VJB

VJB is the Belmonte family's take on an Italian village square, dropped into Kenwood in the Sonoma Valley. The wines are Italian varietals grown in California, and they are sold only at the tasting room and through Club Enoteca, so this is the one place you can get them.

What sets it apart is that you can actually eat here. There are kitchens on site and a gelato counter, which makes it one of the easier lunch stops to build a day around. Michael flags it specifically for that. The courtyard is the draw, and it earns an 8 for ambiance. It suits a relaxed middle-of-the-day slot on a Sonoma Valley route.