Wineries near Santa Margarita

“Stopped here with a large family group on Sunday. Even though they were busy, our waiter, Gabriel was right there to see if we had any questions about the menu and who was wine tasting. My husband and I had already had lunch, so we just did the tasting menu. The lunches everyone ordered looked delicious and everyone commented on how much they enjoyed their food. The only disappointment was some of the wines. The first two on the tasting menu, the Pinot Noir and the 1st Merlot were very good. Nose and palate were delightful....and then we came to the second Merlot. Very acidic, not smooth and soft like the first one. We actually all poured it out. I had hopes for the Cabernet Sauvignon and the Petit Syrah, but they were both also very high in acidity and just not drinkable for us. Again, we all pretty much poured out the last three. I still wanted to give them 5 stars based on our great server, Gabriel; the delicious food and the very comfortable atmosphere.“

“Living in Atascadero and having tasted in a LOT of local tasting rooms, Ancient Peaks is an easy favorite. If I was to allow myself another wine club membership right now, they would be it-- no doubt. Let's start with the location: their tasting room is in Santa Margarita-- a bit off the beaten path if you're in "Paso proper", but still well worth the visit. Tons of seating, nice earthy decor, and their staff is wonderful. This place also doesn't pour a single bad wine-- from the sauvignon blanc to the higher-end Oyster Ridge red blend, it is all great quality. I recently tasted from a huge variety of local wineries at WineFest, and it really confirmed for me that while there are a lot of great options, Ancient Peaks has it totally going on. I hate chardonnay (it used to be all that I bought-- you truly can love something until it is dead to you), but their estate chard is a favorite of mine. The rose is also amazing for hot summer nights, and the Renegade red blend, pinot noir, or merlot are all favorites too. Just try things! You can not go wrong. Their food menu might seem basic at first glance, but know that the presentation & quality goes above and beyond. The charcuterie plates are to die for (GREAT quality cheeses, meats, cornichons, nuts, & dates), and their sandwiches are excellent. It's really all in the quality of the ingredients, and they go all out. My parents are members here & speak very highly of the events & pickup parties, although I can't say that I've attended any. 10/10, great food + great wine. Oh, and parking is easy.“

“Outstanding family owned winery. All of the wines were very good, with the Sangiovese and the Zinfandel being our favorites. The tasting room was very nice and comfortable, and Lucas was a fantastic host, making us feel welcome and sharing some great stories. We’ll definitely be back!“

“Came up here to relax before the Winter wonderland started. They were super friendly and welcoming and the dogs were super sweet. Super comfortable tasting room, nice wines at good prices. The staff was very informative when I had questions. I'll definitely be back for more wine tastings in Atascadero.“

“So glad we were able to taste at Clesi wines! We went home with half a case and our friend joined their club (even though she swore she wasn't joining any other wine clubs!). Adrienne and Chris, the owners and winemakers, were super friendly and knowledgeable. We had the standard tasting and a little more, as we inquired about some wines that weren't on the tasting but either were open or they were willing to open them! Tannic, acidic, complex--perfection for the Cal-Italia style wines that Jim G. and I love! We also had a great time playing with McCoy, their super energetic and friendly dog. Can't wait to enjoy one of their wines again soon and to return to the tasting room; ideally on a warmer day so we can enjoy the outside seating area!“

“Great little tasting spot in the middle of SLO! They have all natural wines, and the manager Steve will talk you through all the options. I had a glass of the brut cider (dry and delightful), and tastes of the Syrah-Grenache (my fav) and Pinot noir (Steve's rec). There are a few tables outside - in front and out back - as well as indoor seating. Some small snacks on the menu, but was also told I could bring my own food in if wanted. Definitely will be back for a glass or more when I come back to town.“

“Outstanding Pinots and Syrah. Blew us away, the last winery we loved every single wine was Woodenhead up in Napa/Sonoma. Coby sounds like a great up and coming wine maker! He's friends with everyone - Josh @ Timbre and Tally! What a great community we have here in SLO. Happy to support and we just signed up to become members. Outstanding!“