Odonata is already my favorite wine tasting place in River Rd, very friendly and welcoming must try their brut, you can come here and sit and apréciate the beautiful outdoor view ambience is so enjoyable and relaxing. They have variety of wines to choose it won't disappoint you. read more

Odonata - Brut - Wineries Near Me - Salinas, California

Pulled into Odonata Winery in Salinas twenty minutes before closing. Normally, that's the hour when tasting rooms tighten up and smiles fade. Not here. Julia greeted us like it was opening time -- calm, unhurried, fully present. The wines hit different. The sparkling had backbone, the reds carried weight without shouting, and the brandy--smooth but with a quiet burn that reminds you where you are. It's the kind of lineup that could sit comfortably on a Napa shelf, just without the attitude or the markup. There's an honesty to this place. You taste it in the glass and feel it in how they treat you. We left with bottles, a membership, and a few photos Julia snapped -- not posed, just moments. Odonata doesn't perform hospitality. It lives it. read more

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Such a great vineyard and tasting room. Julia was great and helped us plan the rest of our day. She knew about all the wines, there are over 30, and poured a few verticals - which was cool to see how greats grown in different regions can taste so different. The Chardonnay and Syrah were different and good. They have lite snacks. read more

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We dropped in around Saturday around 1:10pm. There was some outside tables taken but they have spacious outdoors. Some tables have umbrellas for covering. Didn't see seatings for indoor. They have both bold and lighter flavored wines here like Rustique. More fruitier side. They are known for their sparkling wines here. But their chardonnay was the stand out. Oakey, buttery, and very flavorful. We waived 1 tasting fee with 2 bottles purchase. You can also bring outside food here. They sell some cheese and snacks in a fridge inside the tasting room. read more

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Knowledgeable staff, friendly service, nice outdoor seating, quiet area. What a hidden gem! So happy we stopped here instead of some of the more tourist-centric towns along our road trip from north-south California. Their wines were high quality and actually made me enjoy a Chardonnay - a rarity for me. Good selection of snacks to purchase to go with your drinks. We bought two bottles home with us and will be back in the future. Pup friendly! read more

Julia was our server and she was awesome! Very personable, and very well versed in her product. And she was just a lot of fun. The wines are lovely, my favorite was a sparkling viognier. We were seated outdoors on a sunny patio. Pretty property! read more

The staff was outstanding, knowledgeable, fun and friendly. The wines are delicious and the setting is casual and relaxing

We liked all of the wines. Our VIP specialist, Daniella, did an excellent job of guiding us through the tasting. We joined the wine club!

Really good wines. Super friendly and informative. Beautiful location. This is a wonderful place to taste some of the better wines of the area and just relax. read more

First time visiting this winery which was recommended by someone at Toro Cafe in Salinas. Visited on a weekday so my friend and I were the only ones there and it is a small tasting room. Daniella and Julia were our hostesses and were very friendly and great!! We tried a variety of wines and all were good but the Malbec was great!! I will definitely revisit this winery! Had a great time! read more

Great wine, excellent value, knowledgeable staff! If I'm in the area I'll usually stop for a tasting and even if I'm not planning to I always leave with at least two bottles. Danielle created a great experience for me on my last visit to earn 5 stars! read more

Hands down one of the best wine tasting experiences I've ever had! ( and I've had a few) really nice setting, not too posh or stuffy but wonderfully comfortable on a sunny winters afternoon. Odonata is a bit, but not too far off the beaten path but well worth the excursion. The line up of wines is excellent and the wines aren't confined to a particular regional style. There are several excellent sparkling options ( ask about the sparkling Grenache rose') and a A great selection of reds from Pinot Noir to Sangiovese ( with a lot in between) But don't let the eclectic line up fool you. Each of these are well crafted and most sourced from the diverse variety or grapes available right there in the Santa Lucia Highlands region. The staff (Julia for us) were excellent and always kept us tasting. (They were also willing to give our group a few extra tastes upon request of some stuff that wasn't on the main tasting menu :-). But beyond any of what I've reported thus far was the 20+ minutes we had talking directly to the winemaker Denis. Now, of course, there's no guarantee that can happen every time, but he's such a great guy and down-to-earth person, if he's there spend a few minutes talking with him, you'll be so glad you did. Definitely make Odonata a stop next time you're anywhere near the Santa Lucia Highlands region. read more

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Absolutely wonderful tasting provided by Julia, thus far one of our favorite stops in Northern California. Thank you for the great hospitality! read more

You can't ask for a better day than a day at Odonata! Weekend, after work, girls day - it's the best spot. Tons of wine to choose from and an amazing view of the mountains. Also, love that it's not too far down river road so it's super fast and easy to get to with plenty of parking. read more

This place is a cute little find! Off the beaten path. Ask for Julia! She is quite knowledgeable and has excellent customer service. She also made sure I was good before I left. I'll ask for her next time I come here. read more

Stop in for wonderful wines, friendly and knowledgeable staff, and a nice little spot to relax and taste their well-made and diverse collection. read more

Some of the best wine I've ever had, and the people make this place even better!! This winery is amazing!

Great wines, incredible venue, awesome music at yesterday's event. Nice work Odonata team!

Came for a retirement party and ended up having an exceptional wine experience. The venue is great for gatherings, weddings, parties etc. Would be great for any kind of adult event that requires some good space. The wine tasting was a real treat. I ended up purchasing a couple of bottles of the petit sirah, delicious! I like that the wine is made from sustainably grown varietal grapes sourced locally from independent growers. Also I love their logo, it is on their wine glasses, so pretty. I enjoyed talking to Denis Hoey. Denis is also the winemaker and hellofaniceguy! read more

Odonata - Signage. - Wineries Near Me - Salinas, California

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About time I wrote a review.... We hit Odonta just on a fluke on our way from Monterey to Paso Robles and am so glad we did. Eric was the ultimate host. He explained everything in a way we could appreciate.... I loved loved the Sparkling Rose of Sangiovese. The surroundings were wonderful... comfortable couches. A perfect outdoor area for tasting. There is also an indoor tasting that some of the other wine tasters utilized.... We had gone to many other wineries and this was our favorite. read more

What a gem of a place. Outdoor seating. Great wines. Had a nice time tasting with my mom! George was also friendly and nice. read more

Odonata - Wineries Near Me - Salinas, California

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Great place to set and taste wine. Loved the Pinot. The tasting area was all outside. Looks like they have a lot of different types to try. We had 4, 2 were Pinot and was was sparkling it was dry read more

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Today the family and I stopped in at Odonata. A winery in Salinas? Who'd a thunk it, right? We arrived at 11, just as Odonata was opening. There was a sign out front sitting on a barrel that said, "Call Eric for wine." However, Eric was already at the tasting room so no need to call. We sat ourselves down at a shaded area in front of the tasting room. Eric then brought the Mrs. and I a glass of sparkling Grenache Rose'. Then he showed up with some other wines and the tasting list. He said he wasn't going to necessarily follow the list and just listen to us and what we like and go from there. Such a great way to taste wine if you ask me. As time went on, more people showed up. Eric listened to every one of them and seemed to tailor each tasting to each group or individual. A little over two hours later, we walked out with 5 bottles and one of the best wine tasting experiences we have ever had. read more

We started here as part of a three winery tour on a Saturday. We were the only people there early in the day, and we had a long visit with the winemaker. The setting is perfection! We loved the wines. We would definitely recommend, and we will definitely return. read more

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Booked a wine tour and they took us here, let's just say that we dumb 5 out of 6 wines given to us. read more

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Natalie and Denis were great hosts! I especially liked their Blanc de Blanc sparkling wine, the Black Darter, and both their Syrahs! read more

Odonata - Natalie and Denis were great hosts! I especially liked their Blanc de Blanc sparkling wine, the Black Darter, and both their Syrahs! - Wineries Near Me - Salinas, California

Ambiance was exactly what I needed and Daniella led us through a perfectly described tasting.

I had my bridal shower here and it was so perfect! Danielle did such an amazing job her crew helped us set up and were so personable. I would highly recommend having a party here! read more

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Odonata Wines South", is the first winery (of the many) that you will encounter driving South along River Road from HWY 68, south of Salinas. After you pass sign for Monterey Zoo, look left for the huge dragonfly logo. ( ODONATA is the species name for Dragonfly! ) The Odonata Wines dragonfly is of Celtic design, very distinct. We were greeted by Tasting Room Manager Nolan Cutler, a very pleasant man, stout in appearance, yet eloquent about wines. His informal assistant today was Murphy The Dog, a very tame canine who will tempt you into a game of fetch. Mr. Cutler informed us that the original flagship ODONATA WINES is still operating in Santa Cruz, Callifornia at 2343 Mission Street. Odonata operates several rural vineyard locations that supply the tasty grapes fermented at both winery locations. Onodata South: All services are available here - membership, tasting, purchases, shipping, tour. My daughter was interested in the white wines, and Mr. Cutler gladly provided pours to sample. She selected a bottle of 2017 RIVER SKIMMER Santa Clara Valley 100% Viognier. $25 with her credit card, smooth sale! River Road, to be honest, is a narrow two-lane, twisty, with local farm vehicles. Local Wine Tour services can get you there & back. Odonata is First winery south of HWY 68, not very far. read more

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Service was stellar, our dog was welcome which I really appreciated! Ambiance was easy going and friendly.

Dog friendly and people friendly. Stopped by towards the end of a busy Thanksgiving eve evening. Junior was the only host working, but you wouldn't have known from the efficiency of his service. Very dog friendly patio, nice fire pit and wonderful views. Great wine and friendly, clean, atmosphere. A nice little cozy nook in the Salinas Valley. Such a treasure that we'll definitely be back to visit! read more

Odonata - Dog friendly wineries are always a good idea! - Wineries Near Me - Salinas, California

I dont know what else to say but HOLY S***. As we were driving along the road, I commented that it seemed like we were a bit in the middle of no where, and not sure what to expect, but a little nervous since there didnt seem to be any other vineyards in the area. We were in for the ultimate surprise however.... our experience at Odanta was truly a one of a kind, unforgettable memory. We did a private tour with Denis the winemaker who gave us the history of the property, himself, how he ended up here (amazing story btw), and what his vision is. Oh, and the wines themselves were second to none, had to buy some on the spot pretty much. We are already talking about going back the next time we are in Carmel. For all those reading, Odonata is a MUST or you are missing out. read more

The first winery that you'll encounter on the River Road wine trail heading South from Monterey or Salinas is definitely worth a stop. All the wines were interesting and they're offered in a user-friendly beaker to pour yourself. You can get through a tasting here much faster than at other places, if you're so inclined, and also for a bit cheaper. Their Pinot Noir was the standout. I don't usually get bottles after tastings, but this one was definitely worth it. They also had an interesting sparkling Riesling (!) and some other wines from not just Monterey but the Santa Cruz mountains as well. They were pretty flexible too about which wines you could select for your tasting and more than willing to make suggestions. The staff were excellent and thoroughly knowledgeable about not just the wines but the winemaking process. At the time we visited, outside food was welcome alongside the tasting. The lack of pretentiousness in every aspect was refreshing. We'll be back. read more

We came here on a Monday morning around 11:30am and we were one of two couples here so great for social distancing. In general, there's plenty of outdoor seating, both in the sun & shade & I could see this place being a great place to hang out on an evening or weekend. We loved tasting the wines (definitely some unique flavors) and we ended up buying the Rosé of Grenache to take home. Service was amazing, with the option of tasting more wines in addition to the flight options & we were given recommendations on where else to visit on our trip nearby. Will definitely be visiting again if we're in the area! read more

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Eric was a great host, and this place has some unique wines. We ended up getting the.... oh, I'm not going to tell you because I just deceded to order a case to give for Christmas. Go try for yourself, and have a great time listening to Eric tell the wines' stories. BYO snacks, they don't serve any food. read more

Odonata - Menu for July 21 - Wineries Near Me - Salinas, California

Loved this tasting! Dennis, the owner/winemaker, poured our wine. He shared the processes of how each wine was made and their individual characteristics. Every wine was good. Excited to find another delicious local vineyard. read more

Loved the winery. The team is super friendly and knowledgeable about wine making. They have a great selection of dry wines. We enjoyed the Pinot the best and brought a bottle back home. Looking forward to visiting again! read more

Odonata - Odonata winery - Wineries Near Me - Salinas, California

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We came here hoping to try their sparkling Riesling, but they were out. We decided to stay and tried their sparkling Albariño, which was pretty good. The outdoor seating area is pretty small, but looks nice. Service was on the slow side - once the server dropped off our bottle, he didn't return so we had to go inside to pay. read more

We started early and this was our first stop. We were greeted by Nolan and Jr. very friendly and very laid back. We also met the owner who was also super nice. Although I didn't care for the Pinot Noir, I loved the chard and the sparkling white. We bought several bottles and shared one of them outdoors and enjoyed the view. It seems that many tours come here as it really got busy. I loved the vibe here and the wines are good read more

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Amazing variety of yummy wines and Eric was great with our tastings and pairings. Definitely worth the visit.