Vella Cheese Company of California

I’d forgotten just how much I adore this cheese shop! The moment you walk in, you’re greeted by the irresistible aroma of fine cheeses and the warm smiles of a genuinely friendly staff. The selection is outstanding—so many unique, flavorful options it’s almost impossible to choose (thankfully, they happily offer samples to help you decide!). I fell in love with the Toma and an aged jack cheese—both absolutely divine. The prices are refreshingly reasonable, and the charming building adds to the whole delightful experience. This place is a true gem for any cheese lover!

Delicious artisanal cheeses. Reasonably priced too!

Great service and very knowledgeable about cheeses. Let's you try any of the cheeses in their case.

We stopped by Vella Cheese Company, sampled some out of this world cheese and then bought some for our plane ride home. There are many touristy cheese shops in Sonoma, but the beauty of buying cheese at Vella, is that you’ll be getting the most delicious varieties right from where their products are made and at ridiculously low prices. We also purchased the most delicious truffle potato chips!!!

This is the best dry jack of all time. Just was good as the first time I went back in the 90s. If you are in the Sonoma area, take a few minutes to check this place out and buy some of their cheese.

Every kind of cheese they make is my favorite. Vella is my go-to for cheese, but their cold case is well-curated as well. Their butter is definitely my “secret weapon” when I bake, and their staff here is extremely knowledgeable and helpful!

On a bike tour and we stopped at this cheese place. Wow! These guys know how to make cheese! My favorite was the toma cheese. Omg y’all! Stop here for a home town feel their milk comes from a local dairy. cheeses are made and aged onsite. Their specialty is their Dry Monterey Jack. They have a small retail store where you are welcome to a cheese tasting at no charge.

We are taking a Bay Area Cheese tour and Vella is where we start. The cheese is excellent, but unfortunately, they are not allowed to give people samples. Nevertheless, they have very great cheese. We purchased two types of Jack and a sharp Cheddar. Everything they makes amazing but the Jack was my favorite. Definitely check them out when you are in Sonoma, you won't be sorry, the people are very nice and willing to tell you all about the wonderful cheese they make. Seriously, so good!

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!

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.

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

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.

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!

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

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!

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 :)

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.

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.

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.

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! :))

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!!!

This place looks odd from the outside and in but oh boy is the cheese soooo good! We ended up getting pesto jack, garlic jack, jalapeño jack and some cheese like mesca osco or something like that. Not sure what that last one is but oh boy was it so good! Its like beween a hard and soft cheese. This one and the pesto really surprised me with how amazing it would taste!

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.

Stopped in after seeing reviews and the cheese is delicious. The 2 gals working were so kind and offered us samples of a few different varieties from the soft to hard cheeses. The prices were a surprise as well, I was expecting a higher cost and they were all very affordable.

We stopped by here to do some cheese tasting and it was a great experience! They have great cheese selection and friendly owners will give you some samples of whatever cheese you're interested in tasting. We will be back!

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

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.

I glad this place was open yesterday when we were looking for cheeses to have for snacks during the week. The woman behind the counter took time to explain what types of cheese they have and what the flavor pallet was like. We ended up getting 4 different cheeses and plan on going back in the future.

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.

Very nice selection, made right here. Ate so many samples, couldn't enjoy sitting in the square eating the stuff they cut for me. Oh well, just have to take them to San Fran and enjoy. Have the vacuum sealed stuff for TX. Nice people, cute little place. Clydesdale next door and dirty sidewalks. Very enjoyable walk from down town.

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.

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.

Been coming here since I was a young kid. I know how good your cheese is especially the dry Monterey Jack. There isn't much to say about how good the cheeses are as the awards on your wall prove that. I spend an ungodly amount of money on cheese when I'm here, I also order it online 1-2 times a year. Last time I visited with my wife I was so excited to show her. The excitement soon wore off when the person behind the counter was super frumpy and rude. They didn't want to be there, they didn't want to talk..or allow for some back and forth questions. As I looked around I saw an old cheese store, that needed a little scrub to say it nicely. Seriously, I like old places. Humble places...small town stories and places where "you can only get that here" however, it was a little more about pride in some areas. As for the lack luster service, I chalked it up as a bad-day. Vella, I love your Jack, but I won't be back. I'll order online, so I won't have to hear your employee whine.

Came in here expecting a few fancy cheeses. Was blown away by the service, sample options and quality and variety of cheeses. It's a little ways from the Sonoma Square so probably good idea to drive there, but totally worth it. I am gorging myself on cheese now. Yolo

This is a cheese lovers paradise. Their cheeses are so smooth and soft. Even the drier ones had such a rich taste. We samples almost all the cheeses and ended up buying 2 small packs. We could just eat the cheese straight out of the pack.

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!

Very nice and friendly staff. They let all of us (6) sample a lot of different cheeses before we buy. I picked some to take home and some to eat at the trip. The lady even packs some paper plates and a knife for me. How considerate is that? When we checked into the hotel, we found the exactly same cheese in our mini-fridge. Of course, the price is 3 times more at the hotel! Would definitely go back to Vella! Love this unpretentious cheese shop!!

Habanero cheese too hot for me. Pesto cheese tasted as if I was eating a dish of pasta in front of me. We ended up walking out which I think we made the best choice is the Garlic cheese. I can not wait to buy more in the near future.

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.

Maybe it's because we are from the midwest where there are multiple places that make, import, and sell varieties of cheese, but we were somewhat disappointed with our visit here. Small place. Staff seemed not interested in our being there. We did try the Oro Secco cheese which is very good, but were not offered anything else. Won't be back.

Vella Cheese has some of the best Dry Jacks in the entire Valley. Their Golden Bear is especially good with a light dusting of cocoa powder, it will keep in the fridge until it's gone. I try to visit every few weeks so I always have a block if it ready to shred over my favorite pasta. Their Mezzo Secco is not as dry and can be enjoyed with some wine and grapes.

Terrific location off the beaten path in Sonoma with lots of street parking as well as their own lot. Small little quaint sales room with adequate selection. Try the tastings scheduled for the day. Friendly and helpful folks behind the counter. Super fair prices. Sourdough loaves available for noshing with a few of your favorite cheeses! (They should install a Keurig machine) Perfect dog walking trail nearby. The whole experience makes my day!!!

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.

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!

Awesome place. Great homemade cheese. All the different flavors were fantastic. The table italian was outstanding. All of them 10/10

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!

As a local, I like to stop by a buy a variety of cheese once in a while. However last time I went the employee was too busy catering to tourist to pay attention to me. I wanted to buy a few items but couldn't get the attention of employee. She was to busy chatting up the tourist and giving them samples.