San Jose: Costa Rica's Only Winery & Golden Berry Liqueur Tasting

The Only Winery in Central America Making Wine & Golden Berry Liqueur

You tour Costa Rica's only commercial winery, walk through both grape vines and golden berry plantations, learn how the owner produces wines from three countries and a one-of-a-kind liqueur, then taste four wines with pairing plus two pours of Golden Rush. The guide explains each process as you move through the property, and the tasting is paced for real conversation, not speed.

Step-by-step itinerary

Wine tour and tasting experience

• Visit commercial winery
• Tour golden berry plantation
• Explore vineyard
• Learn golden berry liqueur process
• Learn red and white wine process
• Taste four wines with pairing

The experience

You walk into a vineyard in the Central Valley outside San Jose and realize you're standing in the only place in Costa Rica and Central America producing wine at international quality. That's not marketing. It's the actual fact that stops you mid-step. The owner sources grapes from three countries (Costa Rica, Israel, California) and grows golden berries, the uchuva, right on the property, then turns them into Golden Rush, a liqueur that doesn't exist anywhere else in the region. Your guide takes you through both the grape vineyard and the golden berry plantation, explaining how each one works, what makes the climate here work for wine, and why a liqueur from a fruit most people have never heard of tastes the way it does.

The tasting comes at the end, and it's not a quick pour-and-go. You taste four wines (one from Costa Rica, one from Israel, one from California) all from the same owner's collection, all extreme examples of what those regions can do. Then two pours of Golden Rush, paired with food that actually matches what you're drinking. The whole thing moves at a pace that lets you ask questions without feeling rushed, and the guide knows the vineyard inside out because they work there, not because they memorized a script. It's a small operation, which is exactly why it feels different from a standard wine tour.

The drive from San Jose takes you out into the quieter part of the Central Valley, where the air shifts and you can actually see the land the wine comes from. Wheelchair access is available, and if you're traveling with small children, they can come along, though the tasting itself is really built for the adults in the group. The whole experience sits somewhere between educational and genuinely surprising, which is rare when you're just looking for a wine tour.

What’s included

Your day includes a guided tour of the winery, a visit to one golden berry plantation and one grape vineyard with explanations of both growing and production processes, a tasting of four wines from Costa Rica, Israel, and California with food pairing, and two tastings of Golden Rush liqueur. The tour is led by someone who works at the winery and knows the operation firsthand.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 11:00 and 13:00

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Infant (1 to 5 years): free

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “People has to arrive to the winery area in Copey de Dota”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 17 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcomeNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Copey Estate Winery

Is this one for you?Right for wine drinkers curious about a region most wineries skip, or anyone wanting to taste something that exists nowhere else. The tour moves at a conversational pace, so plan for a morning or afternoon that lets you linger over the tastings and ask about the owner's three-country wine collection.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (6 to 12 years); Infant (1 to 5 years): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

Is this the only winery in Costa Rica?

Yes, it's the first and only commercial winery in Costa Rica and Central America producing wine at international quality. The owner also produces the only golden berry liqueur in the region.

What wines do you taste?

Four wines from Costa Rica, Israel, and California (all from the same owner's collection), plus two tastings of Golden Rush, the golden berry liqueur. All tastings include food pairing.

Do you visit the vineyards?

Yes, the tour includes a guided walk through one grape vineyard and one golden berry plantation, with explanations of how each is grown and processed.

Is it wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the winery is wheelchair accessible.

Where is the winery located?

The winery is in the Central Valley near San Jose, Costa Rica.

What makes the Golden Rush liqueur unique?

It's the first and only liqueur produced from the golden berry (uchuva) in Costa Rica and Central America. The winery is the only producer.