Dovecote Estate Winery

Love the peaceful countryside beauty and intimate setting. Sitting and drinking wine by the pond is idyllic. We appreciated the wealth of wine knowledge and friendly service. All the wines are fantastic, but highly recommend Mantle and Petite Sirah!

Loved the wine, but even more the whole experience. The tour was great on the beautiful estate directed by our knowledgable guide Johnathan. A perfect day.

This place is spectacular and so beautiful. The wine tasting experience is so personal and John who helped us is so knowledgeable, friendly, and makes you feel welcomed. To top it off, the pond next to the little tasting shack is beyond peaceful that you feel like you are on a long weekend vacation. This place is appointment only so it's a must if you want to go! I definitely recommend 100% and you won't be disappointed with the great wines too!

Amazing experience and phenomenal wine tasting! John is a gem of information and insight! Highly recommended!

Mike is a wealth of knowledge. A great environment with a pond. Great for white and red wine lovers both.

Amazing wines! Tastings only by reservation but it makes for an awesome experience. Christine was terrific... Thanks!

Posting on behalf of Jenny Stevens. We had such a great experience today. Kristin was the best. All the wines are superb. Highly recommend!!

Great experience!!! Beautiful winery and Christine was so nice, recommended places to eat. And the wine was delicious, would recommend 100%

While our stay in Santa Barbara, I came across this secluded estate winery online I had to check it out! Cameron assisted us with the wine tasting he was very knowledgeable with the process and history of these particular wines, made it a lovely experience. Overall was nice to relax while soaking in the beauty of the vineyards surrounded by the nature on the property. The wines were delicious we purchased a few bottles Would definitely recommend this experience

I cannot recommend Dovecote, as my experience there, along with my friends who are not white was disappointing. Unfortunately, we encountered a lack of respect that felt discriminatory against our skin color . I advise against dining there.

One of the most beautiful vineyard/tasting rooms in the area. Please don't miss the relaxing tasting experience. FYI- Syrah was fabulous and I usually don't like the varietal.

I read about Dovecote on one of those "best unknown winery" lists and emailed them for a reservation on our next trip to Los Alamos. Unfortunately they were closed for a private event the first time that I wanted to go, but we were able to get in on the next trip! I've been to most of the wineries in the Los Alamos and Santa Ynez area and already have my favorites. It's pretty hard for me to find one that can match my current favorites, but Dovecote did just that. Kristen set up a lovely table for us overlooking the pond and the tasting was super relaxing, low key, and chill. The wines were all outstanding, even the whites (which I usually do not like). I even left with a bottle of white that I'd purchased (pretty unheard of) and I joined the club. No, I definitely do NOT need another wine club, but it's the only way to get Dovecote wines. They don't have a wine club discount but there are benefits like access to renting the private estates on the property and free tastings. I also like how unknown it is so shhh.

This is my favorite spot in all of the valley. I almost hesitate to leave this review because it's such a beautiful little secret. The wines are spectacular (highly-rated by wine spectator). The wine maker, Noah, has really put his heart and soul into this. His meticulous approach has produced such beautiful wines. What really makes this winery special is the people who run it. Kristen is so warm, inviting and knowledgeable. It's easy for an afternoon to slip away at this place. I really love how unpretentious this places is. It manages to be extremely scenic (with a pond in rolling hills all surrounded by beautiful vineyards) while being low-key and inviting. There is not an ounce of corporate vibes here. What a wine tasting experience should be. We immediately became members and everybody that we have brought to this location has followed suit. I would not be surprised if this was one of those places that closes its membership within a year.

Enjoyed our tasting with Mike very much. The tasting site is nice and with much open air thus allowing for a good site for smell the aroma's very well. A winery for wine lovers, not a Sunday "lets hit seven wineries" type of group.

Hi Noah My apologies, it was July 31st. It was a man and we were there and we did have this experience. We tasted outside in a wooden tasting area by a man made pond/lake. I contacted you numerous times by phone and email on the website. I left voice messages on two separate voicemails with my name and number so you have it. I did this for 2 weeks trying to reach someone there before I posted a review. I feel like your response Is just an excuse trying to say we never existed and this never happened. I have no reason or motivation to post a fake review. If you wanted to reach me that would have been very easy to do. Would you like me to contact you again? Or do you want to take accountability? It's honestly so much more offensive that this happened and the winery doesn't seem to care. I'm happy to contact you again. DM me.

This places was beyond amazing! When we drove in, it took all our breath away. We had not seen our best friends in over a year and this place was magical for our first gathering. Kristen was wonderful and the wine were great! We walk away with many bottles and can not wait to go back!!! Bring a picnic!

Thanks Kristen. The property is amazing, and the service and doggos are even better. Entrance may seem akin to prohibition. Receiving secret gate codes via text the day of the reservation is different...but I digress. Try it out if you can, because it's a spot you probably won't forget visiting. I just popped a bottle of 2019 Estate Viognier tonight and it brought me back to that serene time and place I shared with amazing people.

We had the best time with Kristen. She was such a knowledgeable wine guide and so easy to chat with. Made my fiancé and I feel so at home like we were longtime friends. Our doggo got along so well with the grounds pup Auggie.I can't believe how gorgeous the location was. We will definitely be back! Became a member and so excited.

Dovecote was recommended to us by a friend that lives in The Valley and it was perfection. The wine, atmosphere and overall relaxed, yet sophisticated, vibe was a very special way to spend the afternoon. Kristen is the most gracious hostess, we loved her. It's only been a week since we visited and have already talked about our return. Our wine shipments arrived quickly too- so we will be raising a glass of Dovecote this evening! *Cheers*

Beautiful, peaceful surroundings to enjoy a wonderful tasting while enjoying the beauty of it all. The wines are delicious and Kristen is amazing. The picnic are is picture perfect.

Kristin is outstanding as your server, very knowledgeable about the wines. You will not be disappointed with the selection of whites and reds. The pond and country music is a perfect setting.

Dovecote is sadly lacking when it comes to customer service. Since they seem to be unaware of how to properly deal with customers I'll help them: 1. When a customer contacts you to schedule a tasting using the methods provided on your website (i.e. either by the phone number provided or the online reservation request form) the proper (and polite) thing to do is to respond back, even if you can't accommodate their request. 2. There is another boutique, appointment only winery located on Foxen Canyon Road that has excellent communication skills, meaning they respond to customer inquiries. Since they have been in business a little longer than Dovecote, perhaps it would be a good idea for you to contact them so they can educate you on customer inquiry-best practices as related to an appointment-only winery. Hopefully Dovecote improves their customer service skills as they become more seasoned business owners.

BUYER BEWARE! After visiting Dovecote in June of 2023, I jointed their wine club. On October 15th I received a notification regarding my allocation with an option to select additional wines. On Oct 17th I submitted my order to the email provided on the notification. The same day the club manager acknowledged receipt of that request and update my club order. In addition to that request, the club manager also confirm that they would ship the wine on the week of November 7th. Since that confirmation I have heard nothing from the winery regarding the order. On December 2nd I sent an email to the club manager asking for an update on the shipment. I followed that with a text, followed by another email and finally by a phone call. No one has had the courtesy to respond to either of my email, text or phone call. I find this a totally disrespectful attitude toward a club member. What happen to customer service? Maybe a course in communication skills would be appropriate for your team. A totally frustrated club member. Michael W.

My wife and I had a great time tasting wine and making new friends. The intimate indoor/outdoor tasting room on the pond is a perfect place to bring food and enjoy a meal while you enjoy the great wine. Kristen was an amazing host - making us feel at home as she guided us through our tasting. Being a seventh generation local and historian, Kristen was incredibly knowledgeable about the wines, wine making process, and the area. We look forward to going back soon to enjoy great conversation with new friends, and to enjoy the great wine while admiring the beautiful property.

What an incredible experience to be able to visit and taste wine and this small, privately owned estate winery. Kristen was so kind and hospitable and very knowledgeable about Dovecote and wines overall. As a coastal native she was also helpful with restaurant and other winery recommendations. The setting is amazing and we got to experience a hailstorm while we were there. Thanks for the experience and hospitality!

Lovely wines, and a very lovely setting. Unfortunately the host was quite rude and what could have been an otherwise perfect place to celebrate my birthday was sort of ruined. I think if you land on a day where you get a host who is a people person you'll have a good time. As someone who has been in sales and customer service my entire life I don't think I can remember a time I've had such a strange awkward exchange. I was having a conversation with him and when we both went to speak again it was at the same time. There were a couple moments when we both hesitated to let the other person chime in and finish, only we would both start speaking at the same time again accidentally. What should have been funny became extremely awkward as he got visibly upset. It made things super uncomfortable for me , and well it's just a shame because it was completely unnecessary. If you do book here fingers crossed for you that you get a host who is more comfortable hosting a group.

Have loved all our visits to Dovecote! Joined on the first visit and keep coming back. Not only is Kristin a joy to lead our tastings, all the wine is fabulous!

A tranquil, picturesque vineyard set amongst nature. Kristen was amazing and very welcoming. The wines, which are produced in limited quantities, were exceptional. This is a perfect place to bring a picnic lunch, take in the views of mission pond and enjoy a glass or a bottle. We will definitely make this a frequent stop whenever visiting the SYV. This vineyard is truly stunning.

Shhhhhh! Only tell your closets friends and family about this amazing place for wine tasting, relaxing, reinvigorating, and learning about the local wines and land. We had the most fortunate opportunity to be there without any other guests, so we had Kristen's (our lovely hostess) undivided attention. Kristin is the best. She was knowledgeable about the wines, how they were produced, the history of the vineyard, the graphic of the labels, the "smuggling" of the stalks, etc. She made us feel like we were old friends catching up on the deck of her house overlooking the pond. We enjoyed the range of wines for our tasting, and she was kind enough to share some others varietals that were not on the list. Each wine had its own distinguishing characteristics and we just loved hearing her describe how each of the wines were nurtured and bottled. Make a reservation. Bring some munchies. Enjoy the grounds. And hope that Kristin is working that day to make your day even more memorable.

Beyond! This place is one of the most beautiful wineries in the area. I made a reservation to enjoy wine with a few friends next to the lovely pond. Not only was Kristen super friendly she had so much knowledge and stories for the wine. I HIGHLY suggest this place for anyone looking for a private tasting in one of the hidden gems of the Valley. And the wines are SPECTACULAR

Absolutely stunning. I go to the Napa valley often, and Dovecote rivals my favorite wineries up north. Incredible wines in a beautiful, unpretentious winery/ranch setting. Also inquire about the rooms to stay in!

This is the most beautiful winery! We love to take our family for a picnic, or our out of town guests. Everyone we've brought has absolutely loved it! And manager Kristen is the best!!

Perfect winery. The bar by the pond was so picturesque and relaxing. The wine was excellent. We met Roger the dog, who was so cute and friendly. Good service. We will be back.

Dovecote really is a beautiful place and the wine is great. I have been there with Kristen a few times and another gentleman other times and both were amazing hosts. The times I have visited their were tour guides bringing small groups for tastings. It seems like this is a great place that is not known to the common visitor but highly recommended by the people that do tours.

This is a hidden gem of a winery. We honestly don't want to write this review for fear of this place gaining too much popularity. The wines were delicious, the ambiance is spectacular - views of horses, beautiful lake surrounded by billowing trees, & great hospitality!! Kristen was AMAZING. Took us on an ATV tour of the property, knowledgeable of all the wines, and just such a happy/sweet person! Highly recommend.

A most beautiful, tranquil spot to enjoy your wine tasting. The tastings are relaxed and the staff personable and knowledgeable. We've enjoyed every wine there, all great quality! This property is also an event venue, and I can't imagine a prettier spot for a wedding or other special occasion.

I wish I could give this winery a higher rating. Kristen and her daughter were fantastic hosts in our "private tasting" time! The tasting area is outdoors overlooking a bass-filled lake. It has a covered patio and yes, large space heaters so you're warm even if it's a tad cool. The winery is absolutely dog friendly...our lab really enjoyed herself and there's room for great walks around the lake. Haven't even mentioned the wine! I'm a red fan, but they have a great Rose and a great Grenache Blanc that I truly enjoyed! Their Redtail blend was excellent. Call up and go enjoy. The drive onto the property is beautiful too!