My parents were coming to visit and I thought it would be cool to take them for some wine tasting. I did some research and could not decide where to take them. Seems everyone I asked gave me a different answer. Surprisingly, no one said Cornell.
I randomly chose this spot based on Yelp, their photos, and the fact they had artwork. Once we pulled up I knew I chose well! From the dusty trail to the faint smell of horses, this place transcends you. It's charming on the outside as well  as the inside. Even though it was a gorgeous day out, we chose to sit inside because the ambiance was so alluring.
Of the four wines we tasted, we ended up buying two bottles. The only reason I didn't give them five stars was our server seemed a bit condescending. Otherwise, this place is a gem, and I will come back.
I went here a few weekends ago and just fell in love with this place. It is so peaceful and feels like you're hanging out in the mountains of a small town. The service was amazing (I love how they have a story for each wine) and it has a really cool eclectic feel, as they have a bunch of talented locals who display their art inside the tasting room. I actually spent 3 hours just hanging outside, reading, tasting wine and chatting with the other customers. Definitely the place to go if you need a vacation from the city, but don't have a full day to do so! I also have to give a shout out to Trevor, the guy bartender. Â I left a book there, outside for that matter, and he was kind enough to save it and return it to me, which I thought was incredibly thoughtful!! Â Just a really awesome, unique and friendly place. Â I will definitely be back the next chance I get!
Review Source:Visited here after brunch at Saddlepeak Lodge. We already had drinks with our meal so we chose to share a tasting. You know, too much drinking and then driving DO NOT mix! We were served by Trevor who acted a bit put off that we wanted to share our tasting. The tasting was 4 wines for $10, and they all were pretty good. Three from the central coast, and one from the Topanga region. The room was nice and not crowded, even though it was a sunny Sunday afternoon. I'm giving only two stars because Trevor really needs to brush up on his people skills. He gave us brusque, cursory descriptions of the wine, and left the bottle for us to look at only 2 of 3 times. With one wine, I was just about to pick up the bottle when he swept by, and without a word, scooped it up. I realize the wine is for everyone, but perhaps a simple "Excuse me" would have been possible. The highlight was the woman working there. I wish I had gotten her name. She had long dark hair and was extremely knowledgeable about the wines. She poured the one wine Trevor did not handle for us. What a treat! She told us about the varietal, a bit about it's history, and some real information about the wine. If it weren't for her, I would not consider going back here.
Review Source:I went here with a few friends and was pleasantly surprised to find a some wines that I would actually buy. Â Not to be a jerk, but sometimes this part of L.A. attracts snobby types that talk a talk and don't know how to walk a walk. Â The staff was really nice and the space had a great ambiance. Â There was also a super sweet doggy that roamed around checking every body out when they first arrived, but quickly left after approval, so as not to cause a nuisance. Â I enjoyed the experience and would return in the future with out of town guests or to just just get away for the day.
Review Source:I just recommended Cornell to a friend, and figured I might as well recommend it to all of Yelp while I'm at it! I love their tasting room, the selection of wines, the ambiance, the art on the walls... It's all so lovely! I've only been to Cornell on the weekends, but it's never seemed overly crowded or that we weren't being tended to. The staff is always extremely friendly. There was one woman in particular (I don't remember her name!) that sat and chatted with us about wine and wine tasting for quite some time, it was so fun!
In conclusion, see you soon, Cornell!
I've gotta say, the wine selections have definitely improved, and the staff are certainly friendly. I think given the locale it's pretty much inevitable that there will be stuck-up rich people frequenting the place. At least the smell of bbq next door reminds me that this is a down-to-earth operation.
Review Source:Cute, quaint and a great location. Â I feel like I've traveled back in time and should be arriving here on horseback. Â
The wines are OK, the ambiance is fantastic and they have a decent selection should you need to grab a bottle to go (or to take next store to the restaurant). Â You can do wines by the glass or flights. Â I like to come here before going to the restaurant next store.
I was with friends next door for dinner, which was enjoyable... Came to Cornell winery after and was so glad we did. Â Great wine selection for all types if wine drinkers. Â Not a pretentious joint, ultra casual service was exactly what we wanted. Â The best part is the live guitar music, by a guy who seriously loves his job. Â I wish I lived closer.
Review Source:The Cornell tasting room is a great place to stop in, sip on crushed grapes and have fun with your palate!
When I arrived some of my friends were en route on the Ventura County Wine Trail (<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.conejovalleyguide.com%2Fdosomethingblog%2Fventura-county-wine-trail.html&s=a6571aca1898e8500d587f564f81cd6e0adcd2586aff251556c849f2755d1742" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.conejovalleyg…</a>), set up through Conejo.
There was little to no wait. As my friends group was nearing the end of there tasting the staff simultaneously started my friend and I off with the sweetest vino (to driest). The staff is friendly and informative, paced out our 8 pours (+2bonus) timely. Â I never felt rushed nor did I ever feel like I was waiting. Â Conversation flowed, eloquent answers given to my every question.
Cornell is close to home, I shall be back for more tastings!
Just a tasting room....
Make sure you tell your tour guide (if you are on a limo/party bus wine tour) to not stop here. It is no different than just sipping wine at a nice wine store. You will not feel like you are out on a wine tasting tour and there is no reason to drive all the way out here unless you are going to old place next door for dinner.
Malibu and Vine and Malibu Wineries, along with SIP and Rosenthal, IMHO all feel like actual wineries and have a little space to walk around and enjoy the outdoors or get the feeling like you are actually on a special wine tasting trip like you would in the well known wine countries up north. This place doesn't, and mainly gives people something to do after they leave dinner from the old place next door...
If you are local to the San Fernando valley and want to get away and experience a quite romantic night away with your spouse, I recommend trying the Cornell Winery and grabbing dinner next door at the Old Place. Â The sommelier's there were very knowledgable and made for a enjoyable night out. Â We tried the 4 different wines and bought a bottle to bring next door, to enjoy with our dinner. Â This place would even be a lot of fun with a group of friends and I think we will try that next time. Â They have live music playing which makes for a great atmosphere. Â We will definitely go back some time!
Review Source:I am a fan of the old place so it shouldn't be much of a surprise how much I LOVE this place. They have an amazing and extensive selection of only local wines and to top it off their staff is knowledgeable, and you can't beat the ambiance or the beautiful location. if your looking for a unique place to visit that isn't the usual here in LA , this is your place.
Review Source:Note, this place is not a winery, but only a Tasting Room. If you are an avid wine connoisseur who loves to visit wineries and vineyards like me and you're expecting to taste wines from a place that calls itself a "winery", don't expect to find signature wines produced at Cornell. However, if you're looking to experience locally produced wines from the many true wineries in the Malibu Wine Trail, then Cornell would be a good place to find and taste the many local selections. This place is located in a picturesque location and the tasting room is very magical inside.
Review Source:This is probably my favorite place to taste in Malibu although its a tasting room and you aren't tasting many Malibu wines (which is probably why I like it!) Â The people working there are lovely and had some great recommendations, you can also buy all the wines from the other Malibu wineries there and for cheaper so I'd recommend getting all your wine from them. Â They are also next door to an amazing restaurant- the Old Place. Â Will definitely be back!
Review Source:Honestly, at least to me the wine itself was just ok. When we were there for whatever reason, they seemed to be rushing us. Usually when one goes wine tasting, one wants to relax. Servers will usually pace everything in a way that you can really enjoy  and experience the wine. That was not the case here. The servers did not really do a good job of selling the wine either. Usually servers will tell a story, and explain everything about the wine. Nope, not here. It was basically, "this is blah blah wine here you go."
One cool thing about coming here at least was that on this day there seemed to be some police/SWAT activity across the street.
So this is what that whole hullabaloo was all about  <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fmalibu.patch.com%2Farticles%2Fswat-team-responds-to-barricade-situation-on-paiute-drive&s=5a993d258284f46ebe200ef8ff77767e251747cb94b74e14cbbb3458d9f4b98d" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://malibu.patch.com/…</a>
Well, they added the bathroom, so their wine tasting room is open again!
We went recently for a tasting for a friend's birthday, and the setting is just lovely. Very rustic, very cool, and it was fun to sit at the long group tasting table with the fun chandeliers and decorations. Also, they didn't mind that we brought in snacks, which was really great.
The wine was only ok, and one of the four tasting wines was from Rosenthal, which we'd already tasted and not really enjoyed. I think If I were to go back, I'd just get a glass of wine and enjoy it, rather than doing the tasting.
Warning this place does not have wine tasting due to bathroom plumbing updates. Â
We started off our friend's wine tasting birthday at Cornell because it was close to The Old Place where we decided to have lunch. Â After an AMAZING lunch we walked right next door to Cornell Winery and Tasting room for wine tasting. Â We asked to start tastings and they stated "tastings are closed for today?"
Me: what are your tasting hours?
Them: well...there are none.
Me: so is tasting closed today or do you not offer it all?
Them: actually there are no tastings until we add a bathroom.
Me: you should put that on your website?
Them: Â yeah a few people have told us that
I totally understand that buildings may need improvements may have to limit their features from time to time. Â But this is bad ethics; because, all you can buy from their wine store (with a poor selection) which is why they probably falsely advertise tastings.
This place is seriously the shit (in a very good way). Even though they aren't currently doing tastings due to some bureaucratic crap (I hear they're 100% in April/May when they open an additional restroom)--they still have wonderful service and a great selection of local wines. If you're looking to support a great family owned business--this is it.
While they were open for tastings they changed their menu about every 2 weeks. This meant you didn't have to taste the same stuff for 3 or 4 months at a time like a lot of wineries & vineyards. There might be one or two busts in the selection, but they do 8 flights, so you still get a great value. The environment is very different from your usual vineyards since it is a tasting room. But it's still a great store to walk around--a lot of local artists and products available. Everyone in the store is also very knowledgeable & friendly--there really aren't any downsides.
Go Enjoy!!
What a delightful little tasting room tucked away in Agoura! Â I went with one of my wine meetup groups and our organizer got us a $10 tasting deal. Â We tried about 5-6 wines which progressed in the usual fashion (light whites to heavy reds) but were all from different wineries. Â The wine wasn't anything to write home about (I think this was because they tried to pour mostly local stuff) but the experience is what you need to come to this place for.
The drive to this place is fantastic - a most-do if you've never driven out here! Â The tasting room is tucked in the back of a wine shop and all the staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Â I think the owner must be obsessed with peacocks because not only does the tasting room contain a lot of peacock art and decor but we saw an actual peacock on the property when parking. Â Totally surreal! Â Tried to take a picture but it scurried away - damn!
Unfortunately, I did not get to stay and eat at the place next door but heard it was amazing from the regulars.
So if you're looking for a Saturday/Sunday where you want to stay local but try something new, drive out here for some wine tasting and finish at the Ladyface Alehouse for some beer tasting on your way back to the 101 Â :)
Fantastic tasting room -- my fave in the area. Â They have wines from a variety of labels, so you're not tasting the fruit of just one winery.
The sommeliers are incredibly friendly and enthusiastic about their wines, and have a much higher knowledge of what they're pouring than the average.
The atmosphere in the tasting room is rustic glam, and there are peacocks wandering the property. Â Awesome.
A nice tasting room with a rotating flight. Â The people there are very friendly, and the wines we tasted were all wonderful.
The room is a little dark for me, I like to be able to look at my wines. Â We wanted to sit at the bar (a quirk of mine) but it only seats four. Â In the end, the people there were really good about bringing the next taste and making sure we were OK.
They know their wine and the winemakers, which is a nice thing to see.
Just a few suggestions to make it 5 star:
1. Offer some sort of cheap cracker or bread in bowls.
2. Maybe consider offering more than one flight?
3. Turn up the lights, just a bit.
4. Move the sales floor for wine to the back room and open up the front with an extended bar for tasting.
I will return again and again, becuse it was such a lovely experience!
A great room with a lot of character, it's not a tasting room for a specific winery but more of a wine bar in actuality. This is a good thing, as they have quite a lot of very good wines.
It's also not particularly private. Seating is of the communal type at big long tables. Though it might not be for everyone, it's a nice fit for a wine bar as it encourages interaction and talking between guests and if your lucky you'll meet some interesting, like-minded people.
The room is large and full of interesting local artwork, as well as plenty of wine. The staff is helpful and friendly, and you can order some fantastic food from the restaurant next door if you'd like. I would actually recommend walking next door and eating at the actual restaurant just because it's such a charming experience but if you can't tear yourself away, that's okay.
While it's true they don't post the pricing on the tastings and wines, prices are similar to all the other tasting rooms in the area. Approximately $15 a flight, which certainly isn't cheap but is comparable to all the other local stops.
They are occasionally closed for private parties, as we sadly found out on our latest vist, so you might call ahead to make sure they're open. Don't worry though, Sip Cielo around the corner is just as fun and nice and open just as late. Just one more great addition to our Malibu wine tour.
Wines - A
Ambience - A
Service - A
Value - A
The location is great- off the beaten path a tad, but not so much where you can't find it- just enough to make you feel out of the big city.
Walked in and was a little confused on where to sit/ order. Stood around for about 5 minutes to wait for someone to give us a hint they worked there and then asked where we sit to get started tasting. You have to walk through the middle "bar area" so it seems like it would be off limits or they would have to seat you- kinda weird. Family style seating in the middle of the store- which looks nice but is kind of a pain in the ass- especially if your in a dress- which i was. It was just me and my boyfriend and we had to squeeze between 2 large parties that were taking up most of the table- which we don't mind- it's a nice way to start talking to people but for people who want some alone time or don't like sitting directly next to or in front of a complete stranger this is your worst nightmare.
The wait/ pour staff was great after we finally found out where to sit. They were really knowledgeable about the wines and quick to answer questions/ offer.
Never saw a price list- it doesn't exist.
The tasting menu had a good selection- few whites and some great reds. No bottle or glass price listed anywhere- we weren't even sure how much our tastings were going to cost us but we've done temecula and Paso Robles, Solvang, etc. so figured it would be around the ballpark of those places.
wrong.
Didn't end up buying a bottle mostly because we weren't sure of the price....and paid $33.50 for 2 tastings..... pretty expensive for wine tasting if you ask me- We would have bought a bottle if it included the free tasting- would have been worth it, left feeling pretty cheated.
I was the designated driver, and don't know much about wine, so I won't speak to the actual vino, and limit myself to the establishment. Â
We drove several miles back into the hills behind Malibu to what looked like cluster of old farm buildings. Â The Cornell winery tasting room looks like an old barn or warehouse; long and narrow with a galvanized metal roof. Â The entrance, a wooden porch added to one end of the barn, welcomes you with a colorful tile mosaic peacock.
Inside is an ocean of rough hewn wood, and exposed wooden beams. Â Along the long walls hangs paintings by various local artists - some of it actually quite good. Â Each work is spotlighted, creating an oscillating pattern of vibrant color and warm wood down both sides of the building.
The front half of the space is the store, packed with crates of wine, wine paraphernalia and the counter. Â The back is the tasting area, and is dominated by a huge, long, wooden table under a massive chandelier hanging from the roof timbers.
Our group bought a flight of wine, each glass of which was accompanied by a short description of the grapes and wine. Â The folks running the place were very friendly and helpful. Â They didn't rush us at all, and we spent the whole afternoon relaxing, drinking and playing with the magnetic acrobats Â
that were the center piece of the main table.
We had a great time at Cornell Winery.
While everyone was out shopping day after Christmas we thought what better day than to go to Malibu and do some wine tasting.
This place had the most wonderful art all over the walls, all local as well.
The house itself used to be some sort of a storage place. They really brought some big life in to it. Â It's even got the chandelier that just seems to look as if it always was there.
There are big hardwood tables throughout so we grabbed our spots and commenced to sip wines. Â While we did this they have some entertaining magnets of naked women on the table that you can pose in circus acts or more like Cirque de Soleil.. you'll just have to go and visit.
Don't try this place when you're already drunk. Â This is essentially a wine store that carries local wines so there are thousands of bottles surrounding you. I was definitely a little tipsy by the time I arrived and I was really concerned that I was going to knock things over. Â Luckily, I stayed in the middle of the walkway and I was able to get out of there without doing any damage.
We were the only customers there the entire time. Â The owner of Cantara Cellars happened to be visiting the store. Â We ended up buying a bottle of the Cantara Franknvine, which is some sort of red wine. Â It was definitely our favorite out of the 8 we tasted but it was a complete rip off at $40. The other standout was a Pinot Noir that cost only $10. We definitely should've gone with that bottle. Â One thing that I was a little bit disappointed about was the quantity of Rosenthal wines promoted. We had just gone to Rosenthal earlier that afternoon and tried 8 of their wines so I really didn't need to drink 3 more at Cornell. Â I would imagine that many other visitors also take the same route as us and would feel the same way about the repetition.
Around the tasting room, there are peacocks that roam the area. Â Did you know that apparently peacocks like cat food? Â I guess they're a similar species, kind of.
In a word: effervescent. (Not the wine literally, but the experience as a whole.)
My friends and I enjoyed the wine tasting here last night prior to our reservation at the restaurant next door, The Old Place. I have to be honest that I have not been to many wine rooms, or tastings for that matter, so my experience is a little limited. But with that said, I thought it was incredibly pleasant. The vintage décor, the bright hint of oak smoke mingling with the air outside, and the local art displayed on the walls just added to the almost whimsical vibe of the area. I love that going here was like taking a step away from Los Angeles for a while without having to travel some huge distance.
They had a selection of eight local wines to taste for $15 + tax in total. I thought all were of a very nice/fine quality and didn't have that unappealing grape juice flavor some local area wines have had to me. The servers seemed to have a decent knowledge of the wines they were featuring, which was nice. The pace was very laid back though, so definitely allow enough time to savor the experience and not rush through it. They fit us in without a reservation too, which gives them another star in my rating.
This is definitely a top choice for something different to do on a lazy weekend day.
What a unique experience. You feel like you've taken a step back in time. If you want a truly enjoyable afternoon, and wonderful wines, this place is a must.
Peacocks running wild, forest like setting, and the art work is lovely as well. I visit often and always love the experience.
Deanne, Dehada, Denise, and of course the Trevor's will make you feel welcome, and are a delightful team.
What a great place.
Its been on my to-go list forever so we did an outting for the wifes birthday
The wine is fantastic and it is very nicely decorated with great big walnut tables and early wilderness americana on the walls and on display.
The 8 wines we tasted were all great, unique and crafted by local vintners. Ill definitely be returning.
Great little winery nestled in the mountains. The funnest part of going to Cornell Winery is the drive through the canyons. It's easy to miss the winery on the side of the road, but once you've been there you'll never miss it again. The inside is nice and relaxing and the staff is not only knowledgeable, but extremely friendly. The large tasting table makes it easy for groups to go and the prices for tastings as well as bottles is a great value.
Unfortunately, the Old Place next door has yet to be open any of the times I've been there. And while the inside is nice, it's a shame to sit in a rather dark environment in the middle of the beautiful canyons.
Either way, I highly recommend Cornell Winery.
Tasting rooms are popping up all over the place, but this is a truly special spot. Â
1. The drive on one of the most amazing roads in California - Mulholland.
2. The escape to this forested nugget in the Santa Monica Mountains is special... you feel like you have ascended into another place and time.
3. Â The staff is attentive, friendly, and very well informed... they have a number of staff with a JWE Certification and they know their wine.
4. Â They are true to the terroir and represent Malibu and Santa Monica Mountain wines.... of which there are many and many very good offers.
Unique, clean, beautiful, and authentic... some of my favorite descriptive terms and a reason this is on my list of TOP DATE excursions. Â The Old Place Restaurant next door for when your date is going extra well and you need a little more wine and time together.... hopefully the magic rubs off on you.
We had a pleasant visit. Â The staff is very nice and personable.
The tasting room offers a selection of a variety of local wineries, most I had never heard of before which was a real treat. Â This is a nice place to visit over and over again. Â
Looking forward to going to the Old Place next door for a nice dinner.
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