for the XL charcuterie board and it was so delicious and beautifully presented~ read more

McClain Cellars - XL charcuterie board - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

McClain Cellars is a delightfully wonderful hidden surprise. The ambiance and decor is wonderful. We were attended to by a knowledgeable and attentive server, Agnes. The selection of wines is superb and the hot hor d'oeuvres were very tasty and artfully served. We really enjoyed the live music; it was not only musically very good but also not so loud that we could not enjoy our conversation. We had a fabulous Sunday afternoon and I highly recommend visiting this terrific winery. read more

Absolutely love this place! Great vibes! awesome service. Ian is the best! Delicious wine and snacks. read more

McClain Cellars - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

After a fairly long absence, due to moving out of state, we returned for a glass of McClain Cellars wine. it never disappoints. Each wine is superbly crafted and the winery always feels like home. Listen, it's off-season now. It's the perfect time to stop by and relax with a great glass of wine, a wonderful location and a superb conversation. In all things... love and CHEERS! read more

We had such a lovely time at McClain, especially thanks to Alex's hospitality and extensive wine knowledge. The location is so dreamy, nestled into the hillside, and the wines were fantastic. We can't wait to come back next time we're in LB :) read more

My husband and I stopped at McClain to grab a glass of wine. We left with three bottles and a membership! This wine tastes absolutely fantastic- my favorite being Love & Happiness. We prefer red wine, and I did not try one I did not like (and I tried several). Our host Juliana was a delight- absolutely personable, generous, and approachable. The winery is right next door to a few restaurants and bars, so perfect for a night out. We are excited to support a local winery that is close to home and cannot wait for our next visit! read more

Our server was phenomenal, and they were kind enough to let us bring our own snacks. The place was empty when we went, so that was probably part of the reason why we could get away with it. Most of the wines we tried were pretty good, and we ended up getting a bottle to take home! I would definitely be back, especially since we frequent the area during the summer time! read more

McClain Cellars - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Our review of McClain Cellars is long overdue. We saw McClain's driving to Pageant of the Masters and placed on our list to visit. COVID hit, and life stopped. In June, life opened shortly, and we made our way to the winery one sunny Wednesday afternoon. We were cheerfully greeted and started our wine flight tasting. During our first visit, the Owner, Jason, shared his wine knowledge, and several other patrons gathered to converse. We joined as Founders that first visit, which has led to making many wonderful memories and "wine" friendships. Trisha and Cara are excellent wine ambassadors and honestly care about the brand that Jason and Sofia McClain established with their "Stupid Good" wines. We visited countless times, and if we are just there for a glass of wine or plan to hang out for a few hours, we experience exceptional service. We have introduced our family and friends to McClain's, and they now share our love for the winery. Even in these crazy times, the McClain's have done everything they can to make sure your time with them is magical. They invested in tents, heaters, blankets, and PPE to ensure they can stay open and serve wine lovers. My husband and I enjoy the Popcorn, Charcuterie Board, and Chocolates they sell. They often have live music on the weekends. We can bring our fur baby, sit on the patio, enjoy a glass of wine, and listen to music - the perfect day/night date. We enjoyed visiting the Buellton location, which upholds the same standards as the Laguna Beach Tasting Room. Cheers to your future visit. read more

McClain Cellars - Lovely Day - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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Came here today with my boyfriend for some wine tasting! It's a cute little place, and though it was crowded today the service was still good! They have a good selection of wines to choose from! We chose the Owners Wine flight. It comes with five different wine selections, all of them are red. My personal favorites where "the three daughters" and "love and happiness". The cheese and crackers you get to choose from inside the place as if you were going to the grocery store. It can get a little expensive when it comes to that stuff, but the wine selection options are actually pretty reasonable. And everyone working there was very kind. Definitely a cute place to try out if you're around the area! read more

McClain Cellars - Boursin Shallot & Chive & crackers - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

I decided to come to McClain Cellars opposed to other wine tasting lounges cause of all the great reviews on yelp! When I arrived, I was a bit surprised to see only a few other guests there. But in hindsight it ended up being really nice cause it wasn't too loud to where you can't hear anyone. It made the tasting more intimate among my friends. Once our first drink was poured, our server came in good time intervals for the next wine to taste! She recommended her favorite to be the "Summer Breeze" wine which I wish was on the actual white wine tasting menu cause it was so delicious when I tried it afterwards! They do give you a little clipboard with a score sheet to keep track of the wines. Unlike some reviews, I do believe the price of the tasting was priced accurately and affordable at $35 for 6 different wines. But, the cheese, meats, and popcorns, I do believe are a bit over priced for the quantity you would be receiving which is why my group and I didn't get any. They offer a prepackaged assortment of crackers, cheese, a meats that they sell for $10 but the retail value of those packs at the grocery store are $4. That was a bummer cause some of the wines would pair so wonderfully with some cheese. Overall, if I'm ever in the area again, I would definitely visit McClain Cellars to taste more wines. read more

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Super cute! Close to Sawdust. Had a great time with my girls there wine tasting. Wine was great with a variety of wines to choose from

Nice selection of wines and excellent service. Don't leave without a bag of popcorn... A gem on Laguna Canyon Road.

We visited McClain Cellars on Saturday, November 14th with a 5pm reservation for a tasting. Reservations are currently required during the current time. We were seated promptly and after our server (wine specialist as they call them) arrived, they kept on top of everything and never let us sit for very long. The service was incredibly friendly and we thought the wines were quite tasty. There was also some live music on Saturday night, which made the environment all the more charming. We would definitely come back again in the future. read more

We used to love this place. We met the owners when they were in the building process & loved their passion for good wine & good people. So much that we became wine club members when they opened. But unfortunately it has gone way downhill. The last several visits to the tasting room have been very disappointing. The staff hasn't been attentive & we miss the friendly personable servers they used to have. But none of that is what has moved me to leave a review. I have to leave a review because of how I was treated when I informed them I needed to cancel my wine club membership. I let them know that I needed to cancel due to a medical diagnosis that significantly limited my wine drinking. The email response was cold & disrespectful, quoting a bunch of terms & conditions. When I let the employee know it was such, she left me a voicemail asking to speak about it. So I gave her a chance & called her back. I was met with "I'm so sorry" followed immediately by "I am just following my training" In other words - NOT SORRY! She was even more disrespectful on the phone than in the email. All in all, extremely disappointed at how this place has gone downhill. read more

We love McClain and have been members for a few months!! The wine is great, ambience is fun and the staff is the best. We love that they recognize us and always treat us like family. Both the canyon and forest location are so much fun. read more