Ventura Wine Co

This is one of our favorite restaurants and wine stores in Ventura! The prices on wine are fabulous and we love choosing our bottle to take in to dinner. The food is spectacular and the prices are very reasonable. We went to the Cave two nights last week and it did not dissappoint. Such a great find!

This is the best place to buy wine in West Ventura County. Their prices are great and they have good options at every price point. I absolutely love the Cave! Their menu changes monthly and it's all small plates so you can try a few different things. I don't think I've ever been disappointed, the food is excellent! They could use a few more pescatarian-friendly options. I also love the enomatic machines. Again, small portion options allow you to sample many different wines without getting drunk. Then you can buy your favorite at the store.

To be honest the only good part of our visit was Rachel. Rachel was polite, helpful, and delightful. This is my first time coming here since the change in ownership. I used to come here all the time and loved it. Zandra (?) took over and was incredibly rude and aggressive. The new owner was even worse. The food we got was all bad, it used to be great. Pizza was bad. Miss the old risotto, this risotto was watery and bland. Crème brulee was curdled and basically charcoaled.

I didn't even know this place existed. The actual restaurant part of the store, The Cave, is really small. It's about the size of a high school classroom. I had the Ace Burger and it was awesome. I don't really drink wine, but the prepaid Dave-and-Busters-type card and the self serve wine machines are a lot of fun. It was fairly inexpensive and laid back considering how good everything is.

Actually a fine dining establishment much more than a wine place. The chef here is probably one of the best in all of Ventura

Saturday dinner menu not as good as the prix fix menu during the week. My food was ok, husband did not care for the lamb burger.

Specifically talking about The Cave here, buried deep inside (just to the right) the building. Though, the wine shop is solid too. Hey now, a place where you can drink by either 1, 3 or 5 oz. pours! Plus food! Not to bury the lead, but the food that I’ve tried here has been decent. We got the special burger (which that day was a chorizo one), the turkey burger (called something like the Cave woman), the Ventura salad and tried the butterscotch pudding for dessert. Chorizo Burger: one thing is true for both of the burgers, I applaud them for attempting to bake their own buns, but they really didn’t work. Dry and crunchy are not really adjectives I like to use for my burger buns. However, remove those and this is a really winner. It was two patties of chorizo, some smashed avocado, some lettuce and a spicy aioli. I got it with the side salad, so it really because a chorizo salad -- and there’s nothing wrong with that at all. Turkey Burger: I’m not the biggest fan of turkey in any form, but this wasn’t too shabby. Once again, ditch the bun and you’ll have a happier burger eating experience. Got this one with the potato salad, which was basically smashed potatoes with mayo. That might sound questionable at best, but I promise, once you start nibbling it, you won’t be able to stop. Ventura Salad: a solid a little salad with spicy ranch dressing, roasted corn, avocado, onions and tortilla strips (because why not?). We got the large and I’m happy, as it’s not very big. Tasty. Butterscotch Pudding: this was the biggest letdown. We weren’t wholly convinced it wasn’t Jell-O, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it also wasn’t the highlight of the meal. Couple the solid food with serve your own wine (based on your prepaid card) and good service and you’ve got a nice little hang out joint here. I’ve heard that the weekends get a little crazy, which I can imagine, as it’s not a big place, but when we went on a Wednesday, it wasn’t bad at all.

Cannot recommend a better place for lunch or dinner. Food is always excellent as is the service at The Cave. Wine selection and knowledge of wines offered by the staff is outstanding and prices cannot be beat. A pleasure to drop in for a bottle or a meal, always treating out of town family & friends to a visit.

I think this wine seller carries one the best selection of California wines across all the price ranges. They are very reasonably priced and the representative had a decent knowledge of wines but not an expert. They have a restaurant called Cave where you can buy your wine and pay $15 corking fee to enjoy a very good Italian cuisine. The restaurant manager lacks customer care and sense of humor but overall it's a very nice place, inviting with large wine selection.

Love this shop! Jose was super helpful and knowledgeable on all the options we asked about. He helped get us set up with the Wine Club and walked us through the process like a pro. Prices on all the wines were very good compared to other wine stores too. We can't wait to be back!

Had to get a rush shipment for Xmas delivery and they jump through all the hoops to get it done. Their extra effort was greatly appreciated.

Great atmosphere, best wine quality, selection, and prices in town I've relied on them for 10+ years

Great little homegrown shop with a neighborhood feel. The people who work there are knowledgeable and super friendly. Not pretentious, either. The fellow working there today gave me a tip to chill champagne quickly: wrap it in wet paper towels and put it in the freezer for a little bit. He also told me that if you have a bottle with sentimental value, after you drink it bring it in and they will cut it into a neat shape and make it into a candle for you. Finally, they had two kinds of cool Dodger wine for wine fans. It's decent wine and only $20 a bottle. Perfect gift for Dodger fans! The restaurant next door is good. During happy hour two of their wines are half off and you get them by the glass.

We experienced a tremendous resource of wine expertise at The Ventura Wine Company (The Cave). Jose the store manager at The Ventura Wine Co., has provided us with suggestions for excellent wine choices. Because of his discerning palate coupled with his extensive and detailed breadth of wine knowledge, we have never been disappointed with his suggestions for exploring a variety of wines both domestic and international that are unknown to us. Just by knowing our desired palate preferences, he has guided us to many new wines that we have truly enjoyed and purchased. Yesterday while lunching at the Cave, we asked Jose for a dry, bold Italian wine and true to form, he guided us to a tremendous wine from Sicily. It was everything we asked for and of course we sought to purchase a couple of bottles, but only one was available, so when they restock, we will be purchasing more. Of course, coupled with the onsite expertise of Jose, and the very reasonable prices. You cannot beat that winning combo. Jose's expertise and great prices!

What a cool place. I work really close by and this place is totally a pleasant surprise. Located in the harbor view business park, you would never guess that a restaurant would be hidden amongst all of these businesses but it works out well. I first walked into a a large room with plenty of wine selections. I didn't get the nice gentleman's name that helped me find the wines I needed, but he was helpful and kind. He was also super knowledgeable in wines, where the grapes come from, pressed, etc etc. The place was spotless and even had a little nook for beer and champagne. I had a chance to stop by the cave. Interesting place! super comfy and cozy. its a nice hideaway from a busy day at work. The coolest part is that there is a wine dispenser there that you can try different kinds of wine by just a couple oz. at a time! I had one of their pizzas and it was tasty. no complaints from this guy.

Was looking for a good wine shop in Ventura and found this gem. Great selection, staff was super helpful and great prices on hard to find wine.

Great Wine Shop, Superb Prices, Friendly Service, despite the Corona Virus. I highly suggest you stop on by & get your vino fix NOW

Such a great place - have been here about 5 or 6 times and always have a good time. The wine dispenser concept takes a while to get used to and even after "mastering" it / I still get confused:). But the ability to sample different wines makes it worth it. Food - the food here is amazing - small plates and great taste. The portions are just the right size - when the plate first comes it may seem small / but they are just right!!! Have been twice with live music and it's always a great vibe.

A reasonably good mix of merchandise. Didn't seem to have "enough" Santa Barbara region producers. Good mix by price point. Service was kind and had decent knowledge. A number of good mid level pinots from Oregon. Enjoy!

My wine cave experience: Ambiance: 2 stars Service: 1.25 stars Food: 3.5 stars Dessert: 1 star Wine: 4.5 stars -------------------- Overall: 4-ish stars (I like wine). Walked in. Told the lady at the front that I was meeting a party for our holiday gathering. She said that she was just putting in their food order, so I should select something from the menu right away. No problem; I appreciated her help. I ordered, then asked if I ordered drinks at the table (I'd never been there). She mumbled something about "all the wine is through the X system". "What?" I said. "All wine is through the X system." Um, okay. Upon joining my party/walking in to the wine grotto/stucco room (exceedingly loud, cold (cement floors), and rather utilitarian, save for a couple decorative touches, I found that all wine is dispensed automatically from vending-type machines. You need to buy a card, load it with money (card itself costs $5 - why?), then choose your wine, your pour (1, 3, 6 ounces). Money is debited from your card. Very cute. So, I went to the front to buy a card (WHY the lady who took my food order didn't tell me how to/help me buy a card was beyond me). The second hostess was jus flat-out rude. I managed to buy a card. [GIANT NOTE TO EMPLOYEES: If you want to make money, BE NICE, and for crissakes, at least ATTEMPT to sell/upsell! What the hellio?] But here's the thing: I really just wanted one nice, well-recommended glass of wine. Actually, I was thinking champagne. My friends told me that we could order champagne from the menu, but no one stopped by to see if we wanted to order as such. I chose two 3-oz white wine pours. The first was fucking fantastic, seriously. And it ought to have been, at $6 (I think)/3 oz. The second, about half the price, was spicy and not great. Of course, I can remember the name of neither... I had a salad, which was tasty and well-priced ($7). The food took a while (20-25 minutes) to arrive, which - in a room with only a handful of tables and none of them obviously eating - seemed rather ridiculous. Dessert was a low point. Gelato was bland and dry (like freezer-burned). I had the chocolate zinfandel (tasted overwhelmingly of cocoa, and nothing else), and the Almond Joy, which was chipped bits assembled in a shot glass (apparently they don't go through much of it). There was no creaminess and it tasted of nothing. I'm not sure what this place is trying to be. A bistro? No. A wine bar? Kind of. A self-service place where you're ignored and left to do your own thing? Maybe. Okay. Kind of cute. Not much ambiance. 3.45 stars.

Updating - the food has gotten even better recently. Prices have gone up a bit, but you get what you pay for, and it is still reasonable. New chef is doing great thin-crust pizzas in a wood-burning oven. Truly delicious house-made veggie burgers, plus great hamburgers of the regular sort. But peek into the back and you'll find another world - the Cave - a small, intimate place for a drink or snack or even a full meal. You use the Enomatic machines to select your own wine, available in pours as small as one ounce and as large as five. There are usually about 30 wines to choose from. I love that you can try one ounce of wine before buying a glass. This adds a spirit of discovery and adventure. The food is good, too - small plates of deliciousness, from homemade potato chips, small and large cheese plates, burgers, pizza, salads, to daily specials. The prices are really reasonable, too. I don't hand out five star reviews very often, but this place is a special find.

Most excellent!!! Love the food Great wine selections!!! Corkage fee is BS.... if not for that... this place wood be a five star...!!

Such a nice little atmosphere... I walked in one day, curious to see what this little shop was about, and it turned out it was both a shop and a "cave". I subscribed to the e-mail list, received updates on their events and decided to go to their Champagne tasting this past weekend. I'd never been through the whole venue, as the front is where the wine is sold, but the back is where they host events with hors d'oeurves and fun music. Completely in love with their quaint and private atmosphere and with how easy it was to immerse myself in tasting many different kinds of their products. Definitely going to have to make this a regular spot of mine :)

These guys have a really great selection of California and international wine. They manage to score some smaller boutique wines and their prices are really competitive if not cheaper than everyone else. The staff are helpful and friendly. This place is a must for wine drinkers in Ventura and Oxnard

I have shopped different locations for a good wine selection along with a price that is fair and have always come back here. This place offers top notch service, the knowledgeable salesman helped me select a red wine and champaign for our daughter's wedding then carry all my purchases out to the car. The Wine Cave in the back is a pleasant bonus. Fun to get together with girlfriends and try new wines with their easy automated wine tasting bar. The food is excellent, prepared by a chef not just a cook.

First visit at the Ventura Wine Co. & we were definitely not disappointed. Chef Alex is "spot" on on all of his menu masterpieces! We had the Braised Short Ribs, Scallops w/chorizo, BBQ Lamb, Filet Mignon & the Cave Burger & for desert we had the flourless chocolate cake, mint/basil custard & the peach roses. All I have to say is "WOW!" Also, the staff, they were as professional as they can be, always on point w/any request, concerns & their knowledge. Please stop by & visit, you will not be disappointed. Oh by the way, they have an awesome wine selection.

Good food, good service, good wine, and good prices. Not much else to say. A real hidden gem in Ventura.

Talk about a hidden gem . I have never seen a place like this before ! The food was great and the wine was fantastic . I would recommend this place to everyone ! It's a little out of the way but worth the journey ! DO NOT MISS OUT

This is my go-to place for amazing wine buys. Look for "Nick's picks" wine selections. You won't be disappointed.

I'm glad I finally went into Ventura Wine Co. Chris was extremely helpful and the wine bottles he helped me pick out were perfect for our dinner party! Highly recommend!.

Surprising place to find within the Ventura industrial complex. Large selection of wine... but the real attraction is "The Cave"! Food pairing, tapas style, with their enomatic wine serving system is fantastic. Prefer weekdays to weekends as food production becomes overwhelmed with a crowd... otherwise, an incredible experience. Very personable staff... have become regulars and know many by name... a must do in Ventura. Be SURE to hit "Nick's Picks"!!!!!!!

The Cave is amazing! The small plates of food are reasonably priced and look like they were imported from some fancy shmancy restaurant. Then you taste... I was so very impressed with the Pork Tenderloin plate, as was my husband with his steak plate. Delicious, tender... Our service was helpful and friendly. Very attentive but not overbearing and annoying. We will definitely be back to this place. We loved it.

Best wine store in Ventura great selection of wines. Really impressed with California selections. Favorite wine store ever!

Absolutely one of the best places to go for wine. Erik at Ventura Wine Co has challenged me to find better prices elsewhere and I can tell you that the score is still Ventura Wine Co 10+, Clara 0! Their staff is so knowledgable, it makes choosing new wines to try a breeze, and they have some GREAT ones there, even beating Costco prices! My parents also use Ventura Wine Co as their exclusive place to buy wine, and I have picked up the habit. Every 3-4 months I visit, I come in and buy 12-14 bottles to stock up, and have never been disappointed in their selection or prices.

I LOVE THIS PLACE. This is the place to spend an intimate girls night with your best friend. Their menus change frequently so it is a plus to join their mailing list. I love the wine selection and you can buy a bottle and take it to drink with their amazing gourmet food. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water! I can't wait to go back!

Ventura Wine Co. Is the best place to come and buy your wines. They have a vast selection of wines ranging in different prices to accomodate your particular budget. They mostly focus on California wines. They have the best prices anywhere! I stopped shopping at Bevmo and the grocery stores because they really have the best selection at incredible prices. They constantly have new wines for you to try and the staff there is super friendly and knowledgeable. Definitely THE place to go in Ventura County.

All around the best place to eat, PERIOD. If you want food with personality, creativity and big flavor, you will find it here. Chef Gary and his all-star team somehow make that tiny kitchen into a machine. I took my girlfriend on a Friday night and we were astounded by the entire experience... From the food, the service and down to my wine "debit card". Check it out, you won't regret it. Try anything dipped in the sundried tomato aioli they have.

BEST selection of California wines around. They carry all price ranges from inexpensive to expensive wines. So there is something for all budgets. Pat is a great asset to Ventura Wine Co. He is a wealth of information. Pat takes his time helping you select the wine you are looking for. I have enjoyed each wine that Pat has helped me pick out. Ventura Wine Co. is the place to go for wine. The prices are right and the wine selection is amazing. I won't go anywhere else.

My experience varies with each sales person. One one occasion I received a lot of helpful suggestions, but today for example, when I asked about a particular wine the service was abrupt and dismissive. I just don't feel particularly welcome here.

Over priced now, you can't set and wine taste in side unless you buy food. If you want to just taste you have to sit by the hot kitchen at tables and chairs that rock on a uneven floor. I guess it's being turned to a restaurant and not the lovely tasting room it used to be. And they charge $10.00 corkage fee for a bottle wine that is purchase from them. Rip off!