Hearst Ranch Winery — Attraction in Cambria

Review for wine tasting (4/5 stars) Tends to fall in the costlier side compared to various wineries in the area. But the wine is very good. I had been going to Hearst for wine tasting for a few years. I would recommend a visit if you are in the area. 4/5 stars

Review for the wine club (2/5 stars)

(I don't tend to leave a long review. But to justify the score, I feel it needs an explanation. If you are looking to join their wine club, read on)

After a few visits to Hearst wine for tasting, I decided to join their wine club. First bottles I picked up while I had been there for wine tasting. A few months later I got an email that the new release will be shipping out. I was advised on the phone to have it shipped elsewhere if I wasn't going to be home. The rep asked if there is a UPS nearby so I elected to have the wine shipped to a UPS store near my home. The rep confirmed it will be shipped to the UPS store. Well, Hearst didn't make the address change and had the bottles shipped to my house on a hot day. And subsequently the box wasn't delivered.

When I phoned Hearst with this concern, they assured me the wines were on ice and they should be fine. And they will make the label change and box will be at the UPS store the following day. The following day I picked up the ONE box with 9 bottles following day and brought them home. When I opened the box there was NO ice in it and the bottles were hot to the touch. I had to make multiple phone calls and multiple emails before I finally got to a rep.

The rep assured me that the replacement wine will be on ice and shipped to the same UPS store. A day later I went to pick them up. There were two smaller boxes waiting for me. But to my surprise, UPS charged me $10/box for a total of $20 for shipped to store boxes (this is of course on top of $50 I paid for shipping fee). Hearst later told me they had no idea that UPS charged fees for boxes shipped directly to store. (note: the first shipment that was delayed wasn't charged this because it wasn't shipped directly to the store in the first place)

I felt this additional fee wasn't warranted and frankly if they did their job right the first place, I'd have paid $10 for the one initial box of wine.

Hearst however felt otherwise and told me it's not their responsibility. Ultimately they did not reimburse for any part of this additional fee.

Ultimately I cancelled the membership. It wasn't the $20 shipping fee I had to pay. It was rather the way the manner was handled by the customer service. I strongly felt that they came very short of my expectations.

So the take away:

Don't have the bottles shipped to UPS store even if they advise it. This is exactly what they advised me (apparently Hearst didn't know UPS stores charge box holding fee. They are saying they will advise their clients to be shipped to UPS 'access points' which doesn't charge holding fee. This would have been great if they told me this before. I suppose they learned something thanks to me.)

Wine is good but not good enough for the inconvenience they caused me.

Price with shipping was around $50/bottle for the red wines I chose under my membership offerings. While good wine, I can get pretty darn good wine else where at this price point. I'm probably going back my local Costco.

Customer service is not the fastest and the most prompt (your experience will probably vary, hopefully for...

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...

Worst experience of someone looking to have lunch and some peace. When I walked in I walked back to get lunch and walked outside an sat at a table waiting for my lunch. I had been at the table for 15 minutes when my food arrived. Just getting ready to take a bite a gentlemen walked up to me and stated do I have a reservation for the table, I stated no??? I asked are you saying I need to move, he said yes and I needed to check into the front desk and walked away. So I picked up my open lunch and walked into the building, standing there with my open lunch and drink. I asked again were do I eat my lunch, he stated you need to check in and turned away and started to talk with a couple of guests that had just walked in. So standing there feeling so confussed, angry and embarrassed, I walked out with my lunch. I did send an e-mail and follow up phone call to mgmt, to make sure staff treated customers with respect. They were anything but apologetic and stated all tables are by reservation only for wine tastings and they have a large sign when you walk in to check in. I didn't see it but was not looking for instructions?? I did state no employees were there to greet me. Why did the girl who took my food order not tell me the process! It was not busy, with many tables open, so really poor customer service. There is a disconnect between Hearst Winery and the food business, which finding out are two different businesses, under the same roof. This is a local who will not be back and telling my friends of my experience. Basically they did not give a rats butt about my experience, treatment or trying to make sure their employees learn what they could of done better. You made my day turn from trying to find some peace to...