It's probably been eight years plus since I've been here. But I was thinking about it today because I have a friend of mine that's up in that area. The owner John was an amazing man with the most fantastic stories. He built the winery building they were in the furniture, the bar, including a beautiful table a lot of it is out of Redwood. I believe he has a place up in Big Sur or did I bought two bottles of wine and I really did this day. Wish I had bought more from him strongly recommend I love little Mom and Pop wineries, and he takes great pride in it and it shows. read more

What a hidden gem! Worth a stop. Lovely convo. Great with kids. We came in with a 2 and 4 year old. Great wine and very passionate about what he grows. Highly recommend a stop. I don't believe there are any crackers/snacks but if you have your own it should be welcome. We left with 2 bottles of Zin. The owner left my kids play with his grand daughter's bike in the shop. Tasting is $5 a person but if you buy 2 bottles he covered our 2 tastings. read more

Rocky Creek Cellars - Wineries Near Me - Templeton, California

See all

Great wine! Love John and all he does making great aged reds! Been a member for a long time!

great soft unfiltered wines, stories and storyteller make you want to stay. Going back this spring.

Rocky Creek Cellars has a special place in our hearts and is always a favorite pitstop we like to make on our way to Monterrey. My husband and I have been coming here for years and even bought a case of wine bottles for our wedding! Both Dusty & John make you feel welcome and the wine is tasty. The prices per bottle are also reasonable for the quality & their 2018 Cabernet & 2020 Pinot are really delicious. Located right in the heart of the mountain side and valley, John lets his wine ferment over 5 years & it's no wonder these grapes come produce such good wine. Thanks, John! read more

John was an amazing host during his "social hour." We came in with our toddler and infant and John was super welcoming and got out books and magazines to play with. He even shared some of his home made dried apple slices with our toddler, which she loved! Our toddler is shy, but as we drove away called out loud "Bye, John! Thanks for the apples!" We loved hearing about the wine intertwined with stories that John shared. I love beer and love wine, and enjoyed all of our tastings. We first visited Rocky Creek about 15 years ago on a way to a wedding and loved it. Ended up buying a couple of bottles to enjoy when for other milestones in our lives: wedding and buying a house. At our wedding, we had Rocky Creek Wine at our table. We order it online every once in awhile and Dusty is super helpful with the shopping. Today's visit felt like visiting an old friend. read more

Hands down my favorite place to come have some good wine and great conversation. John is the most gracious host - always makes us feel like we have come home. My favorite from Rocky Creek is his Zinfandel- I think it's 2018. Very reasonable prices for some really amazing wine. read more

See all

Good lord. We met John. He was awesome. We had so much fun hearing his stories and about his family. Both of us are former military. And we are both fans of fossils. But wait ... there's more. The wines were all delish. Usually in a tasting I would only find a couple I liked. Here I had to choose which I wanted to buy. I was hard to keep to my budget. Oh heck with it. Okay. I overbought. But I have good wine at home now. Don't miss this lil' gem on the drive near Paso Robles. Especially if Johnny is working. I WILL return. read more

Best winery on 46 Family owned and operated Come listen to a story about a man named John.... read more

The wine is good but the front of the house staff was rude. The older man made odd comments. The experience.was not enjoyable.

Rocky Creek Cellars has a dog friendly tasting room and wine tasting is $5 for 4 wines (all red on my past visit). I came by this winery last Sunday afternoon with my husband and little girl dog. There was one party of 3 already in the tasting room, so pretty quiet for the most part. The girl behind the counter greeted us and started us on our wine tasting. Unfortunately I did not like any of the wines but I do have to say that I was surprised that their red wines were not as acidic as other reds that I have had. My husband did like the cabernet (he usually likes cabs in general). We did get a chance to try the ruby red dessert wine even though it was not part of the tasting. The only reason why was because after an older couple came in for a tasting, the girl behind the counter had offered it to them (and because we were next to them, she offered it to us too. But I don't think she would have offered it to us if the couple was not there). I truly LOVE dessert wines but did not like this one at all. It didn't have the same sweetness that I was expecting from a dessert wine. The tasting room is rather on the small side. There is a couch to sit on and lay out if there is little space left at the counter. You are also welcomed to walk around outside (a great patch of grass right outside of the tasting room for pets to relieve themselves (and their humans to get some fresh air). The girl hostessing our tasting told us that the owner (John) made all of the tables in the tasting room. They are really a work of art. There is a unisex restroom behind the counter and was clean upon this visit. Service was not overly friendly but relaxed. Also was not overly attentive but wasn't a big deal to me. Overall, our experience was A-Okay, thus the 3 star rating. By the way, the only food served here is complementary crackers and Hershey chocolate kisses available for nibbling. read more

See all

This was our first stop on our way into Paso for our vacation. I had called before about making a reservation and he said not to worry and just come on by. We were the only ones there probably because he's off the beaten path. I'll tell you this, we didn't talk much about wine, and his pours were basically fully glasses, but boy did we have a good time and felt like he basically adopted us. The wine tasting started off a little rough, but ended so well. The petite Syrah came out of left field and was the best wine I drank during our whole time in Paso. The cab was my husband choice which is aged longer than most, and you can taste why. We will definitely be making this our regular stop on our way through. read more

The wines were good. The location and scenery is above average and pleasant. Unfortunately the owner suffers from a serious case of Trump derangement syndrome and was about as rude and disrespectful as one would expect from a brain washed TV dweller. Normally we avoid politics, in this case is was just unavoidable. The score on the wine may have been higher had he not worked so hard to insult my wife. Good experiences definitely have an affect on the end result. read more

Do not let this winery fool you. Their website stated "the tasting fee is $15 and is waived with a purchase of 2 bottles". My partner and I thought "what the heck - that's an inexpensive tasting. We'll both do a tasting". The wine was terrible, so we did not purchase any wine. When it was time to pay for the two tastings, it was $25 each, for a total of $50. We were stunned but frankly, after listening to the owner's tired stories and political commentary for 45 minutes non-stop, we opted to just pay and get out of there as quickly as possible. This place is not worth your time and money. read more

My wife and I have been visiting Paso for over 20 years. After driving past on 46 West many times We finally decided to stop in and taste at Rocky Creek. What a wonderful experience. The wines are aged longer than most wineries and all were great. John, the talented winemaker was super friendly, funny and had many amazing stories. We felt like family when leaving. I'd highly recommend visiting RCC. read more

Rocky Creek Cellars - John, Ann and Robert - Wineries Near Me - Templeton, California

We came here on our trip to Cambria and had a chance to talk to the owner John. He told us such interesting stories about his life and his dogs and his vineyard! He was a delight to talk to! The tasting consisted of six red wins and normally we aren't red wine fans but we liked each and every one so we made sure to get a bottle before heading out! Definitely recommend. read more

I broke down sorta on 46 west(near Old creek rd,,,.car overheated,,I hiked up and the owner John gave me a big ol jug of water,,,which my car took almost all of,,,he SAVED my afternoon,,,,much appreciated,,,made it home about 10 miles with no over heating,,,next visit I will try the wine!,,,,,thanks amigo read more

My wife and I, both who thoroughly enjoy winery touring, visited this small and great little winery. All were reds and very good. I'm thrilled that as a gamble, we won, it is highly recommended. Plus, the owner John, also the host, was a funny/interesting character. Two up! read more

Awesome place. Family and small town feel, it is a father and son business. Their wines are aged longer than most places, so when you taste, the wines are not young. The Pinot we had today was from 2009 and was perfectly aged. Their Zin did not taste like a Zin to me, but it was still very enjoyable. We left with a case of wine... It is the Wine Weekend. They had live music with seating outside and a BBQ. Andrea did our tasting and she was great, very informed about the wines and shared that her hands are also literally in the process of winemaking. This is a gem of a place. They only sell their wines to visitors and club members, something that is hard to find, especially for a place with delicious wines. I highly recommend stopping here! read more

Rocky Creek Cellars - Views of tasting room - Wineries Near Me - Templeton, California

See all

Thanks John for not only sharing great stories but pouring arguably the best wines we've ever had the privilege to savor. Purchased one of everything which was a first! read more

Although I didn't get a chance to actually taste the wines, the man behind the counter also wasn't willing to serve us. Granted we arrived a few minutes before closing, the experience should not have been what it was. The man, that looks more like small gritty cowboy, was on the phone and remained there a few mins before acknowledging us. He explained that he only had red wines and wasn't sure if we would like them, in addition to the tasting room closing in a few mins. We agreed that we would quickly do a tasting and we presented a Coupon that our hotel had given us. He proceeded to ask us if we had driven past rocky cellars, and told us no one likes working for free. He Instructed us to return tomorrow at opening hours. We were all shocked and speechless. The man walked out the door with us and asked about my bfs disability placard. He asked "who was paraplegic", and what the injury was. I didn't know that rocky cellars employed a doctor/ police officer that enforced disability parking placards. The gentleman jumped into his silver soft top bmw convertible and drove off into the sunset. Thank you for showing us what a winery shouldn't be like. I'm sure we won't be missing your corked wine anyway. SKIP THIS PLACE!!! Discrimination at its best!!!! read more

Spent a weekend in the Cambria/Paso Robles area and visited 5 wineries while I was there. This winery was by far the worst one on our trip. With soooo many different wineries in the area, just continue on highway 46 and skip this place. The gentlemen behind the counter, the owner, i found to be pretty rude, abrasive and lacked any efficient communication skills. I also found the wine to be overpriced and tasted all very similar. It was just an awkward experience in general. We were also the only 2 people in the winery and at times I was hoping for others to walk in so I could talk to someone else besides the owner. Never again. read more

Heard from friends that this little hidden gem was worth looking for and tasting.... so right!! Travelling up Hwy 46 it could be easily missed, but don't! We met the owner, John, working on his truck casually outside. (And yep, that's his woodwork if I remember correctly) He was so pleasant and explained their method of aging. No rushing, no chemicals, just the good stuff. Each wine was definitely it's own. Excellent!! Friends joined the wine club but I opted for a few bottles to bring home for special occasions. I'm not a Cab Sauv fan, but Rocky Creek's was very good! Homey atmosphere and comfortable experience. Will ALWAYS be a stop on the tasting (and buying) plan!! Cheers! read more

Short story: The owner John sold me ONE GLASS of wine for $20, when the bottle was $36. I returned the next day to ask him why...he shrugged his shoulders and asked how much I pay in the city for a glass...told him $12-$15..he gave me $5 back. He's unethical and tries to rip you off...beware. Longer story: I went in not expecting much, and just settled up at the bar and asked John for a glass of red. Thought I would be in there for 15 minutes, as I was just killing time. Him and I ended up having over an hour conversation over lots of topics including our families...I felt we had a good rappor and at the end of the hour, I almost felt like he was gonna say "that glass is on me"...so I gave him my credit card and said that I need to get going and I'll pay for the glass. He charged me (I didn't ask how much, as I figured around $10 ish with tax maybe $12ish ?)...and then we exchanged pleasantries (no receipt) and left. When I checked my cc the next day, I saw the $20 charge. I was pissed, I'm used to high prices in the city, but come on, $20 for a mediocre wine, and the bottle is only $36 ?!! So I confronted him and he was grumpy and telling me that I'm only doing this over money, when in reality it was because he tried to scam me and I was hurt that our genuine convo the previous night was not as genuine as I had thought. He gave me $5 without looking me in the eye. I hope my review will at least just have one person not go to this winery. He has sold it and will no longer be there starting in January...maybe he's trying to make a quick buck before he disappears, but regardless he made me feel like a sucker. As my parents live in the area, I'll be sure to have them tell their community about John. read more

Great wines. Good service. John was a pleasure. Our whole group said this was one of the best places we had visited all weekend. Laid back vibe. He didn't volunteer much information initially but once you get him talking you can see he is an expert in his field. Some of the longest aged wine in the valley. read more

Great winery for someone who likes light body reds. Staff was very friendly and the dogs were a wonderful treat. Great family operation.

Great wine, great service! A must see winery in the Templeton area. Had a fantastic time here!

Loved this wine tasting room because of the great Cabernet and other red wines since the process that Johnny the winemaker takes in producing them. 5 years before they are ready for your pleasure with no sulfites and preservatives and so robust and soft to drink. It's not your hip or commercialized tasting room at all but a raw hide and family style experience. Johnny the owner is a authentic and honest man and full of life in his 70's and unique. I hung out with him for a few hours - just because ... thanks for the great afternoon and I'll be back. read more

I almost wish I could review them twice because we did think the wine was pretty good. We actually bought a bottle of the Syrah. The experience we had in the tasting room was the worst one we had during our three days in the area. I found this winery on yelp--it had good reviews and was open on a Monday. I called ahead to see if they were dog friendly and the young man said yes. When we drove up and started walking in, the owner (I think) came out and the first thing he said to us was not, "welcome" or "hi," it was "please don't let your dog on the grass." This bothered me as a rude way to greet customers. I actually said to my fiance, "maybe we should just leave" and I almost wished we had! Once he started pouring wine, we both thought he was really abrasive and it was uncomfortable being there. Luckily another couple came in and they were very nice. They have a yelp deal for 15% off your purchase. When I told him about it, he said, "oh I don't know what they do with the computer, so if that's what you say it is." Personally, I think wineries should waive the tasting fee when you are buying their wine. It just annoys me that they are trying to make money off the tasting as well. I get charging the tasting if I'm not buying anything, but why charge me the tasting on top of the wine I'm buying from you? read more

Tucked up away on Highway 46, Rocky Creek is a homey little tasting room with the charm of a rustic cabin. The folks that run this place, like most of the wineries and tasting rooms in the area, are a family, so you can tell a certain amount of personal flair and attention has been put into everything right down to the tasty crackers they serve with their flights. Not all of the wines they presented were a hit with me, but the two that stuck out as particularly memorable were the 2004 Zinfandel and the Sangiovese, both were robust and had a nice finish (plus they are two of my most favorite varietals, so when they are done well they're doubly good in my book). The weekend we visited was during the Zinfandel Festival, so they had a live band (a la Hendrix covers and similar) and free BBQ out back (very tasty!). The family members that run this outfit are charming and fun to talk - not one once of pretension here, which is sometimes rare at wine-related venues. All in all, I'm sure my husband and I will be back for a second visit next time our travels take us down to Cambria. read more

So unique and full of character! If you're a snobby wine type and are looking for an upscale, fancy experience - look elsewhere. If you're looking for a good time and great wine then you found the right place. This wine is unfiltered, all natural, and full of heart. Each wine on the list is so different from all the others which really makes for a great tasting experience. Give it a try! read more

Not a bad little place and probably would have bought more. Price point was very much in line and I think there was one or two wines that were okay. read more

I came with my fiancé and the hospitality was worst I had ever experienced at a Paso Robles Winery. I would never recommend nor suggest anyone to visit this place due to mgr on duty in his silver roadster bmw. I do wish he learns some manners in customer service. read more

Some of the best red wines in the area. John is amazing. Great to have a family winery so close by. The Estate Syrah and Cab were delicious. Nice stop on the way to Paso/Cambria! read more

I really like this place. Been here a couple times, and John the owner is pretty cool. Definitely a blunt and honest guy, but when you here more about his life, it totally makes sense. The wine is pretty delicious. I believe he ages it 3 years in oak barrels before bottling, so the taste is deeper and more complex. We left with a case and an extra bottle, so I guess we really liked his stuff. read more

Beautiful, entryway to a small tasting room off the beaten path. Unfortunately that was the extent of our enjoyment at this winery. Upon entering, the manager was on the phone and neglected to acknowledge us for several minutes until he finished his phone call. By then, it was 5 o'clock and he greeted us by stating that he had only reds that he could quickly pour for us. When we replied that we enjoyed reds and showed him our tasting coupon given to us by the Cambria Pines Lodge, he retracted his initial comment stating that he was closed and to come back tomorrow. He further said that we didn't like staying late after work and neither did he. After rapidly ushering us out, the silver-haired gentlemen with glasses had the audacity to ask "who was the paraplegic?" indicating our handicapped placard on our truck as he hopped in his BMW Z3. Totally uncalled for and disrespectful. read more

Do not go here!!! Manager ignored us, became defensive if we did not finish our tastings, and it was overall very uncomfortable for everyone. We left before we finished our tastings. The worst experience I have ever had at a winery. read more

What an amazing experience! This was our last stop wine tasting in Templeton. They were closing soon but John was cool with us staying for our wine tasting. He really made our experience a memorable one! Besides the fact that all of his red wine tasted delicious, he was super friendly and knowledgeable about LIFE! We had an amazing conversation with him, my boyfriend and I. We were the only 2 there with John. We discussed important topics that usually are sensitive subjects for most people but not for us. I'm glad we stopped here and will stop by again. This isn't a fancy type of place but if you're going for quality and reasonable price for wine, this is the place! Thank you John for being real & honest! We will be back! read more

I would AVOID this place. This was our last stop and unfortunately was not a nice end to our wine tasting adventure. The man pouring was just constantly talking poorly on all the other local wineries. We couldn't get put of this place fast enough. I don't care what you think about other wineries, you don't bash them to your customers. He was very off putting and I would never come back nor recommend them to anyone. They need a better tasting room employee, not the old hippy grandfather babysitting the winery for his son, as he said to us. read more

Best red wines, easy drinking, no bitter taste ,well balanced. I would recommend highly. You'll would be surprised. A small family run winery. You can tell that John enjoy his craft. No fancy building to impress you to come in and visit, Not needed. The wine alone stands up to them all. No blends,this wine doesn't need to be blended. All wines are over 5 years old. When on the Highway 46 you need to stop by and enjoy one of regions finest. read more