On a two day journey up and down Anderson valley we stopped in many wineries. This was our least favorite by far. First, it was expensive, both the tasting and the wine prices. But the real problem is the wines. Compared to every other winery stop we made, the Goldeneye wines seemed watered down and lacking in intensity. We sampled 5 different Pinots, all seemed quite similar. Light on nose, medium in color and truly light flavors. Staff was nice, but too busy talking to each other in the office. The day we were there, Thursday, it was pretty slow, we were the only visitors. Another annoyance was a huge outbreak of fruit flies. They of course landed in the wines, and no one seemed concerned about them. Not worth a stop compared to so many fun places with good stories. It almost seemed like they took the St. Helena tasting room concept and plunked it down in Anderson Valley, don't think that is a good idea. read more

We came to Goldeneye because they had provided the reds and whites served at Obama's '08 inauguration dinner (menus are still on display). Goldeneye has fantastic wines, but what stood out to me most is their "tasting room" - the whole outdoors! It's far and away the most beautiful/pleasant setting to taste your wine in Anderson Valley. The view is beautiful - you can sit on the back patio and just gaze at the neat rows of vines and into the forests in the back. It's super peaceful - if the wine doesn't make you sleepy, the serenity and burbling fountain surely will! Also, the staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. We ended up getting a chilled rose here since we enjoyed it so much. read more

Goldeneye Winery - Wineries Near Me - Philo, California

Came here on Saturday with my husband and it was an amazing time. The property is beautiful and the wine tasting was really good. We sat in tables 6 feet apart all overlooking the pretty vineyard views, and besides the wines they also provide water, and crackers. Alexis helped us and she was very nice and made us feel welcomed. In summary, great customer service, wine and views. read more

Gorgeous setting! Amazing landscaping! Divine Wines! Super respectful staff of the COVID19 matter. Great picnic area. A real treat!

Holy Alexander Valley. This was our first visit and if you love pinots like I do it is a MUST. Beautiful sit down tasting and garden/ vineyards to walk through at non Napa prices! But really, the entire tasting was Pinot. It was a dream. Can't wait to go back! read more

What a beautiful spot. The staff were most gracious and informative, and the wine tasting was excellent. We even found a rose' we like (a first). Careful adherence to Covid protocols put us at ease. Highly recommend. read more

While in Mendocino we decided to do a day of Pinot tasting and Goldeneye was our first stop. We had made a reservation to take their Estate tasting session which is a 45 minute semi-private tasting (8 people max) that discusses the winery's history and production process while tasting wines paired with a selection of cheeses, nuts and dried fruit. This was one of the best tastings I have been to. Our host was knowledgeable and friendly and the setting was breathtaking. At $20 per person this was a steal compared to Napa. Before you arrive pick up a picnic lunch and sit and enjoy the magnificent views of their vineyard. read more

Goldeneye Winery - Wineries Near Me - Philo, California

Well manicured grounds but easily the most expensive for tastings in Anderson Valley. You will get a beautiful view here but mixed treatment from staff. In our case the woman pouring was fantastic and fun but the management or indoor staff was not very hospitable. Overall most people I think go to Anderson Valley to get away from Napa. This place feels very much like Napa. Check out some of the more down to earth feeling places if you really want to feel welcome. Disclaimer, we had a group of 8. They didn't seem to like the group. read more

Another update. Nothing has changed at this still wonderful wine 5 star tasting location. Goldeneye also offers the best assortment of pinots IMO. So much so, I finally broke down and joined the club. Left w/2 bottles of Ten Degrees, their premier pinot. 1 to drink right away and 1 to save for yrs to come. read more

Beautiful views. service was great except that yelp indicated they close at 5 and we arrived around 4:25 and they were already closing shop. We were given a standing tasting (they usually seat you in the courtyard) - but at least they comped it ($15 per person). We bought wine so expected that to be comped regardless (but seems like most of the reviews do indicate its an expensive winery to visit) read more

I have to update my review after the owner contacted me directly to discuss my experience. I thought that was great customer service and nice to know they care what their guests have to say. I would definitely go back! read more

Absolutely beautiful setting in Anderson Valley - one of the most beautiful wineries that I've ever been to. Tasting staff is friendly and insightful, offering helpful backstory and answering questions as needed. The wines are delightful - interesting array of luxury pinots and a tasting that allows you to taste all 6+ wines side-by-side, which helps with comparing. Love this place, the wine, and the experience. read more

Ok, so our actual tasting was great, our server was amazing. But, the rest of the experience was honestly just upsetting. I scheduled a tasting for four people, days in advance. We arrive, all good. Tasting, all good. Ordered a couple cheese plates, great. Then, the wine club pitch. I am easily sold, I'm a big fan, and it sounds like a good idea. This is when It starts to go south. 1. In order to join the wine club, you need to pay for your first shipment that day. Not a big deal, I totally get it. It seemed a little weird, but I'm totally cool with it. 2. I bought a bottle of Paraduxx to open and taste, and then bought a case. Great. 3. I asked if I could switch out one of the Pinots in the 1st club shipment (that was on my bill that day) to one of their cabs. The answer ... NO. The server even acted as an advocate on my behalf and casually introduced me to the tasting room manager while we were in the cellar room, pleading my case. The manager looks at his feet and mumbles, "no substitutions with the wine club" and walks away. Wow. 4. I add the additional bottle of Cab to my bill and I am still ok. I proceed to checkout with an $800 plus tab. I'm a little bothered, but still ok with paying the tab. Then comes the kicker. After scheduling an advance tasting, joining the wine club, paying for it up front, buying a case plus a couple bottles, a couple cheese plates and some gift shop stuff, I am told that they can only waive two of the tastings. Yeah, I couldn't believe it. It was actually only three tastings and they wouldn't waive the third. I'll spare you the remaining details, but we got married two days later and there was not a Goldeneye bottle in sight. read more

We just did a tasting at Goldeneye. What a beautiful setting! And our guide, Matt, was so helpful, knowledgeable, and gracious. Highly recommend!! read more

If you like big commercial wineries and beautiful grounds, this is the place to go. The place seems corporate and impersonal. We asked one server if we could bring our dog to the patio area and she said dogs were welcomed. Another server came by and reprimanded us for taking up too much room with our dog. Our dog was on a leash and sitting under my chair for shade. She is an English bulldog and very lazy so she does not run around at all. She also does not bark or jump on anyone. There was only one other party in the patio area and several open tables so I am not sure why this server thought we were taking up too much room. The patio and views are beautiful, but the rude service made the experience unpleasant. We felt like we were not wanted there for some reason. We quickly finished our tastings and paid the server who had served all our wines and was somewhat nice, the one who said our dog was welcomed. We went to our car and the other server who had reprimanded us ran after us and yelled at us for skipping out on the bill. I calmly and politely told her we handed our money to the other server and she should have asked her before accusing us of running out on the bill. I am not sure what her problem was with us, maybe because we did not buy any bottles or order any food. I felt she was trying to push sales. We have been to many wine tastings (not just in the US, but also in Argentina, Australia, Italy and France) and this was my worst experience ever. As for the wines, they were decent, but overpriced like many corporate wineries. You can definitely find better wines at better prices elsewhere. If you like exploring smaller producers, go elsewhere. If you want the brand, go here. To the Goldeneye managers, please educate your workers on customer service and communication with other servers before falsely accusing good paying honest customers of theft. read more

Doug is the man! He made our experience amazing; totally laid-back, yet super attentive. Goldeneye itself is beautiful and the wines are exceptional! Highly recommend stopping by if you are in the area! read more

This is probably the best tasting I've ever been to. The staff is friendly and highly informed. Samples are given to you outdoors with a stunning view of the vineyards and the mountains. Each tasting is accompanied by an informative card about the wine and the vineyard it was grown in. On top of it, you get a little bit of cheese, some almonds and some dried cherries. They had a very good rose so I bought two bottles (waiving the $15 tasting fee). The pinots were great, but I didn't really feel like they were better than cheaper pinots I've had in the region. I'd definitely stop by here just for the tasting, though. So worth it. We lounged out in the lawn chairs with our wine for a while after tasting with no complaint from the staff. It was great. read more

It's impossible not to sing "Goldeneye" out loud to the tune of Shirley Bassey's famous James Bond theme song, "Goldfinger" when referring to this winery. Or maybe that's just me? The name Goldeneye is pretty bold and so are the wines. A $15 tasting is like striking Pinot Noir gold. It's probably crazy busy on weekends so if recommend a Thursday or Friday visit instead. On a sunny "summer" afternoon, the Goldeneye patio cannot be beat. They bring you wine while you enjoy the view of the vineyards under a shaded umbrella. If there were a hot tub and pizza nearby, it'd be like heaven. For the quality of vino, the price of a bottle is worth it! No, I don't uncork $80 vintages often, but it's something to purchase and set aside for a special occasions. Philo is definitely "out there" but a destination for wine lovers. Go visit a few tasting rooms and make a two-day trip out of it. read more

It's a long drive from Napa to Ft Bragg, so thinking of a place to stop to help break up the trip I thought that this may be the perfect place to spend an hour. One of my biggest loves of my life is Duckhorn Wine. They are known for their Cabernets and Merlots which by the way both are absolutely amazing. Some years back they decided to venture in the Pinot market and opened this winery in the heart of the Anderson Valley. Their gamble paid off as Goldeneye is a home run. Not only are the wines some of the best and biggest full bodied pinots around, the winery itself offers one of the best wine tasting experiences in Northern California. A very low profile, causal and totally friendly spot where they don't make you feel intimidated and offer a stellar tasting. They use Reidel Burgundy stemware and pair your tasting with cheese, fruits and nuts. And do this at a very nominal charge. There are plenty of excellent wineries to choose from in the area, but do yourself a favor and get drunk here. read more

I do like the wine and food pairing idea at a tasting room, which, say, La Rochelle in the Livermore Valley does so well, but it didn't really enhance my enjoyment of the Pinots here. Although I will steal some ideas from their "Pinot Pairings" notes on their web site. Sometimes the subtle nuances of a tasting will fade before you get a chance to write a review, and while I enjoyed all the Pinots here, nothing truly stood out, which is to say it was just another great Anderson Valley pinot experience, which isn't a bad thing at all. I didn't find the experience snooty at all, as some others found it, although the sit-down pairing was a little different, I had done it before. I didn't find any pretentiousness here. Which is a good thing, because wine should be fun, and I hope they didn't catch my James Bond moment out by their sign in front. ;-) read more

I'm torn about Goldeneye. I wasn't blown away by the $75+ wines, but they did comp us our tasting fee for buying a bottle of vino. The service was excellent. I really enjoyed sampling my wines on a couch with yummy cheeses. My roundabout problem: Goldeneye is beautiful. It is a beautiful wine house set on some of the most gorgeous vineyards (which while I was there the leaves were turning...I sight I'll never forget) placed on a mountain backdrop. It's screams I want my wedding here, I want my wedding here. Unfortunately, I was told that Goldeneye is often commented on how beautiful their setup would be for a wedding, but in realty, they can't accommodate one. BOOOOO!!! 3 stars for the wine, 5 stars for the wine house. read more

The pinots are very good. Landscaping is beautiful. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. read more

Goldeneye Winery - Wineries Near Me - Philo, California

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What a disappointing experience. We came here on a recommendation and we were so excited once we saw the property. The property is absolutely beautiful. Upon arrival we were greeted with, "We are closing in one minute." The wine hostess was extremely rude from the very start. We thought because most of the wineries in the area closed at 5:00pm, Goldeneye would be the same, certainly not the case and she made it known. Although, they had people still having wine on the patio and a couple purchasing it was not like they were closing anytime soon. The wine hostess then asked the manager what can she pour for us. The manager told her to pour their new releases, as soon as the manager left, she poured whatever she had open and there was not very much left in the bottle. So she only poured a few glasses and not very much because we had to share what was left. We checked out the property, since it was 4:30pm and the sun was going down...the view was gorgeous. Took a few pictures and started to leave. One of the girls went to use the facilities within the tasting room, as the 2 others followed suit, she told the other 2 girls, the bathrooms are outside and that's the one they should use. We felt we were not welcome and I think if she said, we are closed and avoided this disappointing experience, we would of respected that. IF she would of poured us the new releases like her manager had suggested, we probably would of purchase several bottles. As we heard their wines are very good. Again, we have friends in the wine industry and they recommended this place, so unfortunately we left with nothing...huge sales lost. Perplexed as to why they would have someone so rude pouring is beyond me. Anderson Valley is not an easy place to get to. So enter Goldeneye with caution. If you must try their wines, hopefully your experience with customer service will be better than ours. read more

Lovely winery!! My sister and I visited for the day and even with the smokey air the location was beautiful. Doug was helping us and he was just the most adorable and sweetest man ever!! They have a great amount of tasting for the money and their Sparkling Rose was soooo tasty!!! read more

We came here for wine tasting and got scenery with our flights. We sat on the back patio with our dog and were served two full tastings. It was slow so the hostess sat with us and explained each wine in full. We did join the club because we wanted the two bottles that would be sent to us for joining. We were comped the tastings and given 30% off the two bottles that we bought that day. I think Tuesdays are a good day to drop in to this winery. The grounds are beatiful, neat, perfectly manicured. The table settings are clean and lovely. There was shade, glasses for the water that was available. And great wine. Just perfect. read more

My boyfriend and I had an incredible tasting at Goldeneye a few weeks ago. We were driving from Mendocino to San Francisco and had a 50% off coupon for a tasting from our B&B, so we decided to stop in at Goldeneye. I'm so glad we did! Everything was wonderful. 1) The setting. Everyone told us it was the prettiest vineyard in Anderson Valley, and I can see why they said so. The grounds are stunning, the grape arbors are beautiful, and everything is California-style sunshine-y perfection. 2) The wine. We did the standard tasting, which was $15/person - though only $15 total for us, since we had the coupon. We also got a cheese platter with four kinds of cheese, crackers, spread, and nuts. Really tasty, and perfect with the Pinot Noirs we sampled. We ended up coming home with two bottles - both were way more $$ than I've ever spent on a bottle before, but we're going to save them to open on special occasions. I always used to say that I didn't have a grown-up enough palate to appreciate the difference between good wine and REALLY good wine, but Goldeneye proved me wrong on that point. Their wines were like silk: so smooth, so easy to drink, and so delicious. 3) The service. Our server was fantastic. She answered all of our questions, was clearly very knowledgeable about Goldeneye's history and production, and brought us a complimentary tasting of one of their most expensive (and definitively incredible) wines at the end of our tasting. She never made us feel rushed, which meant we sat for two hours on the patio, covered by an umbrella but still able to look out over the vineyard in the sun. I didn't want to leave. Goldeneye, I'll be back! read more

Really picturesque estate with photogenic vineyards and seating area. You can even enjoy your tasting out on the patio and they'll bring out the wine to you. It's nice that they also provide some dried plum and truffled nuts to pair with the wines. Known for their pinot noir wines, my favorite was probably the 2013 Narrows, a more earthy wine. Over time the estate wines got more air, they all turned a bit plummy, reminiscent of umeboshi (japanese plum), which was very interesting and different. I hear this is more common in Southern French pinots. This wasn't really my 'cup of tea' or 'glass of wine', but interesting to have the option nonetheless. All the bottles were on the pricey end at $50+ a pop and the tasting was $15 for about six wines. read more

Goldeneye....we saw the sign and I could hear Tina Turner's voice in the distance luring me to be the next Jane Bond of bottling. Ok, I was wrong. No such fantasy exists and the tasting room was anything but an exploration in espionage. We had a few good nibs of nuts and cheese along with our tastes. Great patio and garden I could not try due to horrible allergies and the heat of a thousand suns, but the pinot was pretty damn good. I'm pretty easy though, once I get a few pinots in me. Nothing really stood out, but I like the mature air about the place and the seriousness of the pairings. We sat like two children at the adult's table with our big glasses of wine and tiny little almonds. I was only disappointed because there was no there to actually guide us. Perhaps if you go to Goldeneye, it just must be understood you are a connesseiur of wine and know what you're doing, and how to drink it, and what to pair it with. The slight nuance of your nose meeting a stinky piece of cheese must mean heaven if you sip the right wine. Unless you are me, and see said cheese placed before you and practically eat it all before your first sip. How can that be good? I have to agree, it's stuffy yet casual in a strange sense, but I enjoyed the experience just as well. read more

Mixed feelings about Goldeneye. We went to Anderson Valley to escape the Napa atmosphere and there's definitely a piece of Napa in this experience. That said the pros make up for the cons. Pros: * Beautiful grounds, designed to let visitors walk amongst the vines and explore. * Good wine, pretty much from top to bottom. * Staff was attentive but not in a hurry to get you out. Definitely had a "take your time and enjoy" attitude. * If you're staying in Mendocino, most inns have 2 for 1 tasting coupons. Cons: * Napa prices. My wife and I like to taste blind to price and then guess what the bottle cost is. There are a couple of bottles under $30 but then OMG, three $82 Pinots! Welcome to Anderson Valley, Napa. All in all we'd probably visit again but this is not a place to buy your Thursday night wine. read more

My husband and I became members of Goldeneye when we visited Duckhorn in January. We enjoyed the Gowan Creek Pinot we were able to try and decided to join them, as we don't get too many good Pinots currently with any of our memberships. We were lucky enough to be a part of their spring social, and enjoyed some delicious bites with delicious wines. We were also able to try some of Migrations wines and those were really good as well. The staff was extremely friendly & very helpful. Only con is, we wish it was closer so we could visit more often. We will be sure to return, hopefully soon! read more

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I had drank a couple of bottles of Goldeneye before my visit. Goldeneye was on the top of my list for my visit. I told them I wanted to try both flights and share with my fiance. I met a very lovely lady who poured our first 3 wines and then told us she was going on break and the other lady would take care of us. I was a little apprehensive because this had happened to me at duckhorn on our first visit. I wait and waited outside and ever tried the flag out the pourer. She just looked at us and walked away. We then decided to move inside and hopefully get someones attention. It never happened even though there were three people working. I went up to pay for the tasting and the lady asked us how our tasting went. I told her that we were forgotten and she as were left she flagged us down and refunded our tasting. I would give this place another try, but really the idea of a pourer having tables and not even looking at the other people is beyond me. This has now happened at 2 of their 3 wineries. read more

This is one of my favorite wineries that produces some of my favorite wine. We are very satisfied wine club members. Goldeneye was the first Pinot Noir I fell in love with and one of the only I still adore. Zach Rasmuson, who was the winemaker up until 2012 (and who is still involved with Goldeneye) has a magic touch of art and science that resulted in a Pinot that is complex yet easy to drink. It is bold, smooth, spicey and crazy good. I am hopeful that since Zach was diligent in selecting his successor, Michael, that the wines will continue to be as delectable. The single vineyard wines are still my favorites with the Narrows leading the pack. Unfortunately the Narrows had reached its peak and much of it was recently replanted,which means limited release for the next several years ahead. Fortunately Gowan Creek has been a solid contender the last couple of years. These are just my own personal favorites and wine is really such a personal thing - so for many the Confluence vineyard is a favorite. I never go wrong with a bottle of their flagship Pinot either. It pairs so nicely with food and is a "go to" quite often. I feel the wine is well worth the price and that the price point is more than fair. Beyond the wine, the winery itself is such a treat. The setting is idyllic and the staff are very friendly and knowledgeable. Janelle was very helpful during our last visit. Unfortunately, Paula whom we had visited for years, just recently left for an opportunity closer to home. No matter whom we've had the pleasure of meeting with, we've always received the highest level of service. I highly recommend considering an elevated tasting experience for a visit as the cheese, nuts and dried fruits bring out wonderful characteristics in the wines. read more

Goldeneye Winery - Lunch on terrace is back for warm season. - Wineries Near Me - Philo, California

In a word: IDYLLIC! Yes, yes. True confession. It's gushy. It's drippy. It's melty. It's LOVE! The perfect place to frolic. The scenery bucolic. You can't be melancholic while you sip the alcoholic Bacchus nectar is symbolic of mood turned hyberbolic. The weather helped, but their wines... divine! And the grounds are gorgeous. You will not want to leave. You have entered Pinot's pearly gates. Pinots are their specialty and they have it down to an art form. We tend to like the Golden Eye label better than the Migration--being more full-bodied and robust. And for those who can't abide the red there is the Migration Chard (very light oak, no butter) and Golden Eye Pinot Gris. I defy you not to like! Yes, you do pay for a tasting but it's paired with cheese, nuts, and dried fruit. And sitting outside, under a blue blanket of sky with or without the umbrellas for shade, all you can think is that life in Pinot paradise is good. Yes. it's very, very good. read more

I"m giving a low score only b/c I don't care for the reds which was outrageously expensive. The place itself is gourgeous. They charge for the tasting, not too much but odd for Mendocino. I was really most interested in their rose which I liked and not too expensive so I got two. Their reds are way over extracted and no way worth the cost for my taste which is of course subjective. Very nice people at the tasting room. read more

I came out here last year. Had a wonderful time. Did our tasting outside, with an amazing view and grounds. Just stunning to be out here. Tasting staff is friendly and very well versed in the wines. They had great cards to explain about the wines, too. I like the Goldeneye (duck) theme. Had a nice Pinot Noir here. Didn't choose to come home with it, but it was tasty. I may try another vintage. Little higher price than I'd expect. It is worth a stop just for the scenery. But, do stay and taste the wines. read more

WOW just WOW... I did not enjoy their wines that much, and they do require a $5 fee for tasting...But man...that view was gorgeous! We loved sipping wine in their "back yard" while looking at the vines....the beautiful fountain and enjoying their cheeses, almonds and breads...Great experience...I will definitely return when coming back to this area. We were so impressed with their landscaping...Great place to come and take pictures at... read more

Amazing! You have the option to do the tasting indoors or outdoors. It was beautiful outside and we sat at our own shaded table while the lady brought us our wines and plate of cheese/crackers. Near the end she gave us a glass of their special 10yr anniv wine on the house. The lady who helped with our tasting gave us a little short history of the Mendocino wine area. It use to be all apple orchards until they figured out it was cheaper and required less water to grow grapes. read more

If I had to sit back and watch the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse appear over the horizon, bent on the destruction of this world, Goldeneye Winery, with a glass of their wine in my hand, would not be my first place to watch the end of days....but it would surely be in the top five. It's a lovely, very expensive property. I don't think the wines are worth the price they charge, but the views more than justify the stop. read more

Goldeneye offers a tasting experience you won't find too many other places, and that makes it pretty special. Sure, the tasting itself is pricey, but the quality of the wine might itself warrant the cost. The real value is that nobody bothers you, or tries to be your chum or upsell you. You are left at peace to absorb the cool air of the valley and enjoy the company you brought with you. read more

The seating atmosphere and wine (particular the pinot noir choices) were excellent, but the way the business was run came off as a bit pretentious and more consumer-calculating than other wineries we visited. First, the landscape was probably the most beautifully well-laid out of anywhere we visited on the trip. The tasting area outside faces the vines and afterward you can meander through the grapes. This greatly added to the "tasting with your eyes first" affect. The wines were excellent, and our server was very knowledgable. I think we tried 5-6, starting with a rose and finishing with a great pinot noir. The wine descriptions on the cards in front of you are comically flowery (more so than usual), but they just made for a good laugh. We didn't mind making a reservation (the only place that required one even for a larger group), but at one point they turned away another larger group without a reservation because they were too busy - even though large empty tables graced the tasting the area. It felt as though they were trying to be unnecessarily exclusive. The presentation of the wines was well done, but performed in a way that made it feel almost as though market research and focus group studies had been incorporated into the spiel to maximally influence concumer purchasing decisions. That said, it may have worked as we bought one of the more expensive bottles, but were dismayed to learn that they did not wave the tasting fee upon purchase of a bottle (almost a given practice for everywhere else we went). read more