Not a cheese person, but absolutely loved stopping by here and picking up some quality cheeses! The workers are very knowledgeable and friendly. They helped us pick out cheese options that were great - we liked the spicy ones a lot, and walked away with some soft and harder varieties. And such good prices too! Would recommend anyone stop by here. read more

The cheese is wonderful. This is a small store off the beaten path of Sonoma Square. It is well worth the trip to get there and enjoy the cheeses. The representative were friendly and helpful. read more

Delicious cheeses and great service. It's always a treat to go in and shop and also get a few samples.

Fantastic in every way! If it is your first visit, do yourself a favor and walk around, take the time to observe. Explore! There are so many ways to get scrumptious foods. Our last visit, our group was large. We spread out, some ordering at both counters. I chose a pre-made sandwich which was loaded with specialty ingredients. Every bite delicious! A must!, when in Sonoma. read more

Accidentally found this tiny cheese shop while actually looking for a fruit market nearby and getting lost. I decided to go inside and have a look. Looked at a few cheeses which looked delicious and the lady's at the counter offered us a cheese taste testing which I loved! They were so nice and let us try a bunch of different cheeses that we were interested in. I ended up buying: 1. Dry Monterey Jack Cheese: Delicious! The cheese was perfectly savory. I love my hard cheeses which this one was perfect. Not so hard that you can't bite into it but hard enough where it's not chewy. The price was also very fair. Highly recommend. Overall, this shop is very small but they have a pretty good variety. I just loved the friendliness of the staff and how nice they were to offer us so many samples! read more

Vella Cheese Co - Cheese sampling! - Cheese Shops Near Me - Sonoma, California

Any cheese lover in the area must make a stop to Vella Cheese! The staff know their stuff, they are extremely generous with samples, and you'll taste a variety of cheeses that are unique to Vella. The prices are insanely reasonable, and literally half what a local cheese shop sells the same thing for. The shop is small, so you may have to be patient, but I was still impressed with how the staff were to everyone who walked through the door. Truly a local gem! read more

Just when you think you know all the cheese places in Sonoma and discover Vella! Game changer for this girl. I love cheese, so when a friend suggested that we make a stop on our wine tasting trip to Sonoma - I was very excited. The guy working at the counter brought out different cheeses for us to sample. We loved the different flavors. We purchased the both the dry and soft habanero, jalapeno and rosemary cheeses. I also bought a cute small cheese board. Our friends purchased some of the softer cheeses and we all left pleased with our new purchases. One of my favorite things to do is to bring back gourmet souvenirs of cheese and wine home with me on my trips, so I can have all the fun of enjoying a little bit of Sonoma at home. read more

Vella Cheese Co - Cheeses!!!! - Cheese Shops Near Me - Sonoma, California

We visited the store last week and the lady there gave us as many samples as we wanted to try and we ended up buying the jalapeno-infused cheddar which was delicious. Now we're looking into ordering online and having it shipped. read more

The lady work was super nice and knowledgeable the samples were delicious. We grab some cheese and made our way down the "cheese trail" read more

Vella Cheese Co - a display of cheeses and pastries - Cheese Shops Near Me - Sonoma, California

What a great cheese shop! We got samples of every cheese and ended up buying 8 lbs of cheese - it was so good!

Literally some of the best cheese I have ever eaten! Outstanding dry jacks (oh and if you like dry cheese try the mezzo secco or the oro secco) and one of the best soft cheeses EVER called Toma! It's creamy and gooey and almost spreadable and tastes like a delicious soft jack cheese. The cheese with rosemary and pesto are outstanding as is the Daisy version which is like a natural sharp cheddar. All are delicious! Staff is lovely and will taste you on any cheese you are interested in trying. Their location is off the Square which is nice because there's plenty of parking. If you're having a wine and cheese party or just a little picnic, this is the place to come. They even have crackers and wonderful pepper jams to accompany the cheeses. Superb cheese shop in every way! Mmmmmmm ... need cheese ... now! :)) read more

Wasn't the best experience coming here. The staff was rude and not informative about the products. I understand it's covid and safety first, but it's our first time coming to the store, we did not know how big it was nor did we see the 8x11 hand written sign by the door. Just like everyone this is all knew and each place has different procedures due to space. The lady told me no, get out one customer at a time. The customer when leaving said I'm sorry it's a small store. I mean why is he apologizing and not her? Anyway we come in and say sorry we didn't see the sign and she said well if we would've made it any bigger the whole window would be covered. She said this with a tone of are you stupid? We still asked about the products and she was very dismissive. At this point I gave up and wanted to leave, my husband said just took every piece of flavor and we left. She literally rang it up and asked if we wanted a bag? Lady we bought a dozen or so pieces so yes a bag would help? WTF We still bought each piece of cheese flavors. This place was so hyped up being the best and friendly totally wrong. So does it matter if the cheese was good to go back? Most likely not...the service and attitude alone leaves a lasting taste. read more

Vella Cheese Co - Not the most friendly people but we still bought a bunch of cheese. Definitely not coming back - Cheese Shops Near Me - Sonoma, California

Great cheese at lower than supermarket prices. Bring a cooler and stock up on everything! It isn't a particularly fancy or large store, but you come here for the product, not the experience. read more

The mezzo seco and oro seco cheeses are special cheeses that you won't find anywhere else. Delicious!

Do not miss this historic stop. The staff was so friendly and approachable. They offered so many samples. The extra dry jack 2 years aged was my favorite. The prices are reasonable as well. The building is old and probable haunted. This was a plus for me :) read more

We recently hosted an event for 40 people at The Panel Wine Lounge and we wanted to pair our vino with some yummy fromage. The Panel owners recommended enlisting local favorite Vella Cheese Co. And I'm so glad that we did. Wow - these guys sure know how to put out an amazing spread. We enjoyed a vast array of dry and creamy cheeses accompanied with crispy crackers, sliced French bread, and jams & fruit. What a beautiful presentation! This is something you might see at an elegant wedding. I would definitely recommend Vella Cheese Co. for your next picnic, sip-nic, or any other wine country affair. read more

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I was first introduced to this place by an artist at the Arts Guild. Immediately I was drawn to it, since the Arts Guild was a gem of its own. That day, I bought 2-yr Jack, Cheddar and Swiss. All were so good at extremely fair price. It didn't take too much of my time to decide that I need Vella cheese in my life everyday, so since then I have been buying their cheese through their online store. I continue to love their Jack, Toma, Cheddar and all! read more

Amazing!!!! So nice about the samples and even though it was crowded we were helped promptly. The cheese was great and so well priced. I will be back again. read more

One of my favorite cheese makers on the Sonoma Cheese Trail! This is a small shop located outside the downtown Sonoma area that produces 10+ different cheeses. Staff were nice and very gracious in offering cheese samples of anything we wanted to try. Monterey Jack with Pesto: pesto isn't overpowering but pleasant Monterey Jack with Habanero: my favorite, the habanero really comes through with a spicy kick Monterey Jack with Garlic: garlic was overpowering, but I felt that way about all the other cheese maker's garlic cheeses I had tasted Toma: creamy and subtle flavor Mezzo Secco: harder than the other Jack cheeses, tasty Oro Secco: dried longer than the Mezzo Secco, producing a stronger, nuttier flavor which was delicious They make so many delicious varieties you're sure to find something you'll enjoy. read more

Vella Cheese Co - Left side of their cheese case for purchase - Cheese Shops Near Me - Sonoma, California

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What a lovely little shop! While driving around on a busy Saturday, looking for a place to park, the hubs and I decided to take a chance with a side street off the main square. We ended up parking in front of Vella. So on our way back from a very full day of shopping and wine tasting, the shop was still open (they are open until 6:00pm). So we went in. The ladies at the counter are so friendly! They are very knowledgeable about their products, and are very willing to tell you all about their cheese and process about how it's made and where the milk come from. The cheese is delicious!!! We bought three blocks-totaling about 1.5 pounds- and served them with the wine we bought on the square. So even though this little place is a bit of a walk off the beaten tourist path, it's worth the walk! As an aside- the parking (as we discovered) is free, and unlimited in time, on that street in front of Vella-that alone makes it worth seeking out for your cheese purchase!!! read more

Vella Cheese Co - Cheese Shops Near Me - Sonoma, California

We stopped by on Sat 11/18/06 and we enjoyed this shop! It's close to the Plaza, walking distance. It's in a residential area so not really expected there but worth the trek. You can try most of their cheeses if you want, the staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. We liked the sharp cheddar (Daisy and something else) and the Dry Jack. We bought 2 wedges of the Dry Jack to take home. I also like the habanero cheese but I didn't buy it, next time. Then we took friends the same day, they tried some cheeses and bought some too. It's cheaper to buy cheese here then from the Sonoma Cheese Factory or other places. On Sat. only you can get a baguette from Basque Boulangerie Cafe for $2.50 at Vella Cheese. They also had some La Biscotteria (biscotti) from Redwood City. I bought one bag of cookies, but then again I love La Biscotteria's stuff. They have 1 unisex bathrooms outside of the store, just around the corner. Hrs: M-Sat 9a-6p; Closed Sun Recommended. read more

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Good cheese is hard to come by especially if it's local and even more so if you like aged habañero cow's milk cheese and other, rare cheese-type indulgences when enjoying a nice bottle or two of wine. Fortunately, there is a Vella Cheese Co. for that. Sonoma didn't get its reputation as a food and wine paradise for nothing, you know. Free samples, too! read more

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When we are in Sonoma, we always try to find time to stop by the Vella Cheese Shop ... it is just a little ways off the town square. Solid selection of tasty cheeses backed up by friendly & helpful folks behind the counter. The staff has always been willing to provide us with samples of any cheese that captures our attention. They are also knowledge about their products and can offer good pairing information. Long time .... local business, worth stopping by and checking out, if you are in the Sonoma area. read more

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We visited this little cheese factory when we stayed in Napa last month. They have the best cheeses, prices were very good and the people helping us were so nice, offering samples of the cheeses we were interested in. We visited other cheese factories and this was our favorite. read more

Only the best cheese tasting experience in town! Maybe in the county? I come here at least three times a year, to stock up on amazing cheeses and to taste every dang cheese they have. They will seriously let you taste every dang cheese they have! And they have a ton of cheeses. They also sell fresh sticks of butter, which I didn't know until I took my friend along with me last year...she's been going there since she was a child, and she knows all the secrets...so now I come back with cheese AND butter. My hips thank me by jiggling every now and then. read more

Vella is around the corner from Downtown Sonoma, you would never guess it was there if you drove by. They have 5 stars because they have great service and give out generous samples of any cheese you want to try. Unfortunately, I have come back numerous times and am not a fan of their cheese. They serve mostly hard cheeses and don't have much variety. They also have a limited sliced meats selection, all pre-packaged. Fun stop if you're already in Sonoma, but expect limited selections. read more

Love this place! Family owned and operated and they have amazing cheese at a reasonable price! They have hard and soft cheeses that are vacuum sealed and last for a really long time. You can only find Vella cheeses up north, so make sure you stock up! read more

This is a small cheese shop a couple of blocks off the main square in Sonoma. You are unlikely to stumble upon in by accident, but you should really go out of your way to visit. The staff here is super friendly and knowledgeable. They're happy to have you sample everything they make themselves, and I think it's a brilliant marketing decision because everything is so damn good. The only real decision you're going to have to make is which cheeses you eventually buy. I wound up picking up the Toma (a buttery and creamy soft cheese), a medium aged dry jack, and a habanero dry jack that is delightfully spicy throughout. But don't take my word for it, go and sample yourself and choose your own favorites. read more

Valla Cheese is a small shop located just outside of the busy downtown area in Sonoma, but their cheese is GOOD! The girl that works there are very friendly and let us try out different kind of cheese. We started by asking to try something soft and smooth in texture, and she recommended the Toma, which is their award winning product. It amazed us right away! We then sampled their garlic Monterey Jack, also a lovely cheese with good garlic flavor, Jalapeno Monterey Jack (lightly spicy), pesto (ok, mild basil flavor), colby (a mix of 2 Monterey Jack and we learned that the yellow color is just food coloring), mezzo secco (Dry Jack, good flavor hard cheese), regular Dry Jack (drier, so a bit salty to my taste bud). I can't even believe we tried so many kind as I writing now write them down. My baby ate everything happily without spitting a single bite out (she usually spits out a bite or two on the store bought cheese string). We bought a few kinds to take home, Valla is definitely our repeated stop next time we come to Sonoma. read more

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These guys are ALWAYS kind with providing taste samples of their quality cheese. And they provide information about the cheese they make on site. We have visited them regularly for years. Each time is great. If you are looking for some great cheese to go with that wine you got, THIS is the place read more

Small selection but great selection of what they have. Great customer service and very clean shop. Masked and gloves we were very appreciative that they are open when others are not. Thanks for your efforts we appreciate you. read more

Very very generous on the samples they let you try before buying. Super patient staffs that explain to you how each kind of cheese is made and what are they consist. I am so glad that I found this place on yelp before going to the 'tourist trap' cheese shop in downtown Sonoma. Come here, and you won't regret! Suggestion: I wish they have a little cafe/drink selections in the shop so ppl can enjoy cheese and not be super thirsty at the same time! read more

Cozy place. Very friendly people. Amazing cheeses. Skip the big boys and visit this place!

Famous for Vella Dry Jack, which I love so much, when we realized this was so close we had to stop by! We got to try it aged at one year and at two. As well as the Mezzo Secco, plus an Italian style table cheese and the toma. We took the small Italian box home after trying most of the cheeses in it. It made for a perfect picnic box for our tastings over the next few days. Not at all a typical 'tasting' room but well worth a stop for a price break on some of the best cheese when you're in the area! read more

Vella Cheese Co - Cheese Shops Near Me - Sonoma, California

I can say enough good things about this place It's an unassuming cheese shop in Sonoma slightly off the beaten path. But the cheeses are amazing!! And the prices very reasonable. The ladies at the counter are always willing to let you sample as many of the cheeses as you want Try A few before you buy Some of the best dry cheeses I've had. Also the sharp raw cheddar is good. They're not open on Sunday so make sure you get there Saturday before 5 PM Do yourself a favor and pick up some cheeses from here to take on your wine tasting tour. read more

Review #700 absolutely had to go to Vella Cheese Co. Best cheese I have tasted to date. Okay, so things that you have to try/purchase immediately after tasting: 1) TOMA - it has the texture of mozzarella but packs an immense flavor punch. SO DELICIOUS and CREAMY!! 2) Dry Jack - Really delicious and incredibly cool to try the different aged versions side by side. It's incredible how the nutty flavor appears with age. 3) Jalapeno everything - I'm not usually one for spicy things, but this cheese is incredibly delicious. Now, I haven't even gotten to the best part... they have wholesale pricing. My jaw literally dropped when I saw how inexpensive this cheese was. I will never buy cheese anywhere else ever again. Period. read more

Walked here after lunch and picked up their specialities. Very tasty Tomo paired with crackers and wine. Will go back. Support local business! read more

I first discovered Vella Cheese while at wine tastings in Napa and Sonoma Counties back in January. Benziger and Inglenook (both awesome wineries, by the way) used the aged Jack cheese to pair with wine along with an arrangement of things such as nuts and dried cherries. I was immediately hooked and had to know the source of the cheese. Vella Cheese Co is conveniently located just a block away from the shops and restaurants of Sonoma Square, they have a delightful array of cheeses (all delicious), and the staff has always been helpful and friendly each time I've visited. If you like cheese, pick some up for yourself if you're around Sonoma; you won't regret it. read more

Passionate about Cheese! Vella Cheese Co. is off the Sonoma Plaza, beside a horse pasture that's been there since the town's founding. You know you're in the right spot when you see the cobblestone building&a sign for "The Patch." If you're near the historic horse pasture, you've found it. Eureka- http://www.sonomacountygazette.com/cms/pages/sonoma-county-news-article-4414.html Unlike the cheese factory on the Sonoma Plaza, this one has limited selections- and their deli case has lots of products that are NOT made by them. They have a few selections; the friendly lady at the counter gave free samples. I tried the rosemary&jalapeno selections. The rosemary Monterey Jack is perfect for a grown-up mac&cheese (or grilled cheese) The jalapeno packs a punch. It's a quirky little shop with sports memorabilia for the Golden State Warriors, Steph Curry and Hunter Pence. It hasn't exactly become a tourist trap. It shows that Sonoma has managed to retain its small town feel. It's in a residential area, and it's a bit of a walk from the Plaza. Sweet (and spicy!) little spot. read more

100% amazing!! The cheeses here aren't wild & crazy, but they're really good & affordable. They specialize in a dry Monterey Jack hard cheese that is to die for! We got a sizable wedge for only $4! They also have some really nice soft cheeses in many flavors, like pesto, habenero, & rosemary that are quite notable. The store is small, but you can find many delights within! They let you try almost all of their cheeses & they don't skimp! The girls working the counter were super sweet & very helpful. Definitely stop here to pick up some cheese, bread, & meats as you head out to wine country. It'll save you big bucks & you'll have one of the most amazing snacks ever!! read more

Vella Cheese Co - So much cheese just for me! - Cheese Shops Near Me - Sonoma, California