Vin Vino Wine

About Vin Vino Wine

Vin Vino Wine is a neighborhood bottle shop and tasting bar at 437 South California Avenue. It sits on the car-free stretch of California Avenue, among the cafes, restaurants and shops of the old Mayfield main street. The shop describes its approach in a phrase: quality and uniqueness over variety for its own sake. Rather than stocking every label, the team looks for producers who pay careful attention to their vines and take an honest approach in the cellar.

Three co-owners run the shop. All three have spent years in restaurants or the wine trade. Guillaume Bienaime started in the restaurant business at Marché in Menlo Park in 2003, where he says his love of wine began. He is also the proprietor of Zola, the French restaurant in downtown Palo Alto, whose wine list is rooted in France while championing balanced California wines. Alecia Blazei handles the shop's finances and organization. She worked with Michael Martella at Martella Winery for 13 years and has a background in restaurant accounting. Lisa Robins spent most of the last two decades as a restaurant general manager and wine director. The shop calls her a devoted Burgundy fan with a keen interest in Italian wine.

The wines

Vin Vino does not publish a fixed list of regions or producers. It says it draws on the great growing regions of the world. The owners' own interests offer a good guide. Expect French wine with a lean toward Burgundy, Italian bottles and California wines made in a balanced style. The selection changes as new wines arrive, so ask the staff for a recommendation. The team says it enjoys matching wines to each customer's taste, which makes this a good place to describe a dish or a budget and let them choose.

The tasting bar

The tasting bar is what sets Vin Vino apart from a standard wine store. Each day it pours a sampling of wines to taste. It also offers a flight built around a theme, such as a region or a grape variety. The shop posts its tasting schedule for each week as a PDF on its website, so you can see what is open before you visit. Tasting is a low-risk way to try something new before you commit to a bottle.

For wine bars and restaurants with longer evening hours, see our bars, wine and beer guide.

The wine club

Vin Vino runs a monthly wine club in three sizes:

• Six bottles a month: four reds and two whites
• Four bottles a month: four reds, or two reds and two whites
• Two bottles a month: two reds, two whites or one of each

Each selection comes with wine notes, food pairing ideas and the occasional recipe. Active members get a discount on any bottle they buy in the shop, with no limit on quantity. To join, call the shop or email it. The website does not say whether club wines ship, so ask about pickup when you sign up.

Who it suits

Vin Vino suits shoppers who want advice rather than a wall of labels. It is a good stop for a dinner party bottle, a gift for a host or a chance to taste a few wines after work before you buy. Wine lovers who want a steady stream of new bottles chosen for them can use the club. It is not a bar for a long night out, since the shop closes by early evening.

Tips for your visit

• The shop is closed on Mondays and closes at 3 p.m. on Sundays. Thursday and Friday are the late nights, until 8 p.m.
• Check the weekly tasting schedule on the website if you want to taste something specific.
• Come on a Sunday morning, browse the California Avenue Farmers Market, then pick up a bottle to match what you bought.
• California Avenue is closed to through traffic, so park in a nearby city lot.

Our California Avenue guide covers the street's restaurants and parking. For dinner downtown at the co-owner's restaurant and others like it, see our fine dining guide. Country Sun natural foods is across the street.

Location and getting there

Vin Vino Wine is at 437 South California Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94306, in the California Avenue area of Palo Alto. Our California Avenue guide covers what else is around.

The nearest train stop is the California Avenue Caltrain station, about 0.3 miles away. That is roughly a 6 minute walk.

Parking: street spaces and city garages with posted limits (see parking in Palo Alto).

Hours

Hours from the business's own website, checked October 29, 2026.

What is nearby

• Leaf & Petal, store, under 0.1 mi
• Mediterranean Wraps, quick-service spot, under 0.1 mi
• Ramen Kowa, restaurant, under 0.1 mi
• Lotus Thai Bistro, restaurant, under 0.1 mi
• Namaste, restaurant, under 0.1 mi
• College Terrace Library, 0.3 mi
• Bowden Park, 0.3 mi
• Peers Park, 0.4 mi

Other groceries and food shops nearby: Country Sun (under 0.1 mi); Real Produce International Market (0.2 mi); Mollie Stone's (0.2 mi); Driftwood Deli and Market (0.7 mi). Browse the full groceries and food shops list.

Before you go

• California charges for paper bags at checkout, so bring a reusable bag.
• Weekend late mornings are the busiest time at most Palo Alto grocers. Early mornings and weekday evenings are calmer.
• Specialty items and prepared foods change often. Call ahead if you need something specific.

About this listing

Checked October 29, 2026 against Vin Vino Wine official website; About and team; Tasting bar; Wine club. How our listings work. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

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