Robert Renzoni Vineyards Review
Address: 37350 De Portola Rd. Temecula,California 92592.
Phone Number: 951-302-8466
Tasting Hours: 11:00-6:00 and by appt.
Region: South Coast and S. California, Temecula Valley AVA, California
Reviewer: Tara Torres
Review Date: 9/12/2012
Reviewer: Tara Torres
Rating: 4
The Review
Robert Renzoni, a budding Temecula winery steeped in Italian roots, offers a laid back environment, fine wines, and – coming soon – a new Tuscan style tasting room.
The Place: Nestled on the side of a rolling hill and surrounded by vines, the Robert Renzoni tasting room is housed in the barrel room until the new Tuscan style tasting room is built. The location, off the secluded Deportola Road, provides a country feel and great views. The winery has made the most of their temporary tasting room by offering inside and outside seating and by creating a modest gift shop. Behind the tasting counter, barrels of wine are stacked high, a reminder that you are in a wine warehouse. While excited that there will be a new tasting room, I didnt mind being in the barrel room as it provided a feeling of authenticity, or maybe I just liked being near all the wine!
The Experience:  When we arrived at the winery we were a little disappointed by the tasting room’s appearance, as it was essentially an aluminum warehouse. However, we quickly discovered that Robert Renzoni still offers character and rustic charm. The servers were pleasant, attentive and knowledgeable, and pre-purchased poker chips are exchanged for each taste. Inside, the wine dog, Habanero, roamed freely greeting each guest. A sign warned visitors not to feed Habanero breadsticks, as doing so would upset his tummy. The breadsticks, provided to cleanse tasters’ palates between tastes, were a nice touch; many Temecula wineries don’t provide anything to munch on during the tasting. Additionally, guests were given small samples of the delicious Robert Renzoni family marinara sauce to dip the breadsticks in. A large, beautiful souvenir wine glass, complete with the classic Robert Renzoni logo, is included with the purchase of a premium tasting. Unlike most of the small, cheap wine glasses that have passed through my door on their eventual way to the trash can, I’m actually going to keep this one!
The Wines: Robert Renzoni’s 125 years of family history in the wine industry results in a wide variety of solid wines. The standard tasting fee is $12, and the premium tasting fee is $15. The stand out wine was the 2010 Barile Chardonnay. The wine spent ten months in French oak and has a unique buttery finish. Of the reds, the 2009 Sonata, an estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon and Brunello blend, and the 2008 Concerto, a Zin-Syrah-Merlot blend, were both impressive.
Insider’s Tip:  Robert Renzoni has its own hot air balloon operated separately by A Grape Escape Balloon Adventure. If you mention that you heard about the balloon from Robert Renzoni Winery you can save 10%. Robert Renzoni also offers a vineyard walking tour on Fridays and Sundays, by appointment only, for $35 a person. The Little Wine House sits in the upper garden and is available for picnics on a first come, first served basis. As of Nov 28, 2012, a two for one tasting coupon for premium tastings was available on the winery’s website.