Denner Vineyards

Roxann did an amazing job taking us on the journey of their offerings. Delicious wines

It’s really hard to choose a winery when you have so many options. We decided to be spontaneous and drive up the road and pick one at random, and I must say we were pleasantly surprised. The charming and grand gate first caught our attention, and we drove into heaven. We came for a wine tasting and everyone was very knowledgable about wine. Our waitress had studied wine in college and taught us a thing or two.
The architecture of this winery is a supply stunning. The views are breathtaking– inducing a relaxing, almost zen feeling. What I loved most is how secluded you feel in the middle of nature. Even though it’s such a popular winery, it wasn’t very crowded– giving it an almost exclusive feel.
They have a wine club with tons of perks including free wine tasting for you and 6 friends. Highly recommend this place to those visiting Paso Robles.

They get a perfect score from our family. We went w/​a few friends. My husband and daughter and son-​in-​law, know wine quite well. Well they were surprised that the wine they tasted was beyond expectation. The nose on the glasses of wines were quite intriguing, as well as the color and taste on the palette. We bought several bottles. Loved the experience and joined the wine club.

Love their wines and their wine club «extras»! Their tasting room is so beautiful and we love their reds! The staff is knowledgable and friendly and always good company. So join the club and enjoy an afternoon tasting and relaxing and maybe a game of bocci ball on the lawn! Also they have a nice cheese plate to order if you wish!
We also love that Denner is so concerned about the environment.

We walked in with a reservation to very friendly staff. Clare was extremely knowledgeable and made the experience very enjoyable. The wines were good and we learned so much from Clare. We will definitely join the club. The grounds are peaceful and you can bring food in. They offered cheese and crackers for purchase. They also have a B & B on the grounds.

Fantastic vineyard. Roxanne was really knowledgeable and helpful, and the setting was just amazing.
A very relaxed and enjoyable wine tasting. The dirt worshiper was a great wine.

My second visit, lovely property, nice staff and good wine. Feels bit too «stuffy» and seems since my last visit 3 years ago they crammed in many more tables so it is not as «enjoyable» and relaxing as I recall it from the last time.

Denner wines are fabulous, but when it comes to the winery having a private event sorry to say they fall way short. We paid $ 30 for two tickets to be served two quarter size sandwiches and tasteless chicken with beans. Seemed like it was a stretch for them to even pour tastings today. Come on Denner! These are your members attending not the general public. Treat your members special. I will not stop purchasing their wine, but it will be a long time before I pay for another event.

Unimpressive. Some clumsy wines (2014 Rosé and 2014 Ditch Digger) and pretentious management. The initial greeting was very snooty — continually circling back to the $ 15 per person tasting fee. Yes, I get it. Yes, I laughed at her when you offered to waive it for purchasing three bottles PER person. At that point, just charge a tasting fee and don’t cheapen the experience by offering what averages to a 4−5% discount on three bottles.
Our server/​attendant was an absolute sweetheart, and the physical space at the tasting room is spectacular.
The Rosé is poorly balanced and clumsy for a Paso at this price point. It would compete much better against Halter Ranch at the $ 15 point than Onx or Epoch.
The Ditch Digger has an awkward streak of minerality that doesn’t compliment … anything. For $ 65 a bottle, there are hundreds of better offerings from Linne Calodo, Adelaida, Daou … the list goes on for quite some time.
2012 Cirrus is an enjoyable drinkable wine at the $ 40 – 45 price point. Not at the $ 75 asking price.
The 2012 Syrah is good. Priced at a small premium over the locals, but enjoyable. It’s on the gentle side for a Syrah and nicely balanced.

Denner is one of the best wineries in Paso Robles! The wines are always executed beautifully with great balance and nose year after year. The Ditch Digger and Mother of Exiles are their flagship but I also think the Viognier is something to write about too. Meyer lemon and jasmine followed by a hint of butterscotch at the end. Yum! Only negative was that there was only 1 person working and there were 3 parties. She seemed a bit overwhelmed. The view of rolling hills from the deck is just amazing! So peaceful!

We visit a LOT of wineries – our little hobby, I guess. This one was lovely – setting, staff, the wine is delicious, ready to drink, nothing served that isn’t already ready to drink (though aging of the reds is still more than a good idea). We joined the wine club because the server (whose name I sadly have forgotten, but she was originally from La Crescenta near Pasadena, so she’ll know who she is) was so knowledgeable, friendly, etc. Until we finished, she had no idea we would join the wine club, yet she was a great ambassador for this winery. They then sent us to another winery we never would have known about absent their referral – also delicious wine (Terry Hogue).
We were on our way from SF to LA, only could stop at 2 places, and Denner would be on anyone’s ‘short list’. Thanks!

I wish I could share a review on my experience at Denner however it didn’t last long. Admittedly we did not have a reservation primarily due to lack of cell service in the area. We were excited to try the wine as we were referred there by Stolo Vineyards. When we arrived, the gated was closed and we asked the person on the intercom if they had availability for a tasting for 2. Please note it was around 3:00 on a Thursday so not peak time. This person indicated they could accommodate us & would open the gate. Despite 2 attempts, the gate failed to open and we gave up and left. I would expect this treatment from Opus One in Napa but not in Paso. So I have no idea if the wine is any good nor do I plan on trying it anytime soon if this is how they treat customers. Far too many other wineries in Paso that are more than happy to take my money.

Mother of Exiles is one of the best. Of course i am as well big fan of the ditch digger and from the white no other wine can get better then Theresa. I am always happy to buy something and enjoy with good dinner.

Couldn’t have asked for better weather as I followed newfound friends to their winery. Because they are members, my tasting (& subsequently, lunch) were free;)
Denner is striking! From the moment I arrived at the gargantuan gates, the über modern architecture, the sustainable and environmentally-​friendly winery blew me away.
With its own B&B, Comus House, pretty and perfect pastoral views, and facing the west, it was a great time of trying wines and chatting. For me, the company bested the wines, as I def prefer fruit forward, very soft wines that don’t finish dry. The balance was great on the reds tried, and the first pour, Viognier, went down like water.
Bring your own lunch, make a reservation, and simply take in the heady views.

I found Denner a few years when visiting the area. It was recommended by a woman at my hotel in Cambria so decided to check it out.
I was definitely won over during my first visit when I bought a bottle of Syrah which I savored when I got home. Back then, no reservations were required and things were more laid back.
Fast forward a couple of years, they now require advanced reservations and reserve their «good» wine for members only. During my last visit, they admitted they were offering tastings of wine that was not quite ready (I agree) because they were low on wine. The word must be out on this place! Still it’s a beautiful place with great service and wines (if you can get the ready to drink stuff) so worth another visit for me in the future.

Got lucky enough to score a reservation at Denner. I was at Adelaida Cellars and the girl pouring wine called and got us a Denner reservation (since cell phones don’t work very much on this side of Paso). Denner is reservation only and you usually have to be a member.
The Winery is super exclusive. They give you a code over the phone just to enter the property. The Wine was pretty good. Super rich wine. The reds have a very bold texture, and nice bite. The tasting room was very private since it was reservation only.
In my opinion, the wine was good, but I had better in Paso. Only reason I am saying that is because the bottles here are very expensive. Like $ 60 a bottle was on the cheaper end. If you can get a tasting here, do it. It’s worth the experience to taste at one of the most exclusive private vineyards in Paso Robles.

The place is beautiful, nice for lunch, but the service is slow and pretentious taking care of their rich club members first. The wines are not bad but for 2012 wines– they were disappointing compared to other years I have had

Visited with some friends a few weeks ago and got a tour from Ron Denner himself. It’s an amazing place and they are developing a new wine there using a very unique method. (It was my favorite red of the entire trip). I wish them lots of success with it.
Definitely a «must see» vineyard if you’re in Paso Robles.

Denner is targeting the fine wine collector with their wines. They are not pumping out ready-​to-​drink wines for the commoners. Don’t get the wrong impression — their wines are drinkable right now, but they are really structured for keeping from 2 – 15 years — normally an excessive time to wait for the typical Unilocaler wine swillers.
An example of their approach to their wines is using the term «puncheons» or «barriques» instead of oak «barrel» to describe how they age the wines. A bit over the top, maybe.
The prices for their wines are very elevated to match their target market of collectors. The exclusivity of having to make an appointment and enter a code to enter the property makes the experience seem even more «upper class». We had been invited to taste by Carol Rounsaville, General Manager, who we met while visiting with Eric Titus at his Napa winery. During the tasting, you are escorted to an outside or inside table by your tasting room attendant. Ours was Joyce and she was a delightful, very knowledgeable and personable lady.
We tasted 2012 Vionier, 2012 Theresa, 2011 Ditch Digger, 2011 Dirt Worshipper and 2010 Mother of Exiles (meritage blend at $ 68). All the wines had great structure and balance, but would likely be too acidic or mineral tasting for the ready-​to-​drink crowd.
We didn’t buy because we already have located our sources in CA for «investment» wines and Denner did not move the needle far enough to meet their price point, in our opinion.
Could not get past the pretentiousness and the overpricing to give more than 3 stars.

Driving up to the stylish gate, having to enter a gate code to enter, driving uphill past peaceful grounds to an architecturally-​beautiful building — we liked the place already! After scheduling our appointment, I anticipated standing or sitting at the counter with other people tasting with us; however, we had the ENTIRE place to ourselves! Given our choice of where to sit, naturally we chose to sit outside, overlooking the gorgeous view, and taking advantage of the couldn’t-be-more-perfect weather.
The tasty wines were poured one-​by-​one; after a brief description, we were left alone, and allowed to enjoy each selection at a relaxed pace — almost like a multi-​course meal. So nice!
Terrence exuded knowledge, enthusiasm, and passion toward their wines (and wines, in general), engaged in conversation with us, and made several appreciated recommendations — many of which we pursued. What a great way to kick-​off our day and stay in Paso Robles — an AMAZING experience!