Hearst Ranch Winery - San Simeon, California

Rashi

Great place for lunch and wine tasting. Had wonderful quick service. Made reservations ahead of time (doesn't cost any money) and preordered our lunch. The sandwiches were fantastic and they were ready as soon as we arrived. It was perfect. We asked to taste a couple of wines that we wanted to purchase and they added to our tasting session, no fuss.

The venue is perfect as well. We sat outside with our meals and wine tasted, all while hearing the waves crash along the shore. Beautiful.

Parking inside the gate for the tasting room is limited but plenty of parking near the general store and along the side of the road.

Les D.

We stopped at Hearst Ranch Winery for some wine tasting and had a wonderful time. Although they recommend making reservations, they were able to accommodate us, and we were seated outside with a beautiful view of the ocean.

Our server was very friendly and made the experience even better. We chose the $45 Legacy Tasting, which included a flight of four wines. The 2021 Carpoforo Zinfandel was our favorite, and we ended up purchasing two bottles to take home.

Overall, it was a great experience with excellent wine and stunning views. Highly recommend stopping by if you’re in the area!

Arnold F.

Hearst Castle Ranch Winery🍷🥂

Nestled along the stunning coast, Hearst Castle Winery offers an unforgettable wine-tasting experience, perfectly complemented by breathtaking ocean views, earthy gardens, beautiful trees.

The Chardonnay Steel Barrel is a standout, maintaining a beautiful bouquet of crisp citrus while eliminating the typical buttery essence. It's refreshing and light, ideal for those who appreciate a more delicate, clean style of Chardonnay.

The Rosé blend, featuring Grenache, Tempranillo, and Malbec, is a delightful, fruity option—refreshing and perfect for a casual lunch or an afternoon of good conversation. It’s the kind of wine that pairs well with sunny days and lively discussions.

For those seeking something with more depth, the Malbec offers robust dark red fruit flavors that make it a delicious choice to enjoy with a hearty meal, such as tri-tip or steak sandwiches.

At $35 per person for the wine tasting, the experience is well worth it, especially since the fee is waived with the purchase of just two bottles. The winery also offers a simple but satisfying lunch menu featuring gourmet sandwiches—an absolute highlight. These are hands down the best sandwiches I have ever had. Each one is a rainbow of flavors, crafted with fresh meats, crisp produce, freshly baked breads, and tasty combinations like chicken and bacon. The Cubano sandwich stands out as a juicy masterpiece, with shredded, perfectly spiced meat that melts in your mouth. Every bite is a treat!

The service truly elevates the experience. Karen, the cashier at the Seaside store, was absolutely wonderful. She suggested pairing our gourmet sandwiches with the wine tasting, which was an ideal recommendation. Teresa, our wine concierge, took the tasting experience to the next level. She explained each wine with passion and knowledge, making the tasting session both educational and enjoyable.

The ocean views are nothing short of breathtaking, providing a serene and beautiful backdrop to your wine tasting. The gardens are alive with butterflies and vibrant plant life, adding to the earthy, tranquil feel of the place.

Overall, Hearst Castle Winery does not disappoint. Fantastic wines, unforgettable sandwiches, great service, and stunning views make this a must-visit destination. Cheers to an amazing experience!🍷🍷🍷

Markus S.

Firstly you definitely need reservations now. A very upscale secluded area to taste and drink their wines and choice food items. Outside you can have a private table spaced generously amongst the large trees and a perfect view of the hearst harbor and pier.

Maria

I had seen a bunch of bad reviews lately but as the place seemed beautiful and it’s the only winery in this region that we were around, I decided to go anyway…. And I regret.
The attention of the first two ladies were actually very nice, they were very kind and receptive. When we seated at our table, the experience went down.
The lady that attend us was in a hurry always and didn’t talk more than the extremely necessary. In other tables I saw that she explained more and gave more attention. She didn’t ask which one of the flights I would want, just presumed that I was going on the cheaper one and already brought the wines. From one wine to another, a lifetime passed, with no attention and we couldn’t even see her. The wines were good though. The sun started to get me and I asked if we could chance to one of the (many) other tables in the shadows, she didn’t like and said she would try to change our sunshade to help a little. In the end, she took the wrong wine I ordered to buy and again took ages to change it. And to finish, she took the difference of the money we paid as a tip without asking, she just kept it and I was so tired and stressed about the whole experience that I went home. The place is beautiful but it doesn’t compensate the rest.

Keyla P.

The wines were great, absolutely amazing.
The service was terrible though, it took 2 hrs for my party of 4 to experience a tasting. We came early (3 when our reservation was at 3:30).
They were kind enough to seat us earlier than our reserved time but we had to wait 15-20min in between pours.

I came for the view
I stayed for the wine
Alas all I could do...
Is wonder what time the server would return.

Lorin K.

Beautiful location, great wines, service was extremely slow. I would definitely recommend they do all the tastings at once with a flight because they take so long in between to refill for the next taste.
Friendly staff though. Outdoor space was beautiful. Purchased two reds for us to take home.

sylvia E.

I recently visited Hearst for a wine tasting and unfortunately, I have never felt so unwelcome at a wine tasting venue. As a returning customer, I have witnessed changes over the years. I used to enjoy bringing my own snacks, like cheese and meats, to complement the tasting experience. However, the venue transitioned to only allowing food purchased on-site, which was initially acceptable due to the decent selection available. Now, guests are restricted to food from a specific lunch vendor, which was inconvenient as we were directed to go across the parking lot to Sebastian's, only to find the kitchen closed upon our arrival at 3 pm. The only option was a pre-packaged box that contained cheese and meats that did not appeal to us. Additionally, the pour sizes were disappointingly small, and our server's attitude made us feel unwelcome. Despite the beautiful view, the overall vibe at Hearst felt off-putting, with strict rules and a sense of it being more about profit than hospitality. Our experience was unpleasant, and we couldn't wait to leave.