Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Charles R Winery

    4.1 (96 reviews)
    ModerateWineries
    Closed Closed

    Charles R Winery Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Charles R Winery

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Rose Grenache. Simply delicious and refreshing when chilled!
    Marshal R.

    Overall 4.5 out of 5 My wife and I have been members for 2 or 3 years now. THE GOOD ° The wine itself is EXCELLENT ° Continually improving wines and innovating ° The staff is super friendly and personable ° Located in a crease of two hills. Nice location ° Dog Friendly THE BAD ° Interior could use some love and refinement - Dress it up a bit more, clean it up ° Some kind of food options would be nice, even if it was a charcuterie or something THE UGLY ° Really wish they'd pave the driveway and parking lot - Makes it so we don't want to take the nicer car to Livermore

    wine glasses and menu on a barrel
    Elvin L.

    This is probably one of our new favorite wineries and tasting rooms to visit! Quaint, charming and a little secluded. We went in for a tasting and Bruce, the manager, took care of us. Made us feel right at home and walked us through the tasting. I'm not a big fan of white wines or rosés but they have a very nice selection that's worth a try. My wife and I are big fans of the reds. Once you've sampled some of their offerings, ask about their events and other tastings. We're very excited to come back and attend some of their events and experience their outdoor patio when the sunny weather returns. Thank you again, Bruce and Charles R. Vineyard for the awesome hospitality and the great selections from today's tasting!

    Tasting menu Oct 2022
    Sara M.

    Tastings were $15 pp and included 5 pours as well as 1 bonus pour and 1 revisit. We really enjoyed our experience here. The garden space is lovely and the employees were incredibly friendly. It wasn't the best wine we've had but based on the experience we would come back.

    Tasting table
    cris c.

    We had such a lovely afternoon at this gem tucked away in the hills. There was a wonderful selection of wines included in the tasting and for $15 it was a steal compared to the rest of Livermore wineries. It definitely is a lowkey mom & pop winery without any big fancy vibe, which I appreciate rather than the big names. We were even treated with a port and the famous brownie at the end. Excellent service and such a fun manager at the tasting bar.

    a glass of wine and a menu on a table
    Jason G.

    Charles R was the host of Wine Wednesday this week. I forget how great the back patio is until I come back here and sit down with a bottle of wine. Great setting and great wine.

    two glasses of white wine on a tray
    Alma M.

    Great place to relax and catch up with friends. The inside of the tasting room is a descent size. The winery's garden-grounds at the back is big with various size tables with shades/pergola. Rion and Mary were kind, helpful, and attentive to their guests. I'm not a wine expert or drink it much but I personally thought the wine bottles my friend purchased were good. We were allowed to bring our own food which is a plus and had the best afternoon celebrating friendship after not seeing each other for over a year due to the pandemic. We'll be back!

    Alex M.

    Really nice place to come wine tasting. Small indoor seating area and large back patio. Wines are delicious- there was an extra fee to taste the port, but it came with a home made brownie. All the wines were good, but we really liked the port, so we were glad we paid a little extra to add that on. We also like the chardonnay, and we don't usually like whites, so that was a nice surprise. Everyone was welcoming and friendly and helpful. If you happen to be in Livermore and you are wine tasting, you might want to stop in here. It will be a big change from the huge commercial outfits like Wente and Concannon. A nice change.

    Porsche C.

    Beyoncé couldn't say it any better: "My friends, real friends, better than your friends...No foe, real friends, we ain't even got to pretend!" Yes, Yes, YES!! How true is that? Real friends are SO hard to find. I mean, you need friends that's gun' inspire you and keep it 100%, right? So when my friends from San Jose texted me and said it's been a minute since they had seen me, I knew I needed to reconnect. They sent me an invite to wine taste on a lovely Sunday and I said, "What the heck! Why not?!" Boy, how I missed wine tasting with great company! We met up and headed to Livermore to view their lovely wineries. Who would have ever known that Livermore was filled with an abundance of amazing wineries? Let alone, delicious white wines?! Like my friend said, "How come you don't know about this place? It's right in your backyard!" Honestly- I feel really crazy to say this, but I didn't know that I was missing out on so many great wine places so close to my house! Charles R Vineyards is one of those places I was sleeping on! The winery is located at the end of the dirt road on Crane Ridge Rd, nestled in the hills with plenty of parking. It's a cute little sweet boutique style vineyard with a wonderful back patio area for big groups and events! I enjoyed the tasting room, but spent most of my time in the lovely patio and garden area with shaded spots, just hanging out with friends and laughing! INTERESTED IN TASTING: Then this is the place for you! They do white and red varietals as well as a dessert wine. My favorite you may ask? The Port! The call it the Port Lovers Special, and honey, its true! It had me wantin' more! It's a tasty 2009 Vino de Amor; do yourself the favor and pay that $3 to taste it! Thanks to the lovely Bonnie, who made them specifically for our group visit! It's $10 to taste 5 different wines (2 whites and 3 reds). I am a white wine lover so my favorite was the 2017 Sauvignon Blanc, which I just HAD to buy! BIG THANK YOU TO STAFF! Yes, you heard me right! The staff here are wonderful! Everyone from Mike and John to the lovely, sweet Steve, who took very good care of me! Let me not forget that we had the lovely pleasure of meeting the one and only Charles! He is such a wonderful and sweet man! You know I couldn't leave without getting my picture with him. Overall, I had a wonderful time with my friends sipping, laughing and catching up! Beyoncé said it best: "We smoke, we laugh, your stress, my stress...Closer than kin, I'm blessed, you blessed (blessed)".

    Terry T.

    P went to pick up her wine club order at this winery,and I went along for a midweek tasting. And taste I did! I tried every wine they offered that day I think there were 8 or 10 and I liked them all including the whites. I was limiting my purchases to one bottle and decided on a very pleasant 2007 Zin. The winery is at the end of the road, through a gate and then down a dusty driveway to the tasting room. The tasting room is large and has some interesting art on the wall. I enjoyed the non-corporate--winemaker lives on the site vibe, and of course the wines that they produce!

    Sean C.

    Powerhouse. It's not a trip that one would find regret in, not unless you hate great wines, good vibes, refined cheese and crackers, breathless surroundings in the cool breeze meadows and the high hills. I was hospitably told that families are welcome at "Charles R.", because the young tots have a yard to run around in or a bag of blocks to dive into. Five stars. Now your question is, how does "Charles R." or any neighboring vineyard's tasting room really gonna stand tall with Napa Valley, Paso Roblas or Solvang? The answer is the wines of Livermore are legit. With all sincerity, Livermore wineries can play with the big boys. More on that later. Top Three at Charles R.: 1. Sauvignon Blanc 2013, 2. Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, 3. Vino de Amor Port 2009; the latter I picked up. Quite a singular Port that's ticklish just enough, but subdued so there isn't too much sweetness overkill. In my fifteen year wine swilling hobby I've only picked up three Ports, so this Vino de Amor would only be my fourth Port I've taken home in such time span. I love the man and wife who run this place. I want to, I dunno, eat brownies and sip wine while talking families, weekend getaways and Livermore geography with them all day. I wanna exchange Valentines cards with them, and get all cheesy. Let's lower the curtain. If you've had that snobby attitude that Napa Valley and Sonoma are the only true wine-tasting expeditions worth taking, then please allow the consideration that Livermore is under the radar and a sport worth taking up. In my thirties now and getting closer to forty then I am back to age thirty, so yes, wine swilling is a sport. Jump in the car. Take a whirl into Livermore. Put your phone down. Done. An hour or two later. You're here now so pick your phone up again. Mosey on in, feel that breeze. Look around, looks like a Town and Country magazine doesn't it? Place yourself at the bar. Agree to low tasting fee. Tell them you're going wine tasting all day. Done. They say we're glad you started with us. Done. Say there was a Sean C. on Yelp who said to start here. Done. They say, I think I remember that guy, he wrote a sparkling review. Done. They pour. Tip your class, put your nose in, breathe in, and say, Thank you Jesus, Joseph and Mary. Yeah, you know it. You're going to have a wonderful day in Livermore wine country -- "it's gonna be our new thing..." #mouthwatering #sublime

    Charles R Vineyard 2007 Zinfandel.  http://Facebook.com/GoodEatsStacy

    See all

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 19
    Thanks 0
    Love this 9
    Oh no 0
    Photo of cris c.
    1
    64
    11

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Alma M.
    3
    141
    8

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Alex M.
    504
    1434
    2175

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tim K.
    0
    26
    0

    3 years ago

    My wife and I had a lovely time at Charles R Winery. Wine was good and the staff was great.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Porsche C.
    1708
    1401
    30031

    8 years ago

    Helpful 41
    Thanks 0
    Love this 41
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of John L.
    50
    122
    17

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sean C.
    1021
    1488
    2964

    10 years ago

    Helpful 18
    Thanks 0
    Love this 20
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ellen L.
    656
    2424
    2337

    12 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    One of the best, family owned wineries in the area! Always enjoys visiting and tasting. Never a full experienced!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Stacy S.
    1601
    1124
    6703

    14 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 9
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    19 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    19 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of T A.
    114
    895
    333

    15 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Charles R Winery

    Review Highlights - Charles R Winery

    Once you get to the tasting room you'll be well rewarded by the Randy and his family.

    Mentioned in 9 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Murrieta's Well - Interior - December 2024

    Murrieta's Well

    4.0(576 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$
    Walk-ins welcome
    Private events

    Murrieta's Well is a beautiful winery with an amazing staff…read more Also, the truffle tots are a must!

    So I have very mixed feelings about this place. Some things are incredible. Some things are not…read moreso great. I am a member of the "Legends" club. So that to me means it's top of the line membership as indicated by their pricing and what we get. So I feel I should get top notch deals, pricing and service. Turns out, we get the same shaft as the lower club members. Starting with the good, the location is pristine. Nice area with lots of room for kids and adults to mingle and play. The wine is also pretty darn good. Of course there are some better than others but I enjoy most of their wine. The service is also for the most part very good. The waitstaff is very friendly and makes you feel welcome. Their food is also pretty darn good. It's not incredible, and a bit overpriced but it's fine enough. Their wine pricing is also fair (but of course with the highest membership we get the biggest discount). My biggest complaints would be the price gouging and lack of communication. We made arrangements on a Friday to show Sunday with 6 and asked for the "VIP space upgrade to lounge or upstairs Vista Patio Lounge (when available)". They said no problem. When we showed on Sunday they said it was closed with no notice. Just a sorry. OK whatever. We sit inside (6 people and 2 children) and they charge for 2 children a "non drinker" charge of $10 ($5 each). A head count charge for non-drinkers? For children? Total nonsense! I am spending over $1,200 a year here and you want to gouge me for someone's kids? Their tastings are $40 a pop which is really crazy. Our price is waived on this so that's fine but if you are not a member you are paying a lot for a little. The wines do take a bit of time to come and they don't give you a lot. Kind of a bummer waiting for the taste. We ended up with 4 appetizers (sliders $24, Charcuterie $25, Tater Tots $12 and Pretzel Bites with Grilled Sausage $16) 2 bottles of wine and $4.25 for water and the bill was over $250. Oh and top that off, with 6 people, they charge a mandatory 20% on the bill for a tip and are basing that with taxes (as the button default), not the actual sub-total so they are actually getting about 23%. All in all, I am not sure that the cost is worth what you get. I mean we are giving them a lot of money just to be members and then having to pay more and more for anything else that really should be included (like water and kids) makes this place just a bit too over-rated for me. Probably end my club membership in the fall and go someplace that doesn't place money first.

    Photos
    Murrieta's Well - Charcuterie board

    Charcuterie board

    Murrieta's Well - DJ JOE MANIFESTO OF THUMP Sound D.J. Services IN Dublin at the beautiful place.

    DJ JOE MANIFESTO OF THUMP Sound D.J. Services IN Dublin at the beautiful place.

    Murrieta's Well - DJ JOE MANIFESTO OF THUMP Sound D.J. Services IN Dublin at the beautiful place.

    See all

    DJ JOE MANIFESTO OF THUMP Sound D.J. Services IN Dublin at the beautiful place.

    McGrail Vineyards and Winery - Peyton Paige Sauvignon Blanc, a favorite!

    McGrail Vineyards and Winery

    4.3(367 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    Nice open area for families and friends to celebrate any occasion and enjoy a wine tasting segment…read moreor just a bottle on a beautiful day! Friendly staff greeting you with a smile and willing to help with any requests or questions! Snack options are limited but available..first come First serve so you might want to come prepared with a read of your own! Just note there are options there...

    I came here for a company outing, so this review is not your typical wine tasting experience. As…read moresoon as I entered the parking lot, I had to whip out my camera. This place is really beautiful, with fountains, gardens, vineyards, and cabanas. As I entered, the staff was really friendly and immediately offered me a glass of wine. We had reserved the entire outdoor cabana area, but since it was raining, we moved the party indoors. The indoor area is really nice with wooden tables and fresh flowers. What's nice is that we can bring food in, so we had food doordashed in. They also have games like corn hole and jenga available. It was a wonderful afternoon of eating, drinking, and walks around their vineyards. My coworker said she has attended a wedding and a birthday party here. This is a great venue for a special event. It's not as large as Concannon or Wente. It's rustic and charming. I'm not a wine drinker, so I can't comment on the quality of their wines.

    Photos
    McGrail Vineyards and Winery - Flagship wine: Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve!

    Flagship wine: Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve!

    McGrail Vineyards and Winery - Outside - Friday night live music

    Outside - Friday night live music

    McGrail Vineyards and Winery - Rose

    See all

    Rose

    Rubino Estates Winery - White wine flight

    Rubino Estates Winery

    4.3(275 reviews)
    7.0 mi
    $$

    What an awesome place! My cousin found this Italian winery after we had some Burmese food that was…read morelocated just a few miles north in Pleasanton. I loved the entry way like and old italian villa with palm trees. Service was nice and the staff attentive but not bothersome. We did a tasting and then I bought a bottle for my cousin and I to share and for one to take home which we eventually shared too lol! The seating area is comfy and has views of the winery and where they make the wine. Totally cool out door seating that was full but not so close that you feel tight. The wine was nice and my cousin gets to pick as she knows more about me in regards to wine and I trust her choices. She is like my sister so I trust her. We both liked what we got and what we got to taste. Overall we both Liked Rubino and we would go again. Highly recommend visit if you like a nice intimate place, beautiful sights and awesome wine.

    Service needs help! Not very accommodating. Even in situations where there is nobody around - it's…read morehard to get chairs and tables put together. We are having a chill time but there is a time limit even tho it's not full. Weird concept. Totally understand if it's full and need to be mindful of timing, but it's NOT full. There is more but I'll just leave it to this! Anyway. Not a fan, won't be back. There are plenty of welcoming options in Livermore and Pleasanton.

    Photos
    Rubino Estates Winery - Some wonderful reds

    Some wonderful reds

    Rubino Estates Winery
    Rubino Estates Winery

    See all

    Del Valle Winery

    Del Valle Winery

    4.4(94 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$

    I had lunch at the Del Valle Winery Kitchen outside in their spacious patio area. There's wine…read moretasting in the tasting room, wine flight is $25, and there's fire pit Fridays from 6-9pm with live music. They have a small menu but the food is delicious and offer large portions. I had the Grilled Gruyere, Prosciutto, Plum & Sour Cherry Jam Sandwich for $18. It was so good with plenty of chunks of prosciutto and Gruyère cheese. My friend had the Chicory and Asian Pear Salad for $18. Large portion offered, which can be shared. She enjoyed the salad. Bryan our server was the best, lively, kind, hospitable, and made us feel special. I will be back!

    We came here for our anniversary and called beforehand before walking in. When we arrived, Bryan…read moreexplained that the wine flight would be a great starter, which we appreciated. Roger took care of us, and his customer service was brilliant. Since it was our first time, he took the time to explain each wine, and even cheered with us for our anniversary on the first one Truly top-notch service. We also received a complimentary wine glass, which was such a nice touch. We noticed Bryan helping the table next to us as well, and he also provided excellent customer service. The entire place was very pretty, clean, and organized. They had an outdoor fire pit and kindly turned it on for me since I was cold--it definitely helped keep me warm along with the wine! The dip and crackers were so good--I especially loved the creamy cheese dip. We also ordered the chocolate lava cake; it was okay... but I have to say, Domino's lava cake might still be my favorite lol. Overall, we would definitely go again!

    Photos
    Del Valle Winery
    Del Valle Winery - Hummus Platter homemade good stuff Chef Chris is talented

    Hummus Platter homemade good stuff Chef Chris is talented

    Del Valle Winery - Outside patio

    See all

    Outside patio

    Concannon Vineyard - Yelp check in upgrade tasting offer

    Concannon Vineyard

    3.9(883 reviews)
    3.0 mi
    $$

    Walked in and the patio/garden outside was res, only but sat at the bar and the wonderful and kind…read morewoman behind the bar was amazing!!! Loved the sparkling Sauvignon blanc and the Mothers cab. Definitely generous with the tasting pours!!! A must when wine tasting in Livermore

    I was so excited to visit for a tasting after trying one of their wines at an event in downtown…read moreWalnut Creek. Sadly, the experience did not live up to my expectations. Cons - our server asked to see our IDs immediately (which is not a problem as I always expect to show my ID). The problem happened when the server was adamant my partner was "not the same person" on the ID. He then pulled out a second government ID and she was insistent AGAIN that it was not him. At this point it was already an awkward beginning and she had to get another person to check BOTH his LEGAL IDs to make sure it's him. That was a weird start to the tasting. - the pours are very small. I realize it's a "tasting" but I have been to many places where they give you twice the amount of wine -we bought a bottle for home, but once we got home realized it was not the correct one (this is partially our fault because we did not check before we left) -outdoor seating can be a little chilly because not all seats have heaters Pros - we had a reservation on a Monday afternoon which was easy to make and we were sat right away - you get a welcome glass of their sparkling wine - Mondays are 2 for 1 tastings, so a great deal for a casual weekday outing - all the wines we tasted were great

    Photos
    Concannon Vineyard - Outside

    Outside

    Concannon Vineyard - Entrance

    Entrance

    Concannon Vineyard

    See all

    Charles R Winery - wineries - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...