Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristie Robinson.
Hi Kristie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My career actually began far from the world of wine. After completing my undergraduate studies in Florida, I earned a master’s degree in Museum Studies and began working in museums, pursuing my passion for history and culture.
After meeting my husband, Kieran, our adventures took us first to France’s Northern Rhône Valley and eventually to Napa Valley, California. Kieran’s winemaking career dictated a few key places where we could put down roots, but fortunately, my career offered a little more flexibility as there is a museum almost everywhere!
Throughout our moves, I continued building my professional career – managing the Napa County Historical Society and later the Napa Valley Museum – while becoming increasingly immersed in the wine industry. What started as supporting Kieran’s passion eventually evolved into a shared entrepreneurial journey. Together, we launched Kieran Robinson Wines in 2009 and later R Five Wines, bringing our love of great wine and hospitality to the Philadelphia suburbs.
Today, as co-owner of R Five Wines, I focus on the business, hospitality and community-building side of the company. My background in museums has actually translated surprisingly well to the wine world. Both are about storytelling, education, creating memorable experiences and connecting people with something meaningful.
In 2026, our journey came full circle when we returned to France to begin a new chapter of winemaking in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. It’s been an unexpected and exciting path, and one that continues to evolve.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Owning your own business is incredibly rewarding, but it certainly comes with its challenges. There’s a tremendous sense of pride in building something from the ground up, especially when you look back at everything it took to get there.
We originally planned to open R Five Wines in the spring of 2020. We hosted our launch party, and just two days later, the world shut down due to COVID-19. Suddenly, everything we had been working toward was put on hold.
Throughout the pandemic, we continued pushing forward, working to secure financing and build out our tasting room during an incredibly uncertain time. Banks were hesitant to finance hospitality businesses because no one knew when things would return to normal. Labor shortages and construction challenges added even more obstacles.
But we never gave up. We adapted, figured things out as we went, and kept moving forward, just as we’ve always done. We eventually opened our doors, a little later than planned, but with an even greater appreciation for what we had accomplished. Looking back, those challenges make what we’ve built today that much more meaningful.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
R Five Wines is the culmination of a lifelong winemaking journey that my husband, Kieran, and I have been fortunate enough to share. Kieran’s passion for wine began while attending Ithaca College in New York’s Finger Lakes region, where an introduction to Alsatian white wines sparked his interest in winemaking. After college, he returned to the Philadelphia countryside, embracing the challenges of making wine in a nontraditional wine region.
Eager to expand his knowledge and experience, we moved to France’s Northern Rhône Valley, where Kieran immersed himself in centuries-old French winemaking traditions. He had the opportunity to work in renowned regions like Côte-Rôtie under the mentorship of Pierre Gaillard. From there, our journey took us to California, first to Napa Valley, where Kieran worked at Cakebread Cellars, and later to Sonoma, where he continued developing his craft at Paul Hobbs Winery and Jericho Canyon Vineyard, working alongside acclaimed winemakers Aaron Pott and Michel Rolland.
In 2009, we took our first entrepreneurial leap and launched Kieran Robinson Wines, focusing on small-production Rhône varietals. Then, in 2018, we introduced R Five Wines with the goal of bringing a little bit of California wine country back home to the Philadelphia suburbs.
We began sourcing exceptional fruit from some of Northern California’s most celebrated wine regions, including Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Napa Valley, and Sonoma Valley, producing a rotating portfolio of limited-production wines at our Napa winery. Our lineup has included everything from Chenin Blanc, Roussanne, and Marsanne to Grenache Gris, Syrah, Grenache, and more. We share these wines through our wine club, online sales, and our tasting room in Downingtown, Pennsylvania.
In 2026, our journey took another exciting and unexpected turn. Through our longtime relationship with the Gaillard family, we were presented with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make wine in Southern France’s Languedoc region. After years of producing wine in California, we made the big decision to move our winemaking operations to France. It felt like a natural next chapter, bringing us back to the country where so much of Kieran’s winemaking philosophy was shaped. Beginning in 2027, we’re excited to introduce our French wines alongside our California portfolio.
Through it all, one of the things I’m most proud of is what we’ve built in Downingtown. Our R Five Wines Tasting Room, located at 206 E. Lancaster Avenue, was designed to bring wine country atmosphere to our hometown, with a little Philadelphia-area warmth and hospitality mixed in. We want it to be a place where people feel comfortable discovering new wines, gathering with friends, and simply enjoying themselves.
We offer everything from Pizza Thursdays and Happy Hour to guided tastings, wine education classes, special events, and a food menu designed to complement our wines.
For me, R Five Wines has always been about more than just the wine. It’s about the people we’ve met, the places we’ve lived, the relationships we’ve built, and the community that continues to support us. We’ve had plenty of adventures and challenges along the way, and I feel incredibly fortunate that we get to keep doing what we love while sharing it with others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rfivewines.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/r_five_wines/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rfivewines
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DomaineCiarán
