Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    VJB Vineyards & Cellars

    4.5 (542 reviews)
    ModerateWineries
    Closed 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    VJB Vineyards & Cellars Wineries Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - VJB Vineyards & Cellars

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Tasting menu
    Ivana Y.

    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!

    Shrimp Salad! Perfect with chardonnay.
    Paul Y.

    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!

    Alex M.

    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?!

    Quattro Formagio salad
    Mike G.

    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.

    Pizza
    Khoi V.

    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

    Wine tasting
    Jose Manuel C.

    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) .

    Semhar M.

    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.

    great spot!
    John O.

    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!

    Fire oven Veggie pizza and Caesar salad.
    Elizabeth S.

    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.

    Wine tasting.

    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.

    Evangeline L.

    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!!

    Italian cheese counter
    Kyle F.

    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.

    Anthony C.

    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!!!

    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!

    See all

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of K G.
    1012
    579
    1574

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 42
    Thanks 20
    Love this 43
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of A C.
    37
    68
    112

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 2
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kyle F.
    14
    126
    158

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Anya T.
    2
    171
    346

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of R E.
    0
    6
    12

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henry B.

    Henry B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 14

    VJB Vineyards & Cellars Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - VJB Vineyards & Cellars

    Do they have heat lamps in the courtyard?

    There were none when we were there. There is inside seating, however.

    If we purchase wine, are we allowed to bring our own food? My daughter has dietary issues & we are celebrating her #21 Bday.

    Hi There, Thank you for your inquiry. Because we have a full Italian Deli our permit does not allow guests to bring outside food. If you check our website www.vjbcellars.com… Read more

    Does anyone know if they are open midweek (Tuesday)? I want to take my mom to celebrate her anniversary. My dad passed last year and he really loved going there.

    They are open 7 days a week 10:00am until 4:00pm. We were just there last Thursday. Sorry to hear about your dad 😢

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - VJB Vineyards & Cellars

    As we wandered into the tasting room, Jayme our gaze with a smile and an offering of prosecco and a smile.

    Mentioned in 55 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Chateau St Jean - Weddings at Chateau St. Jean

    Chateau St Jean

    3.9(635 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$
    Pet friendly
    Kid friendly

    Beautiful property. Rhonda was great! Knowledgeable about the wines and served what we liked. My…read morehusband liked the Malbec Moonlight 2021 the best. They do need to update their bathrooms to reflect how well they take care of the entrance and greeting rooms. We didn't have a reservation and just did a walk in.

    Chateau St. Jean was the venue of my good friend Sarah's wedding on 06/14/2025. This beautiful…read morewinery is located in the small town of Kenwood, which is on the north end of the Sonoma Valley. The history of this winery can be traced back to the 1920s, when a rich mining family moved west from Michigan and purchased the land where it sits on. The winery business actually started in the 1970s by several businessmen from the San Joaquin Valley. 50+ years later, it remains one of the more recognizable names in the NorCal wine industry. I got here with my buddy David A. and his wife at around 4:15pm. The first thing that struck me was the tranquility. I was dealing with a major protest in my city that morning, so the peacefulness was truly appreciated by me. Aside from that, nature's beauty was on full display. The sky was blue, the hills were green, and the temperature was a perfect 72F. Sarah couldn't have asked for a better day to have her wedding! The ceremony was held in a covered area near the chateau, with seating set up for 100-150 guests. After the ceremony, a pre-reception cocktail party was held in the courtyard area. After about an hour or so, the dinner reception was held under the giant palm tree. The food and service for the entire event were fantastic. From appetizers to main course to desserts, the food was well prepared and delicious. Service provided by the staff was friendly and attentive. There were a couple minor hitches during the reception, but they resolved them quickly. Chateau St. Jean is definitely worth checking out if you are in the area. As a non-drinker, I don't know enough about their wine to have an opinion on their quality, but I think you will really enjoy the serene setting.

    Photos
    Chateau St Jean - Weddings at Chateau St. Jean

    Weddings at Chateau St. Jean

    Chateau St Jean - Large Party Experiences available at Chateau St. Jean

    Large Party Experiences available at Chateau St. Jean

    Chateau St Jean - Weddings at Chateau St. Jean

    See all

    Weddings at Chateau St. Jean

    Ledson Winery & Vineyards

    Ledson Winery & Vineyards

    4.0(647 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$

    One of the most beautiful buildings and grounds I've been on whist wine tasting. The gothic…read morearchitecture just makes you feel like you're entering a vampire's mansion with the beautiful Sonoma hills in the backdrop. Even on a gray and rainy day, this place still looked special. I went on a weekday so I was able to do a casual wine tasting, standing in a bar area, without rezzies. On a weekend or with a group, I'm pretty sure you have to make rezzies. There are different tasting packages, some are sit-downs with someone bringing your pours and probably to a nice view. The casual one I did was $45 and a couple of bartenders are there to man both ends of the bar. I think a $45 fee that can't be waived or applied to a wine purchase is a bit much but I will do one occasionally. But to their credit they do pour a good number of tastes, and you just have to acknowledge the real estate that your butt is in. I paid for *cool* points. The pourers were nice and knowledgeable and poured a few more than what the list had. The wines here are very full and quite bold, nothing light and whimsical. I tasted one rose but requested the rest be reds. It was a fun ride as we tasted several Rhone grapes, a pinot, a merlot and a Port made with zin grapes. And they even gave me a square of dark chocolate to pair with the bolder reds, which I already do at home, so this just hit home with me. I didn't get to roam too much inside the mansion but there is a big gift shop where you get your wines, souvenirs and even picnic goods if you wanna nibble amongst wine country. Very unique and beautiful stop on my fave Hwy 12. Resounding return in the works.

    I had an AMAZING day here! Bill took care of my group. He was very knowledgeable and had great…read morestories. We got a tour of the winery as well. It's beautiful inside and out. It's very clean and looks very well taken care of. The wines were great! I loved the Zinfandel one. We purchased cheese board and it was so good! I love how you get to choose what meats and cheeses you want to add. It's like a build your own they make it. Can't wait to come back!

    Photos
    Ledson Winery & Vineyards
    Ledson Winery & Vineyards - Ledson Winery & Vineyards, Kenwood, CA

    Ledson Winery & Vineyards, Kenwood, CA

    Ledson Winery & Vineyards - Private tasting cheese plate

    See all

    Private tasting cheese plate

    Deerfield Ranch Winery - Interior space for tastings

    Deerfield Ranch Winery

    4.4(198 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    A truly unique Sonoma valley experience. We stumbled upon Deerfield Ranch Winery while researching…read moreour Napa-Sonoma family vacation and it quickly became the highlight of our trip. My Dad's favorite wine tasting and winery by far. An intimate, cave tasting at a family winery who - you can tell - truly cares about their wine, clean wine making processes and their customers. Once you do a tasting here, you become part of the family.

    ROSÉ SPECIALTY In…read moreOctober 2022 I visited Deerfield for the first time wine tasting with a group of hop hip dancers I performed with in a showcase in the summer that year. There was a tasting menu that consisted of five wines. The two wines I enjoyed were the Checkerbloom Rosé, which after tasting became my favorite rosé, and Merlot Cuvee. During this visit I didn't purchase any wine because there was another winery we were visiting for a tasting menu. At that winery I preferred one of their red wines over the Merlot Cuvee from Deerfield. However I really loved the Checkerbloom Rosé. When I came home I ordered Checkerbloom Rosé online through Deerfield. I wasn't sure when I was going back to Deerfield. As I really like their one wine I wasn't driving to Deerfield just for the Checkerbloom Rosé. About the last couple of months I've been receiving emails from Deerfield Ranch Winery about the @Rose 2023 was soon to be sold out as it was selling for $10. I'm not going to order wine that I never tasted before. Before going to Deerfield I had to check online if the Checkerbloom Rosé was still available. Apparently it wasn't. Also the @Rose 2023 wasn't $10 anymore. On a hunch I decided to go to Deerfield. I went to Deerfield last week on a Sunday. As I entered the cave I went to the cash register. One of the workers Ben approached me. I asked him if @Rose 2023 was still $10. He answered yes. I also asked if the Checkerbloom Rosé was still available. He showed me the bottle. I decided to buy the Checkerbloom Rosé. Before buying I asked Ben if I could take a sip this rosé. It was sweet. Ben replied the @Rose 2023 is sweeter than the Checkerbloom Rosé, which is drier. I decided to buy three bottles of @Rose 2023 at $10 each. There are certain wineries that have specialties. For me during my two visits at Deerfield their rosés are better than from other wineries I've tasted.

    Photos
    Deerfield Ranch Winery - Seating area  (instagram: wooneats)

    Seating area (instagram: wooneats)

    Deerfield Ranch Winery - Events table  (instagram: wooneats)

    Events table (instagram: wooneats)

    Deerfield Ranch Winery - Barrels

    See all

    Barrels

    La Rochelle Winery

    La Rochelle Winery

    4.8(45 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$$

    Tempted to keep this hidden gem of a winery to myself, but it's too good not to share! We found…read morethis winery through our GEMS membership via AXR in Napa. It's rare that I'm able to find a place where I love every wine poured - but La Rochelle truly hit the mark!!! EXPECT: Prior to our visit, my husband and I answered a few questions online (ex: our current knowledge of wine, what topics interested us like clone varietals or appellations) and La Rochelle customized the tasting to our interests. I wish every winery did this - it made our tasting so much more enjoyable knowing that they knew our expectations! VISIT: We had requested to sit outside, and even though it was a chilly day they made us comfortable with cozy blankets and heaters. I love that they made every effort to help us sit outside & have the experience we were aiming for. We were the only visitors and loved the intimate experience sitting in their back garden complete with chickens & a wine cat! WINE: In regards to the wine itself, superb! Their Pinot Noirs & Chardonnays are small lot, single vineyards. Every Pinot was different than the last and it was such a treat to taste a Pinot Meunier and their special Pinot Noir Polyphony. We left with a bottle of 2018 Pinot Noir from the Bacigalupi Vineyard. Our host was so knowledgeable and we really enjoyed our conversations with him. It's clear the owner, Chuck, is passionate about wine. This is one of my favorite wineries in Sonoma (good wine, good value, and good people!) - will likely join their wine club and 1000% will be going back & bringing friends!

    My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed this high-touch, relationship-first winery for as part of her…read morebirthday celebration. Maggie is amazing, the wines are delicious, the property with chickens and koi pond is lovely. Best of all, their new cat Gris Gris is adorable.

    Photos
    La Rochelle Winery - Gris Gris the cat.

    Gris Gris the cat.

    La Rochelle Winery
    La Rochelle Winery - Absolutely a must stop on wine country tour. The staff is very friendly and able to customize the visit for all levels of wine experience.

    See all

    Absolutely a must stop on wine country tour. The staff is very friendly and able to customize the visit for all levels of wine experience.

    Muscardini Cellars

    Muscardini Cellars

    4.6(152 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Our party of 14 were provided the complimentary tasting experience since we were staying at the…read moreFlamingo Resort & Spa. Seated outside in their canopy tent with heaters, we were treated to 5 wines with a small charcuterie board. It was the perfect way to start the afternoon. Our host was gregarious, very knowledgeable of the wines, and gave us recommendations for places to eat. We would definitely pay for the experience if need be!

    Tucked along Sonoma Highway at the corner of Laurel Avenue in Kenwood, Muscardini Cellars is a…read moresmall, intimate tasting room that feels like a true labor of love. Founded by winemaker and owner Michael Muscardini, the winery beautifully embodies his vision of bringing a sense of "la dolce vita" to Sonoma wine country by celebrating great wine and the simple pleasures of life. Open here in this historical 160 year old school house for over ten years, and in operation for over a decade and a half, Muscardini Cellars is most celebrated for their Sangiovese wines as their grapes for this varietal are sourced exclusively to them and them alone providing for a uniqueness that cannot be found anywhere else. What brought a friend and I here for a warm winter weekend wine tasting was the fact that Muscardini Cellars was one of over fifty wineries participating in Sonoma Sips for the second year in a row where local wineries throughout Sonoma County offer walk-in visitors a tasting deal of three to four wine pours for only fifteen dollars, and in this day and age is a real treat. With plenty of parking and plenty of open seating both indoors and outside on their front patio that overlooks the Sonoma Highway, tasting room associates Nicole and Bethany treated us like VIPs. With a welcoming splash of their 2024 Pinot Grigio which was crisp and cool and had distinctive notes of peaches and melons throughout, it was a easy breezy way to start our special tasting. For our second pour, we enjoyed their signature 2021 Sangiovese, which is sourced from nearby Alice Vineyards, which we learned was started by a woman named Sandy and sources her grapes exclusively to Muscardini Cellars. This wine leans more approachable with earthier notes and more rustic thanks to being grounded in character rather than a bold, Brunello-style expression. A nice Sangiovese that is balanced and easy to enjoy, which highlights its nuance and structure without overwhelming the palate especially when paired with a fresh margarita pizza or gnocchi. Our third pour was their 2023 Barbera wine, which was sourced from nearby Mendocino County. This "daytime" red wine was soft and elegant through the mid-palate, giving it a luxurious feel that balanced what is typically a bolder, more forward style of red. Its structure and earthier character would pair beautifully with traditional dishes from Italy's Piedmont region, especially those featuring truffles or porcini mushrooms. What we thought would be our final pour was their 2019 Fortuna, which is a wine that represents a friendship and collaboration between winemakers Michael Muscardini and Brian Wise, who started B. Wise next door. We learned from Bethany that Muscardini started his vineyards only as decor on his property but a neighbor told him he should start a winery with his harvested grapes. Fortuna represents a combination of grapes that Muscardini and B. Wise have over the past few years. With a little bit of everything, this super tuscan wine is geared towards a palate of American wine as it is not heavy in tannins and is more acid friendly, especially when served with a creamy herb or garlicky entrée. After our Classico Tasting Experience wrapped up, Bethany was kind enough to pour us a sample of their 2022 Zinfandel, which proved to be both approachable and well-balanced, not to mention reasonably priced at $58 a bottle. At Muscardini Cellars, the red wines are crafted with impressive balance and pair beautifully with hearty dishes. The tasting room itself is gorgeous, complete with an outdoor deck that overlooks Sonoma Valley and the nearby highway, creating a relaxed and scenic setting for enjoying their wines. Between experiences like the Classico tasting, participation in promotions such as Sonoma Sips, and their ongoing wine pairing dinners, it's easy to see why Muscardini Cellars continues to thrive, and why their success will carry on for many years to come.

    Photos
    Muscardini Cellars - Live Music & Food Trucks during "Simmer Down Saturdays" every Saturday May through October!

    Live Music & Food Trucks during "Simmer Down Saturdays" every Saturday May through October!

    Muscardini Cellars - Meet owner & winemaker Michael Muscardini and winery dog Biondi when you visit the tasting room

    Meet owner & winemaker Michael Muscardini and winery dog Biondi when you visit the tasting room

    Muscardini Cellars

    See all

    VJB Vineyards & Cellars - wineries - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...