This is my favorite wine restaurant! The food is absolutely delicious, and the Margherita pizza is the best I've ever had. It's always perfectly cooked with fresh ingredients and amazing flavor. The staff is incredibly friendly, welcoming, and attentive. They always make us feel comfortable and provide excellent service from start to finish. I always enjoy coming here and highly recommend this place to anyone looking for great food, a wonderful atmosphere, and outstanding service. I'll definitely be back again! read more

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Though grand from the outside, VJB offers a nice casual tasting experience. We did a walk up bar tasting, they have a variety of tasting options including some with food and outside on the piazza (not a pizza tasting like I first thought when reading it). Bar tastings didn't require a reservation for groups under 6, while the others did. The bar tasting flight came with 4 wines, though there was a welcome prosecco pour not listed, as well as a few off menu pours we got to try. I didn't personally love the wines, but I'm not always huge on Italian wines. Both of the friends I was tasting with ended up taking bottles home, one of them quite a few! They have a kitchen, gelato shop, and a small market located in the tasting room. The gelato shop and kitchen were pointed out to us from a far, but we did get to explore the marketplace and the fun goodies in there. Along with the deli case food items, they also had jarred pastas and sauces to go. The piazza was a cool area, but on a hot day I was glad we were tasting inside with all the heat from the cement. They had some areas under a trellis that were nice and fully shaded, that would be my go to if tasting outside here. read more

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Stopped by VJB Cellars in Kenwood during a wine country day trip with my buddy. The place feels pretty touristic and, honestly, a bit overpriced for what you get. Some staff members were friendly, but a few struggled to explain the products (cheeses), when we had questions. The backyard area is nice and relaxing, with plenty of parking available from two sides, which was a plus. Seating is fairly basic though with mostly standard metal tables and chairs, nothing special. What stood out the most was the service. The team was pleasant, attentive, and made us feel welcome. Overall, an okay experience, but probably not a spot I'd rush back to. read more

VJB Vineyards & Cellars - Just a piece of marketing - Wineries Near Me - Kenwood, California

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Whenever we're in the Sonoma Valley, we always make a point to stop at VJB Vineyards. Not only do they have great wines, but it is also a wonderful place to enjoy lunch. When you arrive, you are always greeted by a friendly staff member, and if you plan on eating, they set you up with a table right away. From there, you can head off to taste wines, browse their shops, and place your food order at your own pace. You place your order inside, and they bring it out to you. On our most recent visit, I ordered the shrimp salad. It was served in a Parmesan shell with plenty of avocado and generously piled with shrimp. It was fresh, flavorful, and paired perfectly with their Chardonnay. This is definitely a don't miss spot when you're in the Sonoma Valley. read more

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I went here recently for lunch and all I have to say is that I love this place! While I've been here before and had their wine, our most recent trip here we just had lunch. Their wines are amazing so it's a great place to visit and easy to Uber to if you are drinking or to add to a list of places on a wine tour for the day. The service is exceptional and their food is so delicious. The ambience is relaxing and inviting. They also have gelato if you come on a warm day. I love their paninis and they have wood fired pizzas. The food here is all so delicious. Love everything about this place and love that it's a family owned winery. Highly recommend to all. read more

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First time visit, nice outdoor patio with great food offerings. Very tasty pizza for a snack, we bought a bottle of bubbly and had a nice time playing cards for a while. We did not do the tastings. read more

This was our first trip to Sonoma with kids, and VJB Cellars made us feel right at home. What really set VJB apart was the combination of Italian wines and delicious food options. They offer a deli, a great lunch menu, and best of all, no reservations are needed for a casual wine tasting or a quick bite. However, if you'd like to enjoy lunch during your wine tasting, a reservation is required. We were booked for a Piazza tasting, and from the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel welcomed. Liz guided us through our tasting, and she truly made the experience special. Her knowledge and passion for the wines, along with the stories behind them brought everything to life. We enjoyed every wine we tried and ended up bringing home bottles of the Barbera and Dante. One of the highlights was being able to enjoy lunch with our kids during the tasting. The shrimp salad, pulled pork sliders, and artichoke wood-fired pizza were all outstanding. To top it all off, we ended the visit at their gelato and chocolate shop. What a perfect sweet ending to our tasting! VJB really has it all: exceptional wine, a welcoming atmosphere, delicious deli fare, wood-fired pizza, and amazing gelato. A must-visit for families and wine lovers! read more

VJB Vineyards & Cellars - Tasting menu - Wineries Near Me - Kenwood, California

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VJB is a family owned winery, tasting room and restaurant which is among my favorite places in Sonoma. Great Italian varietals, awesome food and friendly staff makes my day to stop by, get a glass of wine and enjoy food on their patio. Highly recommended. Join their wine club! read more

VJB Vineyards & Cellars - Shrimp Salad! Perfect with chardonnay. - Wineries Near Me - Kenwood, California

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Stopped in today for a few wine tastings. We ended up buying a few bottles of the house blend, and an extra to enjoy with our lunch. We split the arugula salad and a Quattro formagio pizza. Plenty for the both of us. Nice place with good wine and food, as well as friendly service. read more

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Came here for a gals bday trip for lunch during our day of Vinyard hopping. VJB was superior. They did an excellent job with their tasting, allowing the knowledge and wine to flow. We had a blast with our server as well and he did a great job accommodating our group. Delicious wine accompanied by excellent food in a gorgeous setting! What more could you ask for?! read more

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this place is magical. When you walk in it feels like you have been transported to Italy. The staff is super attentive. They have sandwiches , woodfire pizzas. We shared a pizza and a sandwich. super delicious! also bought some fresh homemade tomato sauce to take home . Super cute for a date read more

VJB Vineyards & Cellars - Pizza - Wineries Near Me - Kenwood, California

What a special place! The most delicious lasagna and pizza, and the warmest, most kind service in Sonoma Valley in a lovely Italian atmosphere. HIGHLY recommend!!! read more

Went wine tasting to this place, my in laws took me since they had plans to go. Staff was quite attentive. The wines were great, some have back stories to them, one included a brief soccer thing. I asked the staff which team the family that runs the place supports, omg the owners came to our table to greet us and briefly talk soccer. Wonderful wines, people with such an amazing attention to detail, but that's not the end of the story. The Italian food they sell here is out of the ball park, perhaps the most authentic I've had. Wonderful pizza , paninis and even the simple charcuterie. I also had an amazing affogato! Place is very alive, it has the atmosphere of being in a piazza. To me this is the best place in the valley to come for wine, and the membership is quite reasonable, definitely worth returning again ( maybe I'll bring my Venezia soccer jacket next time) . read more

VJB Vineyards & Cellars - Wine tasting - Wineries Near Me - Kenwood, California

Prosecco!!!! Bubblies for celebrations! The juice/grapes are from Italy! Gift worthy bottle! Perfect for celebrating present or for graduation parties ! I also liked their port ! Super nice staff at this kid friendly winery with restaurant and a deli/ market and wood fire pizza ! There's outdoor seating as well between the tasting room restaurant and the deli/ market (like a plaza so it's safe for kids to run around with your watchful eyes)! Ask for Mike (super accommodating and nice) when getting your case of wines! We went with 3 Children ages 5, 3 and 3 no problem! Book 11:30 am for lunch with the fam and friends and you'll love the place! read more

This was a five star experience! Recently returned from a Napa/Sonoma girls trip and our first winery stop was VJB. The service was top notch, we had such attentive staff taking care of us. Absolutely adored the large patio seating, even if the sun was shining a little too bright that day! The umbrellas came in handy. I didn't make a note of all the wines we tasted but I do know I didn't realize I would be a white wine girlie until visiting VJB. It was some of the best wine I had the entire trip. The food was amazing!! We ordered salad, five different toppings for pizza and even a rack of ribs. The pizzas were delicious and the ribs tender. I'll definitely be adding VJB to my list of places to return. read more

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VJB FTW. We hadn't been here in a while (maybe 6 years) and had a nice time last time. However, the experience here this time around seemed to be stepped up to another level this visit. I believe the proprietor Henry was around to greet guests. Whenever I go anywhere - any restaurant, winery , whatever, and I see the owner, I know things will be exceptional. In Spanish we say: "El que tenga tienda, que la atienda. Sino, que la venda." I won't translate it word for word, but, it means: if you're going to have a business/shop, tend to it. If not, sell it. A lot of people just want to sit back and make passive income. Passive income folks......doesn't really exist. Sweat equity does. The owner and his family of VJB know this! I was SUPER impressed at the menu and the deli. Everything was fantastic. The available foods were amazing -- you could sit here all day and graze and enjoy the ambience. Such a great spot for lunch! The wines were quite good as well. Really enjoyed the reds -- delicious, perfectly paired w/ the foods in the Italian style of winemaking. It was such a bonus to have the proprietor come over and greet us and ask us how we were doing. That's customer service folks. The singing was just the icing on the cake. There were two singers and an accordion player. I was half waiting for Don Corleone to come out and have a cigar and some chianti. What a treat! We will be back back next time when we visit! read more

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Pull up a chair. Another fabulous experience at VJB Vineyards and Cellars! The wine tasting was superb and the lunch was equally impressive. The veggie pizza and arugula salads were both fresh and flavorful, made with love and care. As we sipped our wine and savored each bite, it was easy to forget we were in Sonoma County and not Tuscany - the rustic charm of the vineyard and the warm hospitality of the staff transported us to a little slice of Italy. read more

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Stopped here during the wine trolley tour and while I didn't have high expectations, it ended up being my favorite spot on the tour. The energy was high here - we loved the accordion player and the singing element was fun. The food was fantastic and we just got the sandwiches - I thought it was the best "winery" sandwich I had. The tasting was quite good but I loved that they added a small prosecco tasting at the end too. Service was fairly quick and at the end, we all got a token for a free scoop of onsite gelato which was so rich and tasty. The vibes really do feel like Italy, they have a small onsite store, and their pizza looked fantastic so we will definitely be back! read more

We have not been to VJB in about 10 plus years and at that time is was a delightful experience. So, we thought we would swing by and see what it was like now. We were mot disappointed! As we wandered into the tasting room, Jayme our gaze with a smile and an offering of prosecco and a smile. She was an absolute delight. The surroundings were joyful and felt very plaza feeling as we wandered through the deli and the patio and the gelato. Starting with Jayme, the entire staff was incredibly kind, informed and seemed to be authentically having almost as much fine and joy as we were. The varietals of wines are numerous and not ones we find in the Yamhill and Willamette valleys near our home in Oregon. This was a pleasant and joyful experience from start to finish and we'll be back to see Jayme and the pizza. Chao! read more

In a region where wineries often take themselves a little too seriously--where tasting rooms can feel more like hushed cathedrals to ego than places to drink--VJB Cellars is a glorious departure from the norm. It's loud, it's lively, and it's utterly unapologetic in its embrace of the good life. Less a wine tasting, more a rolling Italian feast with a soundtrack of clinking glasses, laughter, and--yes--a roaming xylophone player weaving through the crowd like some kind of grape-fueled minstrel. The wines? They don't ask for your approval. They don't need a dissertation of tasting notes or a somber nod of validation. They just exist to be enjoyed--rich, bold, unapologetically Italian in both style and price, as if plucked from a roadside enoteca somewhere between Florence and Siena. A bottle here doesn't require a second mortgage. It invites you to actually drink, to fill your glass, to revel in the moment. On this particular afternoon, Kim was our guide--earnest, knowledgeable, and fully engaged, despite the beautiful chaos around her. She spoke of the family behind the wines, the passion and history, while competing with the joyful bedlam of guests grabbing bottles, ordering wood-fired pizza, and devouring plates of pasta and sandwiches on the sun-soaked patio. And that's the thing--this isn't just another stop in Sonoma. It's a portal to another place entirely. A pocket of Tuscany hidden behind the more buttoned-up facades of Wine Country. The Italian market is stocked with indulgences, the courtyard is surrounded by olive trees, and the energy is pure dolce vita. No snobbery. No solemn swishing of glasses under fluorescent lights. Just wine, food, music, and a celebration of living well. read more

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Hidden gem in Sonoma county!!! Super charming place to get together with friends or a day date activity. Love their food and wine - they have a very expansive menu. Staff was super sweet and attentive. Will be back!! read more

VJB Vineyards & Cellars - Wineries Near Me - Kenwood, California

We went to VJB during a day of private tours, and while our reservation got lost inadvertently, the family at VJB made room for us to ensure we could enjoy a tasting and some food. We did the seated tasting and got a pepperoni pizza and some castelvetrano olives from the market, and it was absolutely amazing. The wine was delicious, and we also grabbed a gelato tasting to finish out the delicious food and wine. A special shout-out to Jose who led our tasting and was lovely. One member of our party ended up signing up for the every-other-month 2 wines and 2 sauces so we're looking forward to hearing how the recipes with the sauce and wine are! Overall, we enjoyed our time at VJB and would recommend it! read more

VJB Vineyards & Cellars - The seated wine testing with a gelato flight! All four of us couldn't finish all the gelato so watch out, it's sneaky large! - Wineries Near Me - Kenwood, California

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I love coming here for lunch, I love their wood fired pizza. I especially love their margarita pizza, it's the perfect flavor the cheese, sauce and wood fired crust are all done perfectly and make for a fantastic pizza. I also really love their arugula salad, and their pork ribs are fantastic! The atmosphere is wonderful as well. I live just down the street, but I highly recommend this place to anyone visiting or local, it's a spectacular spot with delicious food and a classy and elegant atmosphere! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! read more

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Stopped here for lunch at the recommendation of a place we were wine tasting at. The sandwiches were good, but the pizza was the best! If you want a fast place for some carb loading meal before you head back out to taste wine, this would be a good spot to try. read more

VJB Vineyards & Cellars - Wineries Near Me - Kenwood, California

This tasting room truly has everything!!! We did a dine in lunch tasting and were beyond thrilled with our experience. Every single wine was top tier and the food was incredible. The barbera was definitely the crowd favorite, but their champagne deserved honorable mention - so good we had to buy a bottle to enjoy with lunch. Our wine sommelier Sebastian was incredible. VJB is certainly a staple every time we are back in Sonoma !! read more

Loved VJB! As far as customer service went it was second to none. The drinks were all very good too and I'm not a big wine guy. They have a little truffle spot next to the area which was super awesome too. We got a couple of extra glasses as well because they had some left over or something, so that was awesome! Kim I believe was the name of our host and she was great read more

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Just did a quick wine tasting. Very friendly family owned business, small flight of wine but good wine. So many different things to see or do in a small space, the gelato was delicious. Dark chocolate turtles. read more

VJB Vineyards & Cellars - Wine tasting. - Wineries Near Me - Kenwood, California

Went here to celebrate my sister in law's birthday, and it was beautiful! S E R V I C E: Her boyfriend made reservations, so we had a long table to ourselves outside. It was pretty busy, so it did feel crowded at times when getting out of your seat to use the bathroom. Our server was kind, and made sure all of us were heard while taking our orders. W I N E/F O O D: We ordered a bunch of pizzas which were basic. The wine tasting for me was okay. The ones that stood out to me were the 2019 Estate Negro Amaro and the 2019 Natalia's blend. O V E R A L L: This place is definitely perfect for a summer afternoon with friends and family; very picturesque and their food can fit most people's palate. read more

VJB Vineyards & Cellars - Menu for wine tasting - Wineries Near Me - Kenwood, California

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Today I invited three guests for lunch who were unfamiliar with VJB. Knowing how uncomfortable the chairs are, I took seat cushions for each of us. The food was great! The Lasagne Bolognese, a special of the day made with fresh pasta, was outstanding. We also ordered paninis and my favorite arugula salad. One of the guests ordered some red wine. What could be better than sitting comfortably (compliments of my seat cushions) outside in the pleasant courtyard with good food and wine and lovely music played at a volume that allowed conversation. My guests, who all lived nearby, were blown away by the whole experience and surprised they hadn't known about this place. I'm only giving it four stars, but I will give it five when seat cushions are provided. read more

Extraordinary service and staff! The food was amazing and would definitely recommend the lunch tasing for a group. The atmosphere is very warm and welcoming and you will be treated like family here! read more

What a hidden gem!!! Great energy and outstanding service. Very kind people. The general manager there was beyond nice and he gave me his card but I can't seem to find it. He seemed to really care about the place and I even asked if he was the owner. We were traveling with my elderly mother and he fussed so over her! The pizza is outrageous!! The gelato is no joke the best I've ever had and I've been to Italy several times. And what surprised me was how good the wine was. We especially enjoyed the Nebbiolo. The Courtyatd in the center is a perfect place to spend a relaxing day with the food, wine and music. If you are in the Kenwood area don't skip out on this place. read more

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Food service people and ambience is literally the best in all of Sonoma! I am so grateful I discovered VJB on Yelp when we were looking for somewhere to eat for lunch. I felt like I died and went to Italy! We stayed for over three hours, met the entire family and became members! Bringing back our entire family for my birthday, can't wait! I could tell the place is very family friendly our kids will love it. read more

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Wow, this place has everything! Step into a little piece of Italy as you get into the property. The building, the pizza, and the wine all transport you. They even have gelato and chocolate tastings. This family friendly winery has something for everyone. We had our wine tasting flight on the patio covered by umbrellas and ordered the burrata to enjoy the summer afternoon. The service was great and we look forward to returning. read more

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Another wonderful visit It's just a relaxing place to enjoy a wood fired pizza and a glass of wine. We didn't indulge in gelato this time, but the summer is just beginning. Their service is always good whether inside at the deli counter or at the tables. They have employees walking around checking on things ensuring your time spent is what you expected. The only thing I can mention is their WiFi is spotty outside. Much better in the tasting room/deli area. Just another reason to enjoy the fresh air and ambiance without digital distractions. read more

VJB Vineyards & Cellars - Glasses of Chardonnay - Wineries Near Me - Kenwood, California

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This was our second stop on the Sonoma wine trolley. The lunch provided here was really delicious! The gelato on site is also SO GOOD!! The wines were decent but Italian style wines aren't my always my favorite when they're a little lighter bodied. I still think the entire experience was enjoyable and the property was unique with a little courtyard type area with little entrances to different types of foods, wines, etc. There were also vines growing behind the property too! read more

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A beautiful space and winery! We visited during a trip to Sonoma over the summer, and we enjoyed ourselves here. VJB is a large winery, with a huge outdoor seating area, an indoor barrel room, a pizzeria, a gelato / chocolate shop, and other small stores for souvenirs. All the stores / restaurants are encompassed in an area that looks straight out of Tuscany - very on-theme with the Italian winery vibes that VJB exudes. We were told that VJB was more of an "old school" winery as compared to others in Sonoma, so it was nice to switch it up here. While it did feel a little more "touristy" than other wineries, it certainly was a unique and memorable spot. Our server was very kind and informative, walking us through each wine and it's story. I asked a good number of questions, which they easily answered and seemed appreciative of. VJB's wines focused more on reds, and my favorite of our tasting was the Estate Sangiovese. Even though it was a hot day when we visited, the reds were stil refreshing enough, and our water glasses were never empty to continue to quench our thirst. We did not eat during our visit, but I would be curious to try their pizzas with the wine pairings! I would definitely recommend VBJ for red wine lovers and those looking for a more "traditional" Italian vineyard in Sonoma - you won't be disappointed! read more

VJB Vineyards & Cellars - Wineries Near Me - Kenwood, California

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I recently went into VJB. I've never really been a big wine person so naturally I was super clueless when it came to any of it. I got the pleasure of meeting Jamie (spelling?) And she was absolutely incredible. I have never met someone so young and yet so knowledgeable. She knew wine like humans know oxygen. I will definitely be back!! read more

Had such an amazing time at VJB. The staff was very kind and accommodating. The food was delicious and the wine was great too! Great place to stop for a casual tasting or lunch. Highly recommend. read more

This is still my favorite go to place. The wines, Rose' Prosecco in particular is my favorite sparkling wine, truly refreshing. The pizza, chicken skewers, pesto pasta, caprese, and mushrooms are made like a true Italian, flavors and freshness. Lastly can never miss out on the homemade gelato ice cream a must try. read more

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WOW! We went to VJB for lunch and will definitely be coming back. We were seated in the beautiful courtyard and ordered our food and glass of wine in La Cucina. Really lovely experience with friendly staff. The Gelato & Truffle shop was the literal cherry on top of a wonderful afternoon (highly recommend the Black Cherry gelato that has dark chocolate chips). read more

VJB Vineyards & Cellars - Meat & Cheese board, Prosecco, Natalia's Pizza - Wineries Near Me - Kenwood, California