Scarlett Cougar stopped by the Pleasant Valley Wine Trail Twilight Tasting intending to "sample responsibly" and somehow left with 14 bottles of wine from the raffle. Clearly, the universe had plans. But honestly, what impressed me most about Riverstar Vineyards wasn't just the wine -- it was the family behind it. Learning how each member contributes their own talents to the winery made the entire experience feel wonderfully genuine, collaborative, and refreshingly personal. There's something very special about businesses where you can still feel the people behind the vision. I also loved learning more about the Pleasant Valley Wine Trail collective itself... wineries supporting one another while also helping fund local agricultural scholarships and education efforts together. That kind of community spirit is exactly what makes Paso Robles wine country feel different. Warm people, beautiful wines, and a genuinely lovely evening all around. And yes... I'm still trying to figure out where to store 14 bottles... Not! read more

Riverstar Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - San Miguel, California

OK. Grounds, nice tasting room. Friendly service and we tasted A LOT of wines for the $15 fee. Family run, ~90% estate. Wines were decent, but (for me), not worth the money. My favorite was the Eclipse blend, and for $18, I would have gotten a case. read more

Ambiance is nice. There are some stools to sit down, which is imperative at my age. Standing at a bar hurts my back and Dans. We had a 1230 tasting reservation. However we arrived to find a car club had arrived and dominated the winery. MG convertibles were parked all over the about 20. Ok so we were told by the lone older man that the management went away for the weekend and scheduled only him to work. So the large group outside took away most of his attention and we were left unattended. I had to kept getting up and asking for tastes of next bottle. We had a second reservation booked at 215 which was plenty of time but we had to rush off because service was so slow. I can't imagine having only one staff work a winery alone. The staff person also said he was not told we had a reservation but he did his best to help us. We had a reservation and the large car club did not! . They just dropped in. Dan grabbed us the tall table with 4 stools. However my stool was literally falling apart and the owners should have dumped it before someone gets badly hurt. I had to carry it away and carry over another. I'm turning 70 in September and it was very sketchy. There's also a sofa corner which looked comfortable I would buy stools for the bar area if I owned it. The population is getting older. And even the car club outside was all gray haired older couples. Seating is wonderful when provided. The wines were good and he waived our fees since we were celebrating my daughter's birthday. She's a local High school teacher and we were also celebrating school ending this week for summer. They have live music scheduled for fine weekends this summer outside and there's a raised bandstand with nice grassy area to bring your chairs. The lone guy serving us was very kind and also gave amber a birthday bottle and rewarded it because we had a reservation but we didn't get a proper tasting due to the large group dropping in and the lack of paid staff to serve us and explain the wines. We also bought another bottle of wine as well. We still had a fair experience, but having to hunt him down for our next taste wasn't great. But we will be back and give it another shot. 1 winery server is not acceptable to perform adequate tastings for an entire winery. Please staff up. read more

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Delicious wines, beautiful view, tasting room, and patio, and welcoming hosts. Amazing experience! I will be back. read more

Riverstar Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - San Miguel, California

First stop of the day for Memorial day Sunday after visiting the Mission inn of San Miguel. Located just down on Estrella Road, this place has excellent venue for music as well as two living facilities housing an eight person residence and a 12 person residence. Great prices Especially if you are club member.... so we joined up at a very affordable rate of getting three bottles per month....we love the Sauvignon blanc at $18 a bottle. Check out our pics of the place. read more

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my friend owns the place so that's why :) and I like the rode trip with my friend on the way here and the Airbnb has a pool :)

Stayed at the Airbnb on their property and it was so awesome , my family enjoyed their time at pool and the house , we checked out the winery and did wine tasting , the bartender was really friendly and made us feel very welcomed , thank you Candice for your beautiful property and it was nice meeting you , we will definitely go back !!! read more

Riverstar Vineyards - Riverstar Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - San Miguel, California

Small little winery, great hostess and dog friendly. I believe they also do dog events to raise money for local shelter, always a great sign of caring. Their wines are good, especially the reds. I believe it is under new ownership, as the original owners retired. Give these folks a try, you wont be disappointed. read more

Riverstar Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - San Miguel, California

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Like a star in the sky, Riverstar just shines so brightly! I definitely enjoyed tasting at this winery while I was out in Paso Robles. Riverstar is smaller than many of the other wineries in the area, but don't let their petite size fool you! They carry some lovely wines and their tasting grounds are really stunning. Walking in, you will first notice the front and side patio areas that are equipped with tables that have shaded umbrellas. Riverstar is also dog friendly and you will find several doggy dishes in and around the winery. Their tasting room is surprisingly quite lively, and the other patrons who I chatted with while I was there were super fun and outgoing! The price is definitely right here; 5 tastings for only $5! The pours are very generous and that little $5 stretches very FAR! Service is top notch. Candace was our wine stewardess for the evening and she really did a fantastic job by educating us about their wines and keeping us entertained. She even stayed a little bit after her shift so that we could finish our tasting (we came close to closing time but wanted to get one more tasting in before dinner). As far as their tastings go, you can go with their standard flight of selected wines, or you can choose a strictly red or white flight. I did a tasting of 5 different reds and they were all pretty enjoyable for the most part. My favorite wine from their flight was their 2013 Affinity blend! I enjoy red blends and this one was light and smooth on the finish. I ended up getting a glass of the Affinity blend after I finished my tasting, and Candace did not skimp on that pour! Talk about a full glass of wine! Wowza! Aside from delicious wines, they also carry olive oil, jams, and cute souvenirs in their tasting room. They have monthly wine specials, and they're no fee to join their wine club. If you are planning on staying in the area, they also have the most adorable bed and breakfast located right next door! I am definitely looking forward to returning to Riverstar when I'm in the area again. If you're looking for a fun and intimate experience, Riverstar is a great option! read more

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Rented the upstairs home over the weekend for my family last weekend and had my nieces wedding at a venue nearby! The home was absolutely perfect for my family my grandkids enjoyed the big open yard and watching the sunset and sundown from our patio !! It was a beautiful home and winery ... bedrooms and beds were spacious. Went into winery and Molly was a great hostess !! Thank you Candice for your hospitality and definitely will come again to stay !!! read more

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Nice family owned winery with good wines and pretty views!! Enjoyed a lovely afternoon wine tasting, eating cheese, and chatting with Angela. She was amazing! Very welcoming to our family, my 2 girls (1 and 3) loved the grounds to run around on and even got to play with Rose, Ruby, and Payton. Bought a case of wine to take home and we will be back next time in town!!! read more

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We're staying at their Air Bnb..yes.. you can stay in an amazing spot right above a tasting room and vineyard. Their wines surpassed our wildest dreams and we'll definitely be back. This is coming from a fellow winemaker... honestly, don't pass up on this gem. Candice was fantastic - ask for her if you can read more

One of our favorite wineries in the Paso area! Such a friendly family run place with a beautiful setting off the beaten path north of town. Huge open grass area that our kids love to run around in (one of the only wineries they actually look forward to coming to with us). Wines are great too, especially the Affinity and Eclipse red blends. Highly recommended and worth the drive out of your way to get there. read more

Our very large group had an amazing time visiting Riverstar last weekend! Candice is so sweet and very accommodating! The grounds are beautiful, there are fun games to play, and we really enjoyed the wine. I highly recommend checking out these wonderful vineyards and chatting with the owner. read more

Riverstar Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - San Miguel, California

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Sitting in the evening shade listening to live music and sipping Riverstar Rose as the temperature lowers from 102 to a delightful and bearable 88. This place is awesome and the owners and staff are incredible and welcoming read more

Riverstar Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - San Miguel, California

Candice runs an amazing property. She's a great host with a great Air BnB. The wines were far above average, some hitting great. They are a hidden gem with lots of great features and the future here is bright. Excited to visit again. read more

One of the newer kids on the block so to speak along ye old paso robles wine trail. There is practically unlimited parking here, even if it is a semi gravel (gravel over what was once a paved section)lot. No matter how busy there will be room for your vehicle even if it is a tour bus. That lot is simply massive. There is an indoor section replete with a bar type counter, but if you are planning to be here any time at all the outside seating is wayyy better. There is a shaded patio area right by the tasting room , and some super comfy spots overlooking the grounds, both of which are fairly charming. There is a big old friendly dog for the greeter ,at least on our visit, and if you leave the door on your car open, she'll try to get in. She loves car rides and has no fear. This is a family owned business whose owners bought it due to thier love of wine and upon thier retirement from........omg, the history is so so boring. If you must know ask either of the two ladies working. The younger one is the daughter in law (and is some what more cheerful), the older one is the wife of the owner. They pretty much know their business. As for the wine itself, you know how it is. If you try six samples you'll find something to like. Wine is one of the most individual things possible-everyone has different tastes-but for me the cab was decent, the sauvignon blanc definitely had potential, the syrah needed work and the blended wine-affinity-was supurb. Bought a bottle of both the cab and the affnity and enjoyed both. I can't say as that I fully enjoyed everything here-we arrived on a rainy day within an hour of closing and I totally felt as though the staff really wanted us out of the way. In the defense of the staff this was our third wine trail stop and some of us were filled with zestful jolliness. Regardless however when it's all said and done this makes an excellent stop for any wine tasting adventures you may want to have. read more

I FINALLY had the chance to go out to Riverstar this weekend with my boyfriend and his family after hearing nothing but incredible feedback of the staff, estate, and wines. Let me tell ya, all 3 were BEYOND amazing. Family owned and operated (by a wicked cool family at that) I can honestly say this place is a true gem. They have something special out there. Make sure to stop by next time you're in the area for delicious wine and amazing times! read more

Wine was great but what sealed it for us was the amazing service and overall friendliness of the family running it. We will definitely be back! read more

This winery is the best winery in the Paso area. The young woman who owns the winery and runs almost everything herself does a fantastic job. The wine both tastes amazing and is amazingly priced. The fact that it's family owned and operated makes it fun and comfortable. It's dog friendly and family friendly. There is a big Yahtzee board outside along with horseshoes and corn hole. There is a big open space for kids and dogs to run around in and they have a concert series this summer. I'd recommend it 100%. read more

A gem of a winery north of 46. Have passed by it several times going to Graveyard and Via Vega. Our server was the daughter of the family who currently own Riverstar. She was very pleasant and knowledgeable about their wines. We purchased their cab, Syrah and Tempranillo. Upon looking at their website, they also have vacation rentals on the property. A definite stop when you are in Paso. read more

We stopped by today for a shipment pickup. The delightful Candace and her darling Ruby greeted us. Affinity was superb!! Looking forward to using the Air B and B for an upcoming wedding stay. Super nice. Great view and always there is the wine !!!!! read more

We went to Paso Robles to celebrate a couple birthdays. We actually stayed at the Airbnb on the Riverstar property. Overall we had a great experience at both the tasting room and the Airbnb. I would highly recommend both to anyone looking to visit the area. Our experience at the tasting room with Candice was great. She was very friendly and knowledgeable. Everyone in our group had a great time and all the wines were excellent!! We felt like we were visiting friends and couldn't be happier with our visit! read more

We came to Riverstar for our February 2010 trip and stopped in on Friday night right before they closed. We were the only ones there and what a lovely surprise. While the wines there aren't knock-your-socks-off amazing, for their price point they are very good, solid, and easy drinking. We found that the 07 Sauv Blanc was much more our style than the 06; the 07 Entice (White Merlot) was ok and fruity. The 07 Merlot and 07 Zinfandel, and 05 Cab Sauv were a little edgy (usually that means "young" for me). But the winners in our books were by far the Sunset Red (Syrah & Merlot), the 07 Affinity, 07 Allure, and 04 Syrah. The least expensive of those (Sunset Red at $12/bottle) and most expensive (Syrah at $16) were easily within our price range. We bought a bottle of the Sunset and Syrah for our group to share that night and they went over well! Overall, I'd give Riverstar 3.5 rounded up to four because quite simply, they're a smaller winery with some of the most reasonably priced wines I've seen in Paso. I'd recommend a visit here; and would also like to note that they are part of the Pleasant Valley wine trail around the San Miguel area that looks like it might be fun to explore someday, too! read more

I passed this vineyard for years before I stopped in. What a welcome surprise. The Syrahs are typical Paso, jammy, heavy on the berries and slightly tannic, the Cab is well balanced and slightly sweet and the 2005 AFFINITY should be excellent in 2010. The staff is helpful and friendly, the tasting room while sparse is open and airy. read more

Recently I moved to the central coast and haven't had a chance to go exploring, yet when a friend asked me to plan his wedding I was able to. A friend suggested this location as a venue and so I contacted the vineyard and made an appointment to be seen to discuss the options. I have never been treated so kindly by any establishment like i was treated here at Riverstar. Betty is the best! She was highly organized had all the answers I needed to hear and the ones I didn't. The friendly family owned and functioning vineyard is so very central coast. The Wedding was a hit and a big part was to the staff and family of this business. The venue provided the meal which was a santa maria style tri tip with a ranch or country style feel. If you want to have a wedding, party, family reunion or any event where you want it to be intimate, loving, friendly and true to the event then come here for it. The wine is fantastic too! Their Merlot, zin, Cab blend was legit but if you get a chance inquire about their Petite Syrah as they only made a few barrells and are down to a few cases if not bottles but I promise you that you might have to arm wrestle betty for it since it is her favorite. All in all this place is what the central coast is for vineyards. A business that stays true to tradtion, family, keeping good company and honestly setting the standard on what a good human being should be. MERRICA' read more

This was our 3rd stop on a wine tour. I was not impressed with our host. Total time spent on the tasting was about 12 minutes. I felt no energy and he didn't speak of the wines at all. I left feeling like I learned nothing about their brand or product. I would not visit this place again on purpose. read more

I stopped here in a whim after a bad experience at another winery. I found Kyle in the tasting room to be very helpful and friendly. Their wines are reasonable and I walked away with one and a half cases and joining their wine club. I met Candis, the assistant winemaker, and found her very friendly and knowledgeable. I highly recommend this relatively new winery. They are a very good value and exceptionally friendly. read more

My mom is a wine club member and kept raving about this place. So for my 30th we rented one of their houses on the property and stayed for a few days. It was awesome the house was spacious and extremely clean. The wine was amazing, so good that we became wine club members and are already trying to plan our next trip. Highly recommend. read more

What a fun and exceptional winery. The wines are very good. The groups are inviting and picturesque. Candice is a wonderful young lady with a phenomenal personality. A definite must visit winery. read more

They have two beautiful places for rent where you can see a beautiful sunset while sipping on wine. And they have the BEST port of all of Paso. Yummy! You've got to try it! read more

We rented the vacation home at Riverstar Wineries for the long weekend. We were a group of 10 people and we absolutely loved the place. Rob and Angela who were the owners greeted us and provided us with extra comforters for our stay. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for a weekend stay with a big group. We had the whole house to ourselves and we enjoyed the pool, did some bbq and also could make breakfast in the kitchen. We also did some wine tasting and got a complimentary bottle of wine for our stay. They have some good selection of wines. We also bought some wines when we left. I would go there again and recommend anyone to check out the winery and the rentals. read more

We were able to taste the 2012 Chardonnay from tank and some very nice red blends poured by the winemaker on Zinfandel Festival Weekend. They have two roomy vacation rentals too. Worth the stop. read more

We stayed here in their great vineyard property and enjoyed some wine tasting. The red zin was delicious and reasonably priced and my girlfriend enjoyed all of their dessert wines but in particular the Solara which had a chocolate finish. I highly recommend including these folks on your wine tasting safari for affordable and tasty wines. read more

Good wine and thank you for supporting the Great Western Bicycle Rally by delivering our purchases to the Rally Hub. It's extremely difficult to carry much wine on the bikes! We will see you next year. read more

This is one of the most lovely "secrets" around! If you can join the folks at RiverStar for one of their summer concerts.... DO IT! You will have a wonderful and relaxing time, and the wine and food will more than delight you! read more

It was refreshing to drink wines that were pretty, beautifully & delicate and not over the top jammy, high sugar wines. The grounds and tasting room were nice and the staff nicer. A good stop!! read more