Truly enjoyed our time and the wines a Kukkula. Our goal this trip to Paso was to only go to boutique wineries, and this one is a gem. Beautiful tasting room ... will definitely return. read more

Kukkula Winery - tasting list - Wineries Near Me - Paso Robles, California

10/10 recommend this tasting room and all of the wines. Friendly dude managing the tasting room, with really good vibes. We bought a few cases because every bottle was great! read more

Kukkula Winery - a hand holding a wine glass - Wineries Near Me - Paso Robles, California

See all

Wonderful wine and staff, it is our new go-to winery!! Highly recommend Aatto, Sisu, Noir, and Lothario for those that like reds. Relaxed ambiance and beautiful view of the hillside. Went three times the week I was visiting Paso and it delivered every time! read more

Kukkula Winery - Wine tasting experience with host Arian. - Wineries Near Me - Paso Robles, California

We lived this winery. First time there. Jamie waited on us and was awesome. The wine was different than others. They were crisp, clean, pure and had unique tastes. My girlfriend says they were delicious. The winery has a modern clean atmosphere. We will be back. read more

Another first time winery and we were extremely more than satisfied! Kukkula was our last stop for the day and it definitely was a Finnish finale! Their wines are very insatiable on the palate and create an appetite for more! We will definitely bring friends here for more tastes and chats with the friendly staff. Impressed by the wine maker and owner, Kevin, for all his creativity in the wines as well as the presentation for ambiance. His story that brought him to this leg of success is motivating and awe inspiring! We Left with a couple bottles to enjoy with friends back home! We will return soon ! Until then Kukkula, Bravo! read more

Kukkula Winery - Kukkula winery is a gem of a winery to visit! - Wineries Near Me - Paso Robles, California

See all

I really liked this place! It's easy to miss so be vigilant of posted signs. It looks like you should take a right after going into the first driveway but it's actually for the single handicapped spot (which we accidentally pulled into). Instead, go straight. There aren't really marked spaces but just... park in an organized fashion. The building and the surroundings are absolutely beautiful. The tasting room is a bit small and I can imagine it getting crowded real fast. There was only one person staffing it that day, the guy with the grey ponytail. He was friendly enough and was knowledgeable about most of the wines. Tasting is $20 and waived with a two bottle purchase. The Rosie was one of the most amazing rose's I've had. Most rose's tend to have a alcoholic / chemically bite and this one did not. It was on the sweeter side and tasted exactly how it smelled: like strawberry jam. Many people in my party really enjoyed it. The IPO was very interesting... a 2010 blend of cab syrah and zin... it's got a very funky / musty savory flavor? not sure how to describe it but I imagine fermented plums? Long story short, wine tasting is enjoyable and worth a visit. read more

Love, love the this winery. The contemporary looks and feel of the property is amazing. The views from the owners home must be amazing. The tasting room is a cozy and contemporary, staff extremely friendly. The wines were delicious and the vibe was cool. Definitely one of the wineries I would visit again. read more

Kukkula Winery - a shelf full of wine bottles - Wineries Near Me - Paso Robles, California

See all

They have some good wines, in a beautiful surroundings. Not very accommodating with children, no food allowed inside but no seating outside either unless you are a member. Not allowed to taste wines that are just for members and did not tell how to become or maybe didn't want us as members perkele. Kippis sisu viinillä! read more

Lady who answered the phone was very lacking to say the least. The winemaker cancelled my reservation two minutes after sending me an email stating I could modify my reservation. Place doesn't allow walk ins, phone reservations , and wants you to pay to even make a reservation. Never heard of this practice in the industry, in fact most places encourage cash paying customers so you can tip their employees (some places don't have a gratuity line on their invoices) read more

A wonderful wine tasting experience in a beautiful setting. Austin assisted us in the tasting process and his knowledge of the science of wine making was incredible! The wine was delicious and we have become club members to continue in enjoying Kukkula wine. We truly enjoyed meeting Kevin and sharing thoughts and stories of our shared Finnish heritage. read more

Last time I was in the area, I zoomed by Kukkula and made a mental note to return. On my latest trip to Paso Robles, I remembered to stop and enjoy this new and upscale Rhone winery in rural Chimney Rock Rd. Cell coverage is weak out here, so keep an eye out for their driveway which does jump on you without warning. The tasting room is above the winery with accessible parking up the hill. The winery focuses on fun named Rhone blends including lots of Syrah. I am not a fan of Syrah, but they had some unique wines that did tickle my palette. According to legend, they no longer serve their famous lunch due to space concerns, but they are still selling wine in a classy and upscale atmosphere. If you are big into Syrah, I recommend stopping here for a remote and fancy tasting. Maybe you too can find all the lizards on the patio. read more

Kukkula Winery - Winery Exterior - Wineries Near Me - Paso Robles, California

See all

Beautiful property, very nice people and, importantly, amazing wine. Did a tasting and usually with 4 to 6 wines there's one or a few I'm not wild about, but in this 6 wine tasting I loved them all. We came in 30 minutes before closing on a Saturday and still had a great experience and nice chat with Carly, who told us about the history of the property and the area. There aren't a ton of Finnish wine makers so this is definitely a unique place to visit. We ended up purchasing two bottles: Vaalea and Pas de Deux. We drank the latter already - and really enjoyed it - and I'm looking forward to having Vaalea when it's a bit warmer out. Will definitely go back next time we visit the area. Go visit if you're in Paso Robles! You won't regret it. read more

A winery by a Finn! Absolutely delicious Aatto, sisu and noir. Must go see & taste! read more

Boutique winery. Cute small tasting room. Didn't love the wines. Great value for tasting though. read more

Kukkula Winery - Wineries Near Me - Paso Robles, California

See all

Great wines, hospitality, and location! I've been a member here for years and can't say enough good things about kukkula. The owner, Kevin, is passionate about his wines and property, which are labors of love, and it comes through in everything he does. read more

We were very excited to try this vineyard.. we prepaid for 4 people to do a wine tasting, the lady that greeted us and was serving us was rude from the get go. She sat us and gave us our first tasting.. she left and didn't come back for some time.. I look over she is personally droning the wine. We asked her for clean glasses for a new wine and she got very annoyed... we had to walk away... the worst customer service ever!! I do not recommend visiting this place. There are so many amazing vineyards in the area.. this one is a waste of time. read more

This place is my current favorite winery in paso. It's a smaller winery but that's my style. Honestly they have the best blends I have ever tasted. It's nice to see the winery owner coming around and having conversations with the people. Our wine pourer was great and very knowlegable. We loved the Aatto. Bought a bottle of it and after having it with dinner I am going to become a wine member. This winery is something special. Will he making sure to stop by next trip. read more

These wines did fit my palate and this winery should tried by all. This is organic with dry farming which is not something you find in many places. The backstory on the Finnish roots tie in to their wines is nice story to hear read more

Had a wonderful time at Kukkula! The owner was pouring and he was very friendly and down to earth. He just loves his wine and isn't snobby at all about it. The tasting room is small, but very inviting. They also have a small kitchen area where you can grab a small bite to eat such as grilled cheese sandwich. The wines were absolutely delicious that we picked up a couple bottles! I usually don't gravitate towards the whites, but I loved the vaalea. The Rosie rose was such a yummy drinker it immediately brought me to memories of a summer evening (even though that particular day it was rainy outside). Their estate olive oil was also out for sampling. The taste was grassy with a bit of spice - just how I like my olive oil! So we definitely got a bottle of that to take home. read more

Ask the Yelp Whisperer - QOTD September 22, 2015 Dear B, I'm heading to Paso Robles in a few weeks, eager for more than good wine. I don't need new tastes; I need a new narrative - a song told in vine about people of integrity, vision, and hard work who care. Quality and value of the wine are high priority, but I'm not asking for perfection. I'm open to ambivalence, eager for creative friction, searching for new talent, and open for learning lessons in patience. Got all that? My taste buds are in your hands! Pekka H. Los Olivos, CA Hi Pekka. The Chimney Rock - Adelaida Road area is prime Westside wine tasting territory, with lovely, lingering-in-memory wines, captivating golden and green landscapes, and unique human stories playing out in all their compelling complexity. Case in point: Kukkula. Pencil it in bold print for your upcoming visit. I think you will find it to be extremely worth your while. The impressions here are based on a single weekend visit, so don't assume that this experience will be shared by others. This is Yelp, not Wine Spectator, but for me 5-star wineries are about an elusive harmony of three: place, people, and product. Place matters, and here that's evident: stone, vine, tree, and sun, thick-cut glass and polished metal, barrel room, bar seating, landscaped paths leading from gravel and dirt into an elegant and intimate space where the wines are to be poured. The hills are covered in pruned vine, with walnut and olive trees and above them all, open sky. Elemental, unadorned, inviting - but not exactly cozy. This is the sort of place where you can't hide from the elements - you are meant, I think to be found, to be confronted with the terroir and to get the sense from the start of what went into the wines that you'll be tasting. The people part is invariably the most unpredictable: will the winemaker be pouring that day, and will he be happy to do so? Will the energy of the room be casual, or comatose? Will there be laughter, or tears (of joy, of despair, from allergies, or otherwise ...)? Will the pourers who serve you have worked there for years, or for weeks? Will they want to give you the standard storyline, or will they riff off of your opening comments? Jazz or classic rock? Don't worry; do the research ahead time. Don't be surprised by the Finnish family heritage, the exceptional quality of the vineyards and facilities, the lack of a gift shop, the absence of a multigenerational winemaking pedigree. Embrace the slight edginess about the place, confidence masked by the hint of uncertainty, blended in some fashion with fatherhood issues that, if not Freudian, are clearly complicated; one does not reliably make money by pursuing a post-capitalist dream of sustainable artisan expression. And the prodigal son makes for one hell of a great narrative. Don't expect an Oprah moment here, but listen for the love that beats in the hearts and flows down the hillside from the vines. I heard it, and maybe so will you. Product means the limited production of small-batch artisan wines: a white Rhone blend, followed by rosé, then a variable sequence of reds: dense, brooding, 15%+ wines that mix Finnish words with Paso Robles grown grapes into a mysterious mélange of youthful abstract expressionist exuberance crossed with father-knows-best prudence; it's Robert Parker meets Charlie Parker, Dizzy shaking hands with Dvořák, Streisand sings a Martha Scanlon tune ("Seeds of the Pine," from The West was Burning album, springs to mind). Maybe it's the epic drought of the past few years that amped up the souful Syrah sound; maybe the dry heat makes the Grenache more spiced fruit compote than fresh cherry blossom. Maybe the ancient walnut trees are confused by all the new plantings of olive and lavender. But the Counoise, the Mourvèdre, and the Cabernet really shine, and as more estate-grown grape enter the lineup in place of purchased lots, the better the products on offer will reflect the people involved, and the better that the place in which the grapes were raised to peak maturity will come to the fore. As I said, this is a personal impression sort of thing, probably more wrong here than right, but I genuinely like the whole package on display here - place, people, and product. Not that I'd object if the place were renamed "Walnut Hill Winery" using varietal or locational/vineyard names for the wines instead of the Finnish language ones. Terroir means making one's mark on a place, but also letting that place make a mark on the self as well. I'd love on a subsequent visit to Kukkula to get a hint of walnut, of chaparral, of forest floor, and of sunshine, to think not of the Old World, but of the New. That's what Paso means to me, Pekka, and that's why I love visiting places just like this. So will you, I hope. Happy tasting! Maybe they'll be pouring a new release of Noir that day. read more

See all

It was an amazing experience, Carley was very knowledgeable about the process and the wine. Great wine and great people working there

I have found my favorite winery. (Thanks to Wine Folly that recommended this winery for their specialization in Rhone blends!) To qualify, it had to satisfy all these requirements: - Not snooty (This is really key!) - Friendly and inviting (The guy working the day I went was really laid back, casual, and cool to talk to.) - Knowledgeable and willing to share knowledge in a non-conceited way (Again, the guy there was super helpful and shared all sorts of interesting tidbits about the wine, the property, and the Finnish influence on the winery/wines.) - ALL the wines on the tasting menu have to be at least "pretty good" to "this is amazing!" (This was the real kicker... so far Kukkula is the first and only to pass this requirement!) Seriously, all their wines are fantastic. I had such a hard time discerning between which ones I liked best because they were all so good. I have been to roughly 40-60 wineries in Sonoma, Healdsburg, and Paso Robles combined, and I didn't think that day would ever come. It was the first time I had ever asked about the wine club at a winery because I liked everything they made (even the white blend!). Sadly the wine club is slightly out of range since their wines in general average in the $35-40 per bottle range, so we left with only one bottle of the "In The Red" (as opposed to the 6 bottles of a red we bought at Caparone, also another nearby great winery). If they could afford to lower their wine cost a little more, I'd be all over multiple shipments a year. Le sigh. I will be thinking of you, Kukkula, until I can afford to join your wine club. read more

What a wonderful winery. You think the building is the star of the show, but it's not. The wines are extremely excellent for the price, $25 range. Tasting flight of 7 wines I think, and started with one wine blend. I liked almost all the wines. My friend and I decided to join the club and split the membership. She is entirely anti-wine club membership right now and she loved the blends. The pas de deux, lothario, and sisu were great. Together we bought nine bottles, less than $200. Unheard of these days. Can't wait for my first shipment. read more

This beautiful new tasting room was built with a direct view into the winery. I bought the ipo(Inital Public Offering) which is mainly a Cabernet blended with Zinfandel also. kukkula means hill or high place in Finnish. It was a nice view from this high place so I see why they named the winery this. I liked the fact that they have olive and walnut trees on the property which they process and sell also. read more

Most wine tastings usually results in one, maybe two, winners and the rest in the meh category. Kukkula's wines are all excellent, and highly regarded. And what other winery might you find the owner pouring and describing each wine? Great little winery, a must add to your tour of wine country. Get on their wine club for great discounts and access to their hard to find bottles.! read more

The food here is delicious, great stop for lunch, service very friendly and amazing view. Wines tend to follow a Rhone style and lots of blends. Great stop! read more

Kukkula Winery - Wine bar - Wineries Near Me - Paso Robles, California

Visited this winery in December. We overheard people talking about it the night before and happened upon it. A little hard to find. The owner was out driving a forklift in shorts, which I appreciate. He came up to chat with us and help us with our tastings. We enjoyed the wines and his story, very sustainable and that he was living in Santa Monica as a finance guy but got burned out there and moved to Paso to open this winery. Down to earth guy. Would recommend. read more

Stopped here on a whim based seeing this beautiful stunning piece of architecture of a home on the top of a hill while wandering the wine country of Paso Robles. Came around the corner to discover a winery if similar beautiful design...and as they say the rest is history. Loved loved loved every wine So much we joined the wine club. Kevin and his wife were awesome. Can't wait to come back read more

We discovered this winery on the way to another winery and we were so happy that we stopped here. We met Kevin, the winemaker/ owner and his wife. Their entire flight was amazing. We loved their wines so much that we joined their wine club on the spot. Look forward to many years of drinking their incredible red blends. read more

Well worth the drive. Beautiful modern tasting room, the likes of what you might see in Napa, but the personal touch and genuine kindness is something you won't get in Napa. Kevin the winemaker/owner is down to earth and very passionate about the wines he makes. Awesome views of the hillsides make the visit complete. Definitely take the time to stop by and taste the 07 Sisu, Lothario & Lagniape! read more

Kukkula Winery - Found a new favorite :) - Wineries Near Me - Paso Robles, California

The first time up to Paso Robles we were invited by our friends that go every year. They said "Hey, were going to camp out & go for a leisurely bike ride & wine taste along the way". We drove up on a Friday and arrived at the campsite late but our friends set up our tent for us so it wasn't a problem. Next morning we peak out of our tents to find that we are camping with serious Lance Armstrong type bike riders. Our friends reassure us that our group of riders are laid back...we're going wine tasting afterall. Don't fall for that line my friends! The ride was uphill against the wind both ways 10 miles one way and 10 miles back to camp in town. After my so called friends tried to kill me on Saturday, I told my husband that I was done with them. We opted to roam via truck on our own on Sunday. It is beautiful up in Paso Robles with it's rolling hills (as long as you're not on a bike). We went for a long drive and saw a modern looking house being built up on the hill. Since we were in the middle of our remodel, we were curious. We drove up to take a closer look. When we got up there, we found a work truck and a person up there. Too late to turn back he saw us. He approached us so we got out to let him know that we were admiring the project from below and came up to take a look. My husband asked if he was the contractor and he turned out to be the owner of the house. We introduced ourselves and he asked if we wanted a tour of the inside of the house. We enthusiastically said yes. It was beautiful! The stonework that was quarried from the property and the Walnut shelving and stairs throughout was milled from trees on the property. He told us that he was from L.A. and that he decided to move his family up to turn his hobby into a business. When I got back to L.A. and told my boss about the winery he bought a case and I bought several bottles as well. The next year since I signed up on their mailing list we were invited up for their Grand Opening. Everything was beautifully finished. We enjoyed tasting wine, having appetizers and met his wife and kids. They are the nicest people. Kevin also told us that we were his first customers. Cool! This year I found out that they also opened a restaurant. We were happy that the winery was doing well. On our way back from Sonoma we wanted to check in with Kevin & his winery but unfortunately they are closed on Mondays. We will definitely have to make a special trip up to Paso Robles to visit Kukkula again. From their website: Tasting room hours: Thursday - Sunday from 11 - 5 pm Restaurant hours: Friday - Sunday from 11 - 5 pm read more

One star because the winery had good sandwiches, another star because the wine pourer was nice to dogs and permitted a puppy collie to stay indoors and one star for ambiance. This is a very generous review based on the experience my 3 girlfriends and I had. We were making our way around Chimney Rock and found Kukkula on yelp based on the outstanding reviews and because the winery served food, which I thought was convenient since we were on a time constraint returning from Napa/ Sonoma to Los Angeles and Orange County. Coming up to the entrance, we entered an empty tasting room as the pourer was serving others. He entered the room, walked behind the counter and stared at us for a few seconds. Then asked how can help us. I told him I'd probably order the "Beast" sandwich and ask what was the wine pairing. His response was flippant and atypical of a wine pourer, "Well, the pairing is whatever we have opened." That's it. No explanation as to the varietal, vintage or style (even though I knew that they made only Rhone style wine). While we were being served, the pourer did tell us that the winery is a dry irrigation winery and has a Finnish origin. My roast beef was paired with the 2009 Pas De Deux, which was indeed a typical Rhone style red with nothing spectacular to rave about. We ate, had our pairings, and tried nothing else as I no longer wanted to patron this winery. Next time I come back to Paso, I will pass. read more

It was ok but with plenty of other wineries to choose from in the area we probably won't go back. The tasting room is a little sterile or cold - can't quite put my finger on it. For being located on such a beautiful hill, that beauty just doesn't make its way into the tasting room. There is a little counter where you can order a sandwich and maybe that combined with the small size of the room makes it feel like you're sitting in a deli not a tasting room? We enjoyed a few of their wines though and did purchase one to get our tasting fee waived - no complaints on the wines. read more

We recently visited with some friends and to be honest I would never spend a dime there again, nor would I recommend this to any friends. There is equally if not way better wineries close by with wayyy better wine and at a much more reasonable price. Our experience started out great with the owner being very chatty and the tasting space is limited due to COVID but once the tasting was nearing the end is when the owner not only rushed us out, but first making sure to force our friends and I to buy two bottles each (on top of the tasting fee) in order to leave. This is when he turned very cold and he explained that the two bottles per person at the price of (55 each) minimum purchase was stated in the reservation and on the menu but we had told him this was not the case. The tastings were very minimal as we had small pours for the 5 reserve bottles we tried. Then as we were purchasing the bottles in order to decide between the 2 bottles that were available for purchase we had to convince him to give us just one more tasting of the two and finally he agreed. Honestly I would save your money for a winery that has not only better customer service but better prices too. Don't get jipped like we did!! read more

This is way way out there, but worth the drive. Interesting tasting room surrounded by steep vines on all sides. Stylish and cool, I really wanted to love these wines, but I think they need a little more time to work everything out. Tremendous potential here. Took home Pas de Deux and the white, as well as a remarkable olive oil. read more

We came here with a recommendation thinking it was going to be good! But we were very disappointed AND saddened by how dismissive and pretentious this winery was.. first off the signage was faded and hard to read so we weren't sure where to park.. then we walk in and there were 2 people behind the bar, one older gentleman with a pony tail and a younger gal with glasses who seemed bothered that we came in! Maybe because we were disrupting their own tastings! Obviously they were enjoying the wine more than we did! I'm not going to go on but just didn't feel invited and the wine was just ok.. not worth it! read more

Oh man this place is amazing! Fairly simple building, not much in the way of amenities outside but c'mon, you're here for the wine. And it's GOOD. And it's not super expensive. One of the highlights of our trip and would absolutely recommend it to others with taste. read more

Saw this place as we were driving to Justin and were lucky enough to get in before they closed on our way back. They have some unique wines and I enjoyed all of them. Carly poured for us and we learned a lot about the wine and the area. It was a great place to end our first day in Paso. read more

Excellent wines in a truly beautiful setting. We enjoyed the personal experience we received in the tasting room, and loved the architecture. But look out for the entrance, it can be easy to miss zooming down the winding wine country Chimney Rock road. read more

Really loved the look and feel of this winery. The winemaker and his wife personally served us in the tasting room and talked about their wines (Rhone varietals that are dry irrigated). They also make a fantastic wine jelly. read more