Reviews of Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery (Winery)

Alexandr Harley

Stopped at Cedar Ridge on a beautiful Sunday morning assuming we'd find a small, quiet winery. We couldn't have been more wrong. They have a Sunday brunch that is apparently very popular and there were several large family gatherings for lunch. We only wanted to do a wine tasting and since the same gal did the wine tastings and placed all of the food & drink orders, it too awhile, but we weren't in any hurry. Wine tasting should be relaxed and easy and it was. Their wines were excellent and so were the spirits. I understand they usually have live music on Friday evenings that also well attended. Great place!

Chris Hanson

Service sucked, entertainment was good

Denny Ly

Awesome whiskies and awesome food.

Rob Brennan

Fantastic location, plus Bourbon, enough said!

Gage Weber

It's amazing, that's all that needs to be said.

Carrie Koutek

Food was delicious and came out quickly. You are able to sample the wine (up to 6 tastings) before purchasing. And the staff is very helpful and knowledgeable about the wine in order tri help you to find your favorite.

Monia Nedrow

Drink selection was amazing and the people behind the counter they really know their job. The food selection not too much it's their improvement opportunity.

helen retleff

Beautiful view- great food and libations!

Linda Angerer

The wine was decent, the mixed drinks not so much. Be sure to have a reservation or you will be caught in the rap trap of waiting and drinking their drinks. 3rd time we have stopped in, this time after church and have not been served yet so can't tell you about the food. Very disappointing.

Mindy May

Their Rosé is beautiful.

Beverly Voss Hummel

Every thing e Was great emjoyed the play )&

Philip Husom

Best local wines, the whiskeys are all great, and the other spirits are also high quality, particularly their gin and vodka. Very friendly staff who know about the product and are eager to share their knowledge. I highly recommend it.

Steve Lehenbauer

The selection is fantastic. Simple choices with an unlimited variety to fit every taste. An enjoyable visit every time.

nilüfer sayar

I ate the most wonderful pizza here! I don't remember the name, but it has balsamic vinegar and brisket, it was delicious, and unforgettable! There is live music on fridays mostly. Very very delicious and huge cheese plate and smoked duck. Nice selection of their own production of whiskey and wine. Atmosphere could have been better, but when there is delicious food and alcohol, and good live music, who cares? Recommended!

MaryAnne Vecchio

I tried to bring a group of 30 people there. They were the opposite of helpful! They kept saying it’s first come first serve. I said I’d like to work with you. And nothing. Just ridiculous that they wouldn’t say something to make it work. The next place I called rolled out the red carpet. Maybe they have so much business that they feel bad service is ok.

Teree Meierotto

What a wonderful place to go with friends and relax and have fun!

CJ Flynn

Very good wines very good place if you are driving by on 965 a worthwhile stop. I have gotten my mom and many other people some really good gifts here. It has a real inviting look from the road and it don't disappoint once inside. A lot of people have group events here. You may have to park a ways and then walk in here.

Cheryl Pease

Great visit! Personable staff, very good food and exceptional wine & spirits.

Bridget Lutz

The wine is okay (didn't have a whole lot I personally liked, but everyone's different), the food was very good. The location as a whole is beautiful, but there should be more parking. Will come here again, but probably earlier in the day.

mark johnson

A very nice and peaceful place.A very scenic view and the pizza was excellent Will definitely go back again.

Cooper Shields

The best Iowa wine in Iowa! The whiskey's are excellent as well!

Kelsie Smock

We love Cedar Ridge! Be sure to try out the great complimentary tasting of their wines or spirits, which is a lot of fun. My favorite wine is the Red Reserve, and my BF loves the Single Malt Whiskey! Their servers are super friendly and do a really great job. The charcuterie platters and flatbread pizzas are delicious, and they perfectly compliment the drinks! This is such a charming modern winery. They offer indoor and outdoor seating. They also offer spaces for private parties and events. Plus, their rural vineyard setting makes for a great photo op during warm Iowa months!

May TEE

Catered event and 15 people got FOOD POISONING! I said they should call the health department & report it.

Thor7167

The best brunch! Everything is incredible. Corn sucatash has so much flavor. Biscuits and gravy is home made! Desserts are sooo good!

Akshat Khanijo

Great selection of wine and rum

Tom Nutt

Always friendly a great place. To visit and to show off what iowans can do!

Joan Richards

I arrived, with 3 friends, at 11 am for the Sunday brunch. The atmosphere was scenic and tranquil. The car park, however, was a bit limited. After driving for two hours to get there it was refreshing to be greeted by the friendly, female staff member as we move towards the bar for the tasting. After tasting the various wines and spirits, which the server joyfully shared her incredible knowledge on each taste, we were ready for the brunch. The dining area was spacious and inviting and I liked that the tables were covered with spotless white linen. The food was delicious and so too was the Sangria and other “flavored” beverages. The servers were very attentive; clearing the table as soon as we were done with our dishes. All in all it was a morning well spent. On our way out we each ended up purchasing a couple bottles of wine. It was well worth the trip. Will definitely go again!

Ivy Stein

So many favorites!

Stu Eddins

Always an easy place to meet friends. Good food, better wine, excellent spirits. Friendly staff offering good service. Attended a single malt tasting in April of 2013. Nicely managed presentation with lots of interesting information. Sample sizes of products were decent.

Sara Boyce

I could not have asked for a better place to have my wedding and reception. My husband and I choose to have a Sunday wedding to keep costs within our budget, therefore, the price was very reasonable to have our wedding at such a memorable location. The setting is absolutely beautiful outside and inside, so it did not require much decorating at all! I received many wonderful comments from guests on how it was such a lovely venue and the food was delicious. The pizza and apps buffet was a hit! Having the venue provide there own catering made the process so much easier. I cannot thank Ashton enough for her help throughout the entire process, from communicating via email about concerns and opinions to helping on the wedding day with anything we may need. My husband and I will definitely be returning for wine and pizza to reminisce on our special day.

Philip Huang

Great landscaping, great wine!, and solid service. Will be back.

Jo Volkening

Stopped in for the Bourbon & Blues fest- amazing musicians especially Davy Knowles. Mark your calendar for next year Folks!!

Seth McCoy

This place is beautiful. We went here for part of a weekend getaway/honeymoon and they didn't disappoint. They offered free sampling of their various wines and liquor, we got a great your full of interesting facts about how they brewed and a wonderful cheese and meat tray to eat. We went back for a fantastic brunch with mouth watering food and mimosas. Loved it. Took multiple bottles of whiskey home and will be going back to visit again and again.

Michelle Oldenburger

Very nice to visit, needed a bigger bar and more employees

Karen Mallinger

Beautiful venue and delicious wines. Something for every taste.

Blanca L-J

Some of the best wines in Iowa! Being a cab/zin lover I'm always surprised to find a very drinkable rose or la crescent. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. I feel terrible I didn't catch the name of the girl who helped us, she was young, very pretty with a Katrina tattoo on her left arm. She had excellent taste in wine & helped me navigate through my stubborn old lady red fixation. The food was very good, though pizza crust was a bit salty.

Raymond Schmidt

Great Iowa treasure here, I have brought small groups here and hosted a company event too. It's a unique experience to be in the country with a nice view, and the wine is very good too, and I am a fairly tough critic on that! Staff is easy going, friendly, and make the experience inviting and fun.

Kye Simmons

ONE OF THE COOLEST PLACES AROUND. I LOVE THE PRODUCTS, THE ATMOSPHERE, AND EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS PLACE. MY ONLY COMPLAINT IS THE HOURS. I WORK IN SALES AND I CAN HARDLY EVER GET OVER TO ENJOY THIS BEAUTIFUL PLACE. IT'S A VERY COOL DESTINATION. I JUST FIND MYSELF CHOOSING OTHER PLACES TO GO OUT TO BECAUSE OF THE SHORT HOURS. EVEN IF JUST THE WEEKEND HOURS COULD BE EXTENDED TO 1030, THAT WOULD HONESTLY BE A GAME CHANGER FOR ME. WHEN I GO OUT TO DINNER AND GET DRINKS SOMEWHERE, I WANNA ENJOY MY STAY THERE AND NOT FEEL RUSHED. HOWEVER, IN THE MEANTIME, I WILL ALWAYS CONTINUE TO COME HERE WHEN I CAN MAKE IT WORK. THANKS.

Candace Wise

My husband LOVES the Dark Rum. This trip we picked up some extra items!

Kierrabear7 Williams

Prime rib was the only good thing for the Sunday brunch. Save your $.

Dylan Mulfinger

Excellent drinks and excellent food. A perfect night out for a group or couple. Lots of space to hang out and enjoy. Samples are great and the pizza is delish. A great spot for anyone.

Khali And Khazar

Wonderful! Simply wonderful.

Brittany Moschke

The brunch is delicious and has a large variety of stuff to eat.

michelle robnett

Attended a wedding reception at Cedar Ridge last night and the staff and the food were both absolutely amazing! I can’t wait to go back. I’ve been telling people about Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery all day today!!

ᏕᏖᏋᎮᏂᏗᏁᎥᏋ ᎷᏬᏒᎮᏂᎩ

This is a really fun experience, if you've never been here, I'd highly recommend it

Jim Conklin

Loved the business, the bourbon, the service,music and the food.

Megan Jensen Zalzala

I really enjoyed visiting Cedar Ridge. Their building and grounds are beautiful. I am not a big drinker (funny enough), so I haven't sampled much of their alcohol. My husband likes their apple and pear brandies. They have really delicious food and it is so nice to sit outside when the weather is warm and dine.

Tammy Vislisel

We go here every year. Family Girls Outing. Great selection of breakfast and lunch. We do the all you can eat brunch.

Terry Shane

Awesome place!

Kathy Freiberg

Very pleasant time!

Kip Woods

Great Whiskeys and wines.

Steven Beaudoin

Drove up from iowa city, and arrived at 420 on a Sunday to be told that we had time to taste a few things and get a glass of wine before they closed. We start our tasting and then the bartender tells us they stop serving alcohol in 5 minutes. Nowhere on their website does it say this, and when we tell him the hostess told us we had time he just shrugged his shoulders at us. Terrible service and disgusting wine.

Bree Dietly

Terrific food and wine and a friendly staff - definitely get out here!

Anthony Haug

The wine is great, and the staff is super friendly. Had small plates with wine and did a little tasting. Everyone was super awesome and the wine is delicious.

Larry Kruger

What to expect? Great atmosphere. Great food. Great music. Amazing whiskey. Really, what more could you want? I wouldn't say it is expensive fpr what you get either.

Marcia L

Very nice place. Great wood fired pizza.

Lisa Roberts

Sunday brunch. Blissful bacon. Marvelous mimosa. Other yummy items. Life is good.

Shane Hasbrouck

Went for brunch and was pretty disappointed in the quality of food. Bottom line order off the menu. Peppered gravy was gritty, pasty, and loaded with paprika. The fat to starch ratio was wrong. The pancakes were flat and chewy The bacon was not crispy, presumably because the grease was not drained from the serving tray the fat on the bacon was grey. The dips for the bread were great, but the bread was like biting into stale cement... The roasted potatoes were were loaded with oil and soggy. The eggs were granular (over beaten) and watery. The prime rib, chicken thighs and green beans were Good.

Tyler Whalen

Attended Cedar Ridge for the first time this weekend for a wedding and reception. I enjoyed trying their multiple whiskys while my wife took a liking to the first wine she tried. We left with 3 bottles of whiskey and 3 bottles of wine! The food was simply amazing with great flavor and left me wanting more!

Mark Lob

Had lunch on Wednesday at Cedar Ridge, and of course we had the wood fired pizzas. These are really some of the best pizzas in the region. Got to have a sample of the new Dark Rum they produce, called Lost Pirate Rum. This rum is exceptional and has incredible flavor, but is also very smooth, from what we were told it is because of the aging process in Bourbon barrels. I had to take a bottle home I have been drinking rums for 30 years and have had some of the best ever produced, and this rum in my opinion is World Class Rum. Truly some of the best you can have, and worth trying. Thank you!

Debra R

We did the private tour, tasting, etc. Fantastic! Our guide was very knowlegable & all staff were super friendly. Thanks for a great experience, accommodating our requests, and a great day!

Paul Coffman

Nice atmosphere and good drinks, but not a place for a sit down type dinner.

Jason DeKock

I just had lunch at Cedar Ridge on quite possibly the coldest day in the history of earth. Wow. I should have been in no mood to reach that level of satisfaction. I was so captivated by my meal that I had to share the wealth. Cedar Ridge is great all 4 seasons - and it's more than just wine and spirits. The experience is well worth the drive.

Katherine Lane

Wine tasting, food and service were all excellent.

Alexa Guber

I loved everything about this place. It is gorgeous, the wine and food is amazing. The staff is so friendly and knowledgeable. Cozy atmosphere. My new favorite spot! Trying the whiskey next time!

Jay Davis

I think the food had MSG. Both my wife and I woke up with rapid heart beat during the night. Probably wouldn't be up for another performance. It's not really a theatre setting as the play is done by having the actors run in and out of the ding room. Somewhat a disappointment there. Pleasant staff, but a beer cost $6.38 -- pricey ...

Aaron Luna

The best wines & whiskeys I've ever had come from this place. The food is fantastic & the atmosphere is perfect. Their special events & dinners are worth every penny for admission. And the staff is great! Twice now, my buddies & I will go to the nearby gun range, pop off a few shots, then come to this beautiful establishment for some afternoon delight of the alcoholic variety. We were dirty, we were loud, we were boisterous, but the service was still fast & courteous. Love this place & their delicious adult beverages!

Denny O Kelly

The Bourbon left a good taste but the service left me with a bad taste. I would hate to see this place when its busy.

Danny Flummer

Wine and Whiskey......great combination!! Great scenery and excellent knowledgeable staff.Definitely be back.

Lorrie Rasmussen

Excellent service and staff.

Carol Hartshorn

My husband and I made reservations for the Sunday Buffet for 11:00AM to celebrate our anniversary. When we arrived, there was little fruit, no eggs, no potatoes, little quiche on the buffet. I took a couple of orange slices and a piece of bacon and slice of prime rib while waiting for more food to be brought out. About 10 minutes later they replenished the eggs and potatoes. My husband went up and filled his plate. When he came back and tasted it, the eggs were rubbery and powdery, the potatoes had no texture, the sausage and bacon were room temperature, the prime rib had NO flavor (although cooked well). The fruit and the bacon were the ONLY edible things. We told one of the staff how awful the food was and they said nothing and did nothing. I would never recommend this to anyone. What a waste of $36.

Raelle E

Bethany made our first experience memorable! We definitely will be coming back! Cedar Ridge is one of the best wineries I’ve been to and I must say we are extremely impressed!

Marie Moser

Wait staff was great. However, bartender was not. Did not charge the bill correctly as requested and was not customer oriented when asked to change it to what was requested.

Skylar Miles

My best friend busses tables here. S.B, if you're seeing this i love you buddy

Carrie Lembke

Loved the winery! Tour was a bit short, but overall loved the atmosphere, the food, and of course... the wine. Cute, cute scenery as well.

Kim Roenfeld

Great atmosphere! Food was tasty

Cynthia Woelk

Wonderful brunch ❣️

James R

It was very busy and they couldn't keep up for their blues special. Very nice place though.

Skippy Squirrel

The prime rib dinner was worth it. Sampled a couple of their bourbons, well worth the trip. The brick oven pizza and dessert pizza was good as well. Have seen some negative reviews and I believe some people think this is a full service restaurant, it is not. You order at the bar, and they bring the food to you, unless you are partaking of the prime rib, which you go to the cutting table and grab a slab of delicious beef. That's about it. It's a different dining experience, so be prepared. It's with the drive.

Paula Mckeon

This winery/distillery has a large variety to choose from. Up to 6 wine samples and three of the spirits are free to sample. Also had a variety of food for lunch or dinner to eat.

Kelly Ponce

Yummy food and great selection of wine and spirits. Also, check out their Sunday brunch

Chris Kearney

What a beautiful place to have our wedding reception. Ashton and the whole staff were very helpful with the planning details. They were very accommodating with any special requests, the food was delicious, and the space was gorgeous! Our guests had many comments about how lovey the reception was. If you're getting married in the Cedar Rapids area, you don't need to look any further than Cedar Ridge.

Robert Dee

I love this place!

Blake Andrews

One of my favorite places to just kick back with good friends and listen to live music. The food and drink selection is fantastic and the staff are amazingly nice folks.

Karma Roberts

First time here. Edelweiss and Brianna were my favorite semi-sweet white wines. Neat atmosphere and great service!

Javier Blanco Ventura

Great place! Prices getting higher though... The wood fire oven offers some good pizzas, but there is gap to improve.

Mary Berns

Food was excellent. I really enjoyed the wine tasting.

Eric Dane Marshall

You won't find a better Sunday brunch in Cedar Rapids. It's really great to sit outside and eat delicious food (including prime rib) at your leisure. The staff is always courteous and quick to remove your empty plates. We always bring guests there as it's affordable and high quality.

zak wright

Cedar Ridge is absolutely amazing. The wine is excellent, the food is great. The staff is also very kind and helpful when it comes to picking out a wine or spirit you might like. You definitely can't beat the ambiance on a Friday evening with their lives music either.

Steve Reed

Great atmosphere and very good wines!

David Calhoun

The bourbon is my favorite from everywhere I've been.

Dan Junis

Cedar Ridge is a perfect destination for date night/special occasion/ just because. I happened upon this place after a winter hike to simply warm up with a tumbler of quality whiskey and was invited to attend a jazz concert/buffet in the back, fully equipped with a bloody Mary bar and a prime rib carving station...the essentials. Although we were unable to buy a bottle of their signature whiskey due their liquor licence being temporarily suspended, a pleasant time was had by all and I bought a bottle at my local grocer the following day.

Kally Gehly

Bourbon whiskey

Andy Potts

Cool atmosphere, beautiful vinyard, and good wine. Try the whiskey that they make too.

Britton Langdon

With a new full service bar and some of the best flat bread and charcuterie plates, it's a can't miss spot in Eastern Iowa. Make sure to taste some of the best bourbon you'll find outside of Kentucky.

Outtside KS

Excellent wine whiskey and food, what else is there? :-)

Kaylene Konigsmark

Took my dad up for a “Father’s Day weekend” because I work all day on Father’s Day and we had a FABULOUS time. Beautiful wines, good whiskey, and wonderful wait staff. I recommend the cheese and meat platter to share! Beautiful scenery, you really can’t beat it!

Brad Beggs

Great local food, wine, and spirits for reasonable prices. Free tasting includes 6 wines and 3 spirits. Mondays are half-price cocktails (from $4 to $6) and Tuesdays are half-price glasses of wine.

Lin Fox

Horrible lunch service. Today they never delivered both my wife and my meals. My wife let hers get cold before she ate. Mine never arrived. Asked the waitress three times to check on it and she blew us off saying it would be here any minute. She never asked the kitchen. So when my wife finished her lunch we decided to leave. Since you prepay for food there I went to the bar for a credit to my credit card. You’d think I asked them to crack the atom. Never got a credit but got another credit card charge for a lower amount. I told them I just wanted a credit, I didn’t have an open account. It was closed after the first charge. I didn’t have any more patience for them so I just signed the lowered amount and was assured the original charge would be removed. Checked my credit card statement tonight and of course they charged me the original amount and I expect to see the lower charge too. What a rip off. I’ll fix it by disputing the charge with my credit card company but what a hassle. Never going back. Buyer beware. Don’t buy food there.

Zachary & Jennifer Wright

We had our first date here, got married here, eat brunches here and will always take their bourbon home to our family whenever we visit here. The wedding coordinator, Ashton, is awesome and made us feel like we were the ONLY couple she was planning for. But we for sure know she was juggling multiple weddings. Brunch: When you think buffet brunch you think of sub-par food but a large quantity of it. That is not true at Cedar Ridge. They have amazing food and to die for bread pudding!

Kathy Sobota

Great wine and spirits. Gentleman behind the bar was friendly and knew the products. Atmosphere was relaxing and inviting.

Chris Claussen

Great brunch

Brandon Baines

Great Food, Good Service, Fine wine!

Kate Stalzer

Super nice winery and spirits. The setting has gorgeous fall color in October!

Juliet Howard

Very nice selection of wine.

Dorothy Desouzaguedes

Bourbon & BBQ Fest. Thanks for being open on the 4th.

Michael Brown

Nice Sunday buffet, great scenery

Annette Rubin

We chanced a walk-in and was told they could accommodate us. They directed us to a table and promptly forgot about us. We waited 15 minutes without coffee or water because of how the brunch is now handled. Very disappointed in one of our favourite romantic escapes for brunch.

Anna Olander

Delicious food (at least the potstickers were) but slow service. Worth it if you have the time to wait! Probably need more staff but fine since I had time to spare before my flight.

Lawrence Raine

One of the winos is going to get killed pulling out into traffic on 965! I had two near misses already from obviously intoxicated drivers just blowing through STOP SIGN.

Nicole Klemundt-Dufkis

They had good wine and free tasting of 6 wines and 3 bourbon/whiskey.

Rachelle D

Great food, drinks, pretty location The pizza is great! Free wine & spirits tasting. Can now order cocktails and drinks by the glass. Out of state relatives ask for us to bring Cedar Ridge whiskey when visiting

Robert Chittenden

Good drink, good food, and beautiful countryside.

Scotchwhiskybardotcom

Anna, Murphy and the whole staff could not have been more accommodating. The winery/distillery complete with visitor center - including a tasting bar, cafe and gift shop - is expertly situated among rolling hills in the heart of Iowa. Cedar Ridge most effectively distills the essence of midwestern values Iowans embody and is expressed in the character and complexity of their wine and whiskey. You won't be disappointed.

Marie Lucas

Beautiful place. And food was good. But we just happened to share a pizza there after getting a few bottles of wine. We never saw anyone from the staff after our food was brought out. Not even a water refill. We paid our bill and left a small tip. Staff must have thought it was not enough tip because the next day when the charge hit my account they had added a 30% tip on top of it. That is not cool.

Ashley Hart

We chose Cedar Ridge as our wedding reception location. It was perfect and the staff were great to work with. They were very open to allowing us to have the reception we wanted. The venue can't be beat and offered the perfect indoor/outdoor space that we were hoping for. All around amazing place to hold an event!

Kimberly Harper

I recently visited for my birthday with a coworker. The young woman was great with the taste testing and the pizza okay. We shared two bottles of wine and went dancing. We was discriminated against because he was white older gentlemen and I'm a younger black woman. We was dancing and the manager said "looked like we was having to much fun" and asked us to leave. When I asked why he could not tell me a valid reason besides the to much having fun.

Christopher Hansen

Beef & Gouda pizza was amazing

William Boston

Excellent food and wait staff!

Kurtis Hartsock

We love this winery! Beautiful setting. Brunch is awesome. Band nights are great too!

Clinton Steele

Awesome!

Debra Kurovski

Wonderful place, but please don't ovet salt your pizzas. They are too good to do that!

Fox House

Wonderful view, great staff, terrific food & the drinks are world class! The best thing you can do is stop by & relax.