Sub-par Wine with Horrible Customer Service. Not a good combo! Should have read all the yelp reviews before visiting this place. Was advised to make a reservation prior to arrival for the wine tasting. We called 4 times within the two weeks prior but no one ever picked up. Wtf? We figured their reservation process was to simply leave a message with our anticipated date and time. Not the case. We arrived and spoke to Steve who was plain out rude and unyielding without any inclination to assist us at all. He was condescending and extremely snooty. We were in the Los Olivos, Lompoc, Solvang area for 4 days and this was the only winery we had a bad experience with. Another couple overheard our conversation with this snobster and while we were outside they mentioned that this winery had subpar wine that was way overpriced. I guess that was consoling to hear. The only upside of the experience was the Mini Pony/Horse farm across the street :) read more

Rideau has made some major improvements to their wines and you can taste them immediately! We've been tasting here a couple of times per year for several years and the wines never really stood out to me as spectacular or anything, but let me tell you, things have changed. Each and every wine we tasted was delicious. I would buy a bottle of every single one. Moreover, the service was stellar! Our, errr, "server" "pourer," I don't know...the gentleman who poured our wine (young bi-racial fellow) was so charming and very knowledgeable about the wines and the wine making practices. My husband and I had a great time just sitting with him and learning all about the various fermentation processes for each wine and gleaning his overall wine wisdom. It was a blast. We'll definitely return and are strongly considering joining their wine club. I should also mention that Rideau Vineyard is situated on a beautiful property with an amazing outdoor event space in the back of the main building and cozy, Victorian, cottage style decor in house. There are ample seats along two long bars, as well as, a "living room" in the parlor area. This would be a great location to host a party or pack a romantic picnic. (Hubby are you reading this??? - hint, hint) I hope you make time to visit this Santa Ynez Valley gem and enjoy it as much as we did. read more

This is probably my fiancee's favorite winery in the Solvang area because their wines are always top notch. If you're willing to spend a few bucks (I should probably leave out the word few as the wines here are EXPENSIVE), this is a great place to grab a bottle of red wine. I also tried some of their flatbreads and that was nothing special. NOTE: The last time I came here, they started selling growlers of wine here! $30 for a growler of wine is a really good deal at Rideau (refills are $25). Each growler fills around 2 bottles of wine... enough to share with your favorite guests. read more

The tasting offered 6 wines for $12, and we were also offered two additional wines that were not on the tasting list. The Sangiovese and the Albarino were wonderful. We left with 7 bottles. The tasting experience was very laid back (no snootiness). The wines were reasonably priced. The Sangiovese was probably the most expensive bottle I purchased at Rideau. It came in at $44. In addition to the excellent wines, there was food available for purchase. The front porch was very inviting and couples or friends could sit down and enjoy a bottle of wine together away from the tasting area. There was also a huge sitting area located on the property as well. You will not be disappointed! read more

I don't think this winery gets enough credit. I first discovered this winery upon a recommendation of a coworker when I was still living, going to school, and working in Santa Barbara. Back in those days, this winery wasn't as well known and was still a well kept secret. Since then (just a little over 4 years ago), this winery has stopped giving out wine glasses with their tastings and the Mardis Gras beads that they used to hand out so generously. They also stopped giving out free samples of their very tasty bread spreads. What a shame and the second reason along with their pretty high prices why I gave them a minus one star. If you do find yourself in the area doing some wine tasting, spend the extra $2-$3 bucks and come out to this winery. They offer a good selection of red and white wines to taste. Their riesling is not to be missed! It's not too sweet or fruity, but rather refreshing. Also, they offer a a cheese, meat, and fruit plate. It's a bit pricey for $12, but the portions are pretty generous. It's got about 4 different types of cheese, dried figs and peaches, almonds, cranberry spread, basket of crackers and bread, and one of their homemade bread spreads. Perfect to share between 2 hungry people. If you can, buy one of their bread spreads. They're pricey at about $11 a pop, but I highly recommend the dried tomatoes and artichoke bread spreads. Once you try them, trust me, you'll wish you had bought at least 2 more jars. read more

I really wanted to give this place a better review. It's got a nice tasting room in a beautiful old house, it's got that Creole, New Orleans thing, it's got a fleur d' lis as the logo and beads galore. The wine is decent, but no free glass. Not that this is how I judge a winery but if I spend $12-15 for a tasting, I'd better have the option to keep the glass as a souvenir. (In New Orleans, they would do that.) Not that I wanted the beads but when I saw someone else said "no beads" in their review, it just confirmed to me that the spirit of Mardi Gras and New Orleans was not really being honored here. The pourer that served us was distracted, didn't have answers to the questions we asked and generally seemed as though she'd rather be anywhere but where she was. Since my 2nd visit was such a bummer, I won't return to this winery again except maybe on a sunny day to eat lunch on the grounds. But they won't get my money again. read more

Got the Groupon for the wine tour/tasting. It was a good deal in that there was a $40 credit for bottles of wine which theoretically reduced the cost of the tour/tasting to $35 for four of us. I like the wines at this vineyard however I did not think that the tour/tasting lived up to it's description. It's mostly a guided walk around the vineyards followed by a tasting. They gave very little bread and cheese to go with the wine--I really thought that they were going to pair several different cheeses to the wine but that was not the case. It was one small plate of bread and cheese to spread out between several tastings. Be warned that you need to come here on a full stomach as there is very little food served from the snack bar/kitchen. We were starving at the end of our tour/tasting and had to gorge on bread and pizza. There used to be a time when this place made the most delicious sandwiches to go with your wine as you sat on the patio, but not anymore... :( Regardless it's still one of my favorite vineyards in the area. The grounds are beautiful and I like sitting on the patio drinking wines. They also have a lot of wines besides the usual syrahs and pinots found in Solvang. The blends here are excellent. My favorite is the Fleur Blanche. I should have bought more than one bottle when I was there.... read more

Atmosphere: 5 stars! This is what a winery should be like! Secluded, nice music, grass, great views of vineyards. Wine: good read more

For my 29th birthday, after skydiving, my friend took me here. WOW!!! I am not a wine connoisseur by any means and the lady that served us was very informative and helpful. The grounds are BEAUTIFUL.After our tastings, we just walked around. What's funny is that I usually prefer the reds to whites but ended up getting a bottle of their Sangiovese as well as their 2010 Estate 'Stainless Steel' Viognier. They were just SO delicious. Most definitely making a trip back here, the next time I'm in the area. read more

Hmm, I wasn't all that impressed with this winery. They offered some very good varietals, but overall I didn't think the wines warranted the hefty price tags. Thought the reds were too weak and the whites a bit too overwhelming on the alcohol. The riesling, however, was quite good and I left with a bottle. I doubt I'd go back, though. read more

If you have kids who love to run around, this is probably the best vineyard for you to go. I've been to many many vineyards in Santa Ynez valley and became member of a few of them. For supporting local business, we decided to go to 1 or 2 different vineyard every week after they were allowed to reopen. On the day we were at Rideau Vineyard, weather was beautiful, wine was good, the lady who served our table was nice, but it's so annoying there were kids non stop running around, singing and screaming at the wine tasting area. None of them wore a mask ! We wondered why this never happened at other vineyards we joined ? We told 2 employees those kids were too noisy, but nobody said sorry or did anything. One of them even said it's very important for them to run a kid friendly winery ! (LOL ... winery for kids ?!) We decided to go home after we saw people leave one after one. Obviously, this is not a winery for romantic couples or some people who need a break from work or kids at home. read more

Rideau Vineyard was just ok. The wines were good (I've had better), but the atmosphere and customer service was very poor. The woman who poured our wines was uninviting and someone that you would be upset about if sitting next to her at a dinner party. Basically, you'd be stuck talking to a Debbie Downer. Hate to say it like that, but that's what it was. I was trying to pronounce the name of the wine in french, and I thought I had it, but she kept on correcting me with a very unforgiving tone. I was over it. Go here if you want, but it would not be a place that I would go to again. With so many wineries in this area, why go here. read more

We did the wine tour/tasting which was enjoyable and well done. We purchased 2 bottles of wine and paid an additional $70 for the 2 bottles. We inadvertently left the wine in the tasting room, and I subsequently made 5 calls to the winery. They NEVER answer their phone so I left messages requesting the wine be shipped to us. NO RESPONSE. After 4-5 weeks of trying, I wrote a letter to the OWNER, Iris Rideau, requesting that she intercede in the situation. NO RESPONSE. The level of comfort they have in totally ignoring my requests speaks to their level if professionalism in dealing with clientele. It's incredibly frustrating to be ignored time and again. Follow up: Rideau Winery sent us the wine and extra to apologize. It is a nice tour and the wine tasting is good...just don't forget your purchases! read more

This place was amazing! Great wine, great ambiance. The fields are beautiful and just so relaxing. Highly recommended. Was brought here by some friends for our anniversary, we didn't want to leave! We also got the opportunity to meet the Diva Iris Rideau herself! She is a down to earth sweetheart! Our wine server was Seth, awesome guy!! Very informative and not a bad looking gentleman lol. Don't think about it! Just go!! read more

Rideau Vineyard - This place was amazing! Great wine, great ambiance. The field is beautiful and just so relaxing. Highly recommended. - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Solvang, California

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I had the opportunity to have a wine tour with 13 of my closest girlfriends. I had the best time. Our tour guide Norma was the best a we got to meet the owner Iris! This place is beautiful with lots of history. I would recommend this elegant place to anyone! read more

Rideau Vineyard - Birthday wine tour - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Solvang, California

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Love it... Puzzles me why it has low scores... fabulous time up there this weekend. Took the tour, drank the wonderful wine, ate the cheese, conversed with other winos. Our tour guide Reza was professional, informative and fun. Beautiful grounds... bummed I can't give it a few 5 stars - this 3.5 is an injustice. Try the very unique Mourvedre Estate 09... that's the bottle my wife and I purchased. read more

First visit here this past weekend. Amazing!! The grounds were gorgeous and the staff was very very nice. We weren't able to catch a tour as we didn't have reservations but did the wine tasting instead and walked The grounds. The lady was so helpful in answering our questions about the wines. Will definitely go back. read more

Rideau Vineyard - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Solvang, California

Love the roses out front and restored history house. This was our second stop on our short self-made bike tour out of Slovang. The wine tasting was great, I enjoyed the reds! Our sommelier was SO helpful. We like to try our wines side-by-side (red and red or white and white) so we can tell the differences and compare and contrast. We learn better. She was so nice by pairing our tasting with another wine not on the list and explaining fully in detail about the two. We brew beer and were trying to gain perspective in wine making compared to beer brewing and had a nice informative session with a few people. I'm a red fan, but learned a lot about both their red and white. We also were able to try their wine on tap, yep on tap. As well as compare the on tap wine with barrel aged and stainless steal aged. Such a great time, I wish I could go back soon. read more

With a Travelzoo coupon in hand we set out on a double date day trip to Solvang. The vineyard looked very homey with outdoor seating in the grassy backyard perfect for those who want to relax and soak in some vitamin D. Our tour of the vineyard began at 3. With a taste of wine in hand we walked around the vineyard and learned some fun facts about how the wine is grown. This tour was the perfect length to give us an interesting taste of wine growing culture without making us too bored or antsy. We then went back inside to a quaint little room that seats 10 for the tasting. Our tour guide poured us four more wines all of which I thought were pretty exceptional. He explained how to store them properly, serve them properly and enjoy them properly. Not sure if I'll actually be able to follow the rules... but good to know. Each of the wines was paired with a different cheese and crackers. I wish he hadn't poured so quickly to give us time to enjoy and discuss. Unlike other wine tastings I have been to this is somewhat less social. Everyone sits in their chair and listens to the tour guide as they taste all prim and proper. But overall it was a pleasant visit and I really enjoyed their wines. The whole Travelzoo tasting, wine class, tour experience lasted about 1.5 hours and we were given a bottle of white to go. Can't wait to drink up! read more

Amazing winery with great service and friendly staff. They let us in on a Saturday and we didn't have an appointment.

Even though Rideau had to make some adjustments to follow county mandated void 19 restrictions, they still managed to pull off a SAFE and very pleasant tasting experience! Spring has sprung and the roses and garden are spectacular and beyond beautiful. Thanks to Nikki as well for superior service! read more

Yeehaw Honey. Dish me up some of that there black beans and rice. Give me a big ole glass of Tempranillo and I'ma head outside and listen to the jazz band. At least thats what I thought in my head as were doing all those things... read more

Have you ever gone to a winery and a party broke out? That's what happened to us and boy am I glad it did. My wife and two friends decided to go this winery as a fun day trip. We got the coupon from Groupon and set off for the day. The winery is beautiful, not unlike most wineries. I love wine, but I hate the pretentiousness of it all. My motto is "If I like it, I'll drink it!" As we arrived, the band was setting up to play. A Blues Band! That's when I knew I was in for a good time. The tasting area was full so the lady showed us to a table on the patio, near the band. The guy at the next table said we should sit there because the sound was better, without being overwhelming. Our first round of tastings came out, she poured them at our table. Then the band started to play. A group of women celebrating a wedding jumped up and started dancing. Then an elderly lady, I swear she was 78-80, started going around the room, telling people to get up and dance. The lady could move! I came to what I thought would be another snooty winery. Suddenly, I was transported to Nawlins (New Orleans for you snooty people). The old lady reappeared, this time with a carafe of Chardonnay, and started pouring into our empty glasses. We explained that we were waiting on our next pour, and she said "Then you'd better drink up!", and danced away to her table. We partied like we were in Nawlins. The remaining pours were generous to say the least. Then we were told, this wine is not on the list, but I thought you'd like it. This happen over and over. I was told by the server that they always have a Blues band or a Jazz band. I asked her why she left her old job at a winery and came here. Because it's always fun here! Nuff said! read more

So my wife grew up in Santa Maria, and when we got married in '03 we decided to have the wedding at Mission Santa Ynez and then go to a local winery for the reception. This of course lead to many wine tastings as we tried to narrow down a spot for our schindig. So we hit the Foxen Canyon wine trail, the Solvang wine trail, the Santa Ynez wine trail, the Solvang wine trail, etc... Some were good, some were bad. Rideau was one of the good ones. I've had the Kalyra wines, the Firestone wines, the Gainey wines, the Buttonwood wines, and the Rideau wines. I've read the reviews below, and all I got to say is if you're trying the others and then have Rideau, Rideau is heads and shoulders above the rest. Really. The other Reds from the surrounding vineyards taste like grape juice. No body or depth of flavor. The Rideaus are in a different class. Are they a Stags Leap Cab? No. But they are sure heck better than the $20-$30/bottles of Reds that you find at the other local wineries. Yes they do cost more, but you get what you pay for in this world. Great site for a reception. Got on the Club membership and got case shipments saving up for the party. We gave the tables generic whites and reds that we found on sale for $5-8/bottle and kept the reserves for the bridal party and the people that we knew could tell the difference between a $5 bottle of Chardonnay and a $35 bottle of Chardonnay. The wife and I have been back several times, again trying the other vineyards, and everytime it just seems Rideau's wines are just better. Yes we do belong to the Reserve Cellar club, and I do understand that they charge $20 for a tasting of the reserve reds for non-members. But if you're drinking the cheaper tastings and not enjoying them, maybe the reserves are what you should be drinking. The last time down we went to Kalyra after, paid our $6 tasting fees and threw most of their wines in the bucket. There was no comparison. I don't think I ever had a wine shipment where I had a bottle of wine that I didn't enjoy. I can't really afford to throw down $50/bottle for a case of the Chateau Duplantier, but I really enjoy it when I get a bottle in my wine shipment. As for the staff, I don't know what to tell you. We showed up 10 minutes before closing, and the lady had no problem opening bottles of the Reserves for us. She waived the tasting fees for the couple next to us when they signed up for the Cellar Club. She nice, friendly, knowledgeable even though the room was packed with sweaty bicyclers in their spandex outfits. We're not old either. Early 30's. I guess if you're young and show up drunk and bitch about the tasting prices some people don't respond. Figure that. read more

I've been searching for a year for a Chardonnay that sits as well with my pallet as Rideau's 2013. I know I'm just a wine novice but from Napa to Sonoma, from Whole Foods' and World Market's extensive selections, no other has captured my favor until now: Rideau's 2014 Chardonnay! As for the vineyard itself, it's a refreshing change from the commercialized "restaurant" or "hall with a wine bar" feel of some other Vineyards. Instead, it reminds me of going to a cousin's beautiful home in the countryside who just so happens to make some incredible wine! In fact, the owner, Madame Rideau, was there serving wine, partaking in tastes of her own favorites, chatting, laughing, and enjoying her guests' company. And the wine.....my complements to the maker! Some wineries have one or two good wines. Rideau's entire lineup is good! Definitely 90+ all the way! read more

We decided to taste at Rideau last week, and didn't plan to become members until we had tried a few more wineries. The wines were so good that we joined, and returned on Sunday for another tasting and a delicious pizza. read more

2009 was our first visit to Rideau, after I was gifted the best bottle of Riesling from here, we had to go see and taste for ourselves. We have come back three more times since the first initial visit. The wines are the best tasting in the area, hands down. They also make a sundried tomato and olive tapenade that are extremely tasty. The wine tasting is wonderful and now they have the BEST charcuterie platter. We get that and a bottle of wine...shoop! read more

Out of all of the wineries I tried, this was my least favorite. The wine was alright, but not to my liking so much. The wines were also expensive relative to surrounding wineries! However, the grounds were pretty and had an ambiance akin to one of those old English tea houses. This was the most crowded winery we went to, and that made it drop a few points right there. We could barely move once we got inside! We didn't do much here or buy much merchandise since we couldn't get any service. read more

Beautiful grounds and wonderful hospitality. My bike tour stopped here to set up a picnic with our tasting and it was just breathtaking. The team here does a fabulous job of knowing their wines as well and catering to your needs. If you're looking for a great spot to have a family fathering they have plenty of beautiful open space to being your lunch and the children to run around while the adults sip and sit back and relax. read more

Beautiful scenery and delicious wine! Thank you to Steve and all the staff at Rideau Vineyard. We just celebrated my mom's birthday and although it was super packed we always felt like Steve would check-in with us and even took our family photo. It was about 15 of us and they were able to accommodate our group with two tables. Gorgeous views of the vineyard! Really a beautiful place for a mini-getaway. I'm a wine club member and was able to pick-up my wines and enjoy with family. Highly recommend! read more

we came upon this vineyard randomly during our stop in Solvang on our way up to Hearst Castle from LA. All i can say is that I'm glad we did. It's one of the smaller vineyards in the Santa Yenez valley and while the ambiance (rustic) and wine were really good. What made our visit phenomenal was our wine tasting experience with Seth who was serving us that day. This dude knows EVERYTHING about wine and it's process, but is hardly a snob about it like you might find at other places. You can tell that he's just passionate about it and really enjoys talking to you about it without talking "down" to you in the process. Can't say enough nice things about him or the Rideau so if you're up in the area, do yourself a favor and visit. And to top it all off, we got a free tasting for checking in on yelp. So hopefully that deal is still in effect when you visit. Thanks yelp! read more

Wine, New Orleans, and olive tapenade? When can I move in? My honey and I came here for a tour, wine tasting, and tapas which was a package deal for $35 from Groupon, which is a great value for the experience. When my boyfriend and I got the the vineyard we were about 15 minutes earlier than the tour appointment time, and since we were starving we ordered a salami pizza from the small Bistro they have within the premises. The pizza was not too big, $12, but it really hit the spot and was delicious with a thin and flavorful crust. Once we sat down to wait for the rest of our party, Norma, our tour guide introduced herself. As we would learn through the rest of the tour, Norma is a jovial, kind, and informative Irish woman who has been working for Rideau for eleven years and has a rich understanding of both wines and the history of the vineyard. And because we were early and had to wait for the rest of the party, she gave us a free tasting while we waited, which is always a good sign in my book. The tour itself moved through the house, a historical building, through the wine making area, and into the yard. I won't go into too much detail because you should really experience the tour and learn the details at Rideau. But suffice it to say that I learned a lot about wine, the wine making process, and the charming history of Iris Rideau, a lively woman from New Orleans and the owner of the winery. Through each step of the tour, we were given a new wine, each more delicious than the last. The tour ended with us being seated in a cozy room, being fed tapas - salami, cheeses, bread, and the best olive tapenade I have tasted. At the end of it all, we walked out with a newly purchased bottle of wine, a jar of tapenade, and a newfound appreciation for the winemaking process. I highly recommend it, and I look forward to coming back for more. Oh, and by the way, on the weekends there is live jazz! What's better than good wine and live jazz? read more

Been to this vineyard twice and it is gorgeous. Love the wines and had one really great server who made the experienced just flawless and one who ignored us the entire time (hence the -1 star). That being said we loved it enough to purchase a wine club membership. Def try them out!! read more

I figured I owed Rideau a review because my friend went to Solvang and all I requested was a few bottles of the Rideau Riesling (I wanted more but thought it may be asking too much lol). Their wine is delicious and the grounds are beautiful. Don't be afraid to just relax on the grass and enjoy the scenery. read more

I purchased a Groupon voucher for $69 which included wine tasting, a tour and a snack plate for four at the beautiful Rideau Vineyard. My friends and I were beyond lucky because our beautiful and funny guide Norma informed us that they just harvested some grapes that morning and we would be able to witness the crushing of the grapes. Having the opportunity to witness such flavorful grapes enter their second stage of winemaking was an awesome experience and so much fun! The wine, oh the delicious wine which is housed in beautiful French oak is phenomenal! The whites, the reds and the blends in between were so delicious, fruity and flavorful without that metallic taste which is caused by stainless steel barrels. The only disappointment was that we were unable to meet the wonderful owner, Iris Rideau but my friends and I are planning to return for one of her events, so hopefully we can meet the woman behind the vines! read more

What a beautiful place to be. This house looks like it was taken out of a romantic fairy tale or another wonderful place. Walking up to a dirt path with green grass and lovely trees surrounding a house covered in climbing white roses. The garden is filled with lovely blooming plants to include bearded Iris, which I assume is because the owners name is Iris. Around back of the house is a patio area where you can enjoy the cool breeze while drinking a glass of wine or enjoying the food from their bar or maybe a picnic you brought and today was a special treat they brought a band in playing a New Orleans type Jazz. What a beautiful place to be. I've been here three or four times and each time my senses are delighted. So, now for the wines. I will keep it simple they are wonderful. It's hard to choose which I like best. The whites are cool, crisp, light and fruity. The reds are, warm, lovely and inviting. We left with five bottles. Ask for Ida, she is wonderful and delightful! read more

Beautiful place Very friendly and knowledgeable staff Wine is amazing Bought the tour on Groupon Definitely recommended read more

I visited on a Friday afternoon near closing. The tasting was smashing, The Estate Wines are brilliant. Don't fool around. Go for the Estate Red Tasting. I loved my New Yorker wine steward. She had a bit of an edge to her, and I liked it. The thing about the wineries in Solvang and surrounding areas is that they don't make it complicated. They're farmers, and not snooty jag weeds looking to make you feel like you're a loser for enjoying Franzia and other boxed wines Ha. The grounds of Rideau are effing gorgeous. My homeboy and I explored the grounds, walked up a hill and saw all kinds of nature goodness. Hollowed out trees, lush grass...I kept waiting for Yogi Bear to jump out and snatch my food. I dig this place. It has Creole influence so you walk away with fine wine, and beads. And you don't even hafta show your t*ts. Go. It's great. read more

I had an amazon voucher for wine tasting tour with tapas. Tour guide, norma was very knowledgeable and sweet! It was a beautiful day and the land is breath taking! read more

Rideau Vineyard - The wine tasting rooms/bar - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Solvang, California

Great tour with the friendly guide Shay who passed on to us so much knowledge of wine. With five tastings of different wines ranging from white to red and a comp $20 credit towards any wine purchase, their $35 tour is an amazing deal that you just cannot pass up. The 2012 Chardonnay was best in my opinion, but all wines were lovely. Definitely will come back and tour again. read more

Rideau Vineyard - Wine Cellar - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Solvang, California

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