Agua Dulce Winery Review:
Quatro Burros — A Red Blend with Heart
By Jason | SoCal Wine Lover
📍 Agua Dulce, CA • 🍷 Winery Review • 🫏 Donkeys Included
There are winery releases and then there are winery moments. On a warm September afternoon in Agua Dulce, California, my wife and I — along with a couple of good friends — got to experience the latter. Agua Dulce Winery was unveiling its newest red blend, and from the moment we arrived, it was clear this was going to be more than just another tasting.
The wine was called Quatro Burros. Named after four beloved rescue donkeys who call the winery home: Corky, Zinnie, Sunny, and Sedona. And before we even raised a glass, we got to meet them in person — which, it turns out, is a surprisingly wonderful way to start a wine tasting afternoon.
Agua Dulce Winery has a gift for making you feel like you’re somewhere special. And Quatro Burros is a wine that lives up to that feeling completely.
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📍 Quick Facts: Agua Dulce Winery Location: 9640 Sierra Hwy, Agua Dulce, CA 91390 | Region: Sierra Pelona Valley AVA | Size: 100 acres | Type: Family-owned & operated | Hours: Wed, Fri–Sun 11am–5:30pm (closed Mon, Tue, Thu — verify before visiting) | Phone: (661) 268-7402 | Distance from LA: ~45 minutes north of downtown | Kid & family friendly: Yes | Animals on site: Yes — donkeys! |
About Agua Dulce Winery: LA County’s Premier Winery
Most people don’t think of Los Angeles County when they think of wine country. That’s exactly what makes Agua Dulce Winery such a revelation.
Agua Dulce means ‘sweet water’ in Spanish — and the name suits both the place and its wines perfectly. Nestled in the Sierra Pelona Valley about 45 minutes north of downtown Los Angeles, this 100-acre family-owned estate has earned the distinction of being Los Angeles County’s premier winegrower and producer — a title backed up by multiple medals in national wine competitions.
The Sierra Pelona Valley AVA — a designation the winery spent three years working to establish — is what gives Agua Dulce wines their distinctive character. The valley’s unique combination of rich soils, temperate climate, and geographic advantages produces wines that genuinely reflect their place. In wine terms, that’s called terroir, and Agua Dulce has it in abundance.
But what really sets this winery apart isn’t just the accolades or the appellation — it’s the experience. Agua Dulce is the kind of place that makes you want to stay all afternoon. Bring a picnic, explore the grounds, play lawn games, meet the farm animals, and taste wines that have been lovingly crafted by generations of the same family. It’s an experience that feels a world away from Los Angeles — even though you’re barely 45 minutes from it.
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🏆 Award Winning Multiple medals in national wine competitions. LA County’s leading fine wine producer. |
👨👩👧 Family Owned Generations of the same family have tended these 100 acres with love and dedication. |
🫏 Farm Animals! Rescue donkeys, alpacas and more call this winery home. Bring the kids — and the camera. |
The Quatro Burros Launch: A Day to Remember
We arrived at the winery on a golden September afternoon — the kind of day that makes Southern California feel like the most beautiful place on earth. The Quatro Burros launch event had drawn a warm, enthusiastic crowd, and the energy on the estate was festive without being overwhelming.
Before we even made it to the tasting, we found ourselves at the donkey pen. Corky, Zinnie, Sunny, and Sedona — the four rescue donkeys who inspired the wine — were holding court with all the dignity and curiosity you’d expect from animals who know they’re the stars of the show. To our absolute delight, there was also a small alpaca feeding alongside them, which made the whole afternoon feel genuinely whimsical.
Meeting the donkeys before tasting the wine named after them isn’t just a cute detail — it fundamentally changes how you experience that first glass. You’re not just drinking a red blend, you’re drinking a story. And Agua Dulce Winery understands that better than almost anyone in the SoCal wine scene.
My wife, our friends, and I settled in with our glasses and let the afternoon unfold exactly the way a wine afternoon should: unhurried, full of good conversation, and punctuated by moments of genuine delight.
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🫏 About the Donkeys Corky, Zinnie, Sunny, and Sedona are four rescue donkeys who are permanent residents at Agua Dulce Winery. They’ve become beloved fixtures on the estate and a highlight for visitors of all ages. The Quatro Burros wine is a tribute to these four gentle souls — and a reminder that the best wineries have a heart that goes beyond what’s in the bottle. |
Quatro Burros Red Blend: Tasting Notes
Now — the wine. Because as charming as the donkeys are, Quatro Burros absolutely earns its place on its own merits.
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Quatro Burros |
Agua Dulce Winery, Sierra Pelona Valley AVA |
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🍷 Style |
Red Blend — approachable, crowd-pleasing, slightly off-dry |
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👃 Nose |
Strong cherry aroma with inviting wafts of chocolate — opens beautifully as it breathes |
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👅 Palate |
Layers of clove, black plum, and subtle smokiness. Slightly sweeter than most reds — incredibly easy to drink |
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🏁 Finish |
Extensive finish with well-integrated tannins. Silky rather than grippy — the mark of a well-made blend |
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🍝 Pairs With |
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👥 Best For |
Everyone — this is a wine that works for seasoned red wine lovers and newcomers alike |
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⭐ Our Rating |
5 out of 5 — an unforgettable wine made even better by the story behind it |
What strikes you first is the nose — that cherry and chocolate combination is immediately inviting, the kind of opening that makes you lean in closer before you’ve even taken a sip. On the palate, the clove and black plum add real complexity, while the subtle smokiness gives it a savory depth that keeps things interesting.
The finish is where Quatro Burros really shows its quality. Well-integrated tannins give it structure without harshness, leaving a silky impression that lingers pleasantly. It’s the kind of finish that turns one glass into two without you quite realizing how it happened.
The slight sweetness is worth noting — it places Quatro Burros in that accessible, crowd-pleasing category that can sometimes get unfairly dismissed by wine purists. Don’t be that person. This is a beautifully balanced wine that happens to be easy to drink, and those two things are not mutually exclusive.
Jason’s note: We brought a bottle home and opened it with a cheese board that weekend. It was even better than I remembered from the launch — some wines need a little time to fully open up, and Quatro Burros rewarded the patience.
Why Agua Dulce Winery Is Worth the Drive
Forty-five minutes from downtown Los Angeles, there’s a 100-acre family estate where the wine is excellent, the donkeys are adorable, and the whole experience feels like a genuine escape from city life. That’s a rare combination, and it’s why Agua Dulce Winery deserves a much bigger place in the SoCal wine conversation.
Here’s what you can expect on a visit:
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💡 Pro Tip: Make a Day of It Pack a picnic, arrive when they open, and plan to stay at least three hours. Between tasting, touring, meeting the animals, and just enjoying the beauty of the Sierra Pelona Valley, there’s no reason to rush. This is a full afternoon experience, not a quick stop. |
Planning Your Visit: Practical Info
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📍 Address |
9640 Sierra Hwy, Agua Dulce, CA 91390 |
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📞 Phone |
(661) 268-7402 |
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🕐 Hours |
Wed: 11am–5:30pm | Fri–Sun: 11am–5:30pm | Mon, Tue, Thu: Closed |
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🚗 Distance from LA |
~45 minutes north of downtown Los Angeles |
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🚗 Distance from SD |
~1.5 hours north via I-5 and CA-14 |
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👶 Kid Friendly |
Yes — animals, open spaces, lawn games |
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🐕 Dog Friendly |
Check with winery directly — policies can vary |
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🌐 Website |
aguadulcewinery.com |
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@aguadulcewinery |
Our Overall Rating
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Category |
Rating |
Notes |
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Wine Quality |
★★★★★ |
Quatro Burros is exceptional — complex and crowd-pleasing |
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Estate & Grounds |
★★★★★ |
100 stunning acres in the Sierra Pelona Valley |
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Experience |
★★★★★ |
Animals, picnics, tours, events — endlessly enjoyable |
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Family Friendliness |
★★★★★ |
One of the most family-friendly wineries in SoCal |
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Value |
★★★★★ |
World-class experience at fair prices |
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Overall |
★★★★★ |
A must-visit SoCal winery — full stop |
The Bottom Line
Agua Dulce Winery is one of those places that reminds you why you fell in love with wine in the first place. It’s not just about what’s in the glass — though what’s in the glass is very, very good. It’s about the setting, the story, the family behind it all, and yes, four rescue donkeys named Corky, Zinnie, Sunny, and Sedona who have somehow become the most charming wine ambassadors in Southern California.
Quatro Burros is a wine worth seeking out. And Agua Dulce Winery is an experience worth the drive — whether you’re 45 minutes away in Los Angeles or making a special trip from further afield.
Go meet the donkeys. Taste the wine. Stay longer than you planned. That’s the Agua Dulce way.
Have you visited Agua Dulce Winery or tried the Quatro Burros blend? We’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below. And if Corky, Zinnie, Sunny, or Sedona made your day as much as they made ours — you’re definitely one of us. Cheers! 🍷
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