Vine + Grain

Vine + Grain opened at The Streets of Brentwood in the summer of 2015 with the original goal of providing the community with an elevated wine and beer bar where people would hopefully leave even happier than when they arrived. “The Streets of Brentwood was an up-and-coming place at the time, and a lot of new businesses were coming into the shopping center,” said owner Alyssa Roost. “We wanted to bring our idea of a fun, elevated place to that mix, where people could come, hang out and enjoy a nice glass of wine.” Alyssa and her husband, Anthony, had already opened a wine bar in 2014 called Unwined in Discovery Bay. Originally The Streets reached out to the couple about bringing that same concept to their shopping center. The two thought that having one in Discovery Bay and another in Brentwood would be too close to each other proximity wise. Instead, they took what they learned from their first experience as business owners and made some improvements. “We really didn’t even think that we would be doing this as our sole careers,” said Alyssa. “We started it as a weekend retirement plan. Anthony still had his electrical company, and I was still an adoption coordinator.” However, when The Streets approached them, the couple knew they couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

 

 

When it came to Vine + Grain, Alyssa and Anthony knew they wanted to step their game up. Of course, they offer hand selected wine and craft beer, but they also added even more food to the menu and a beautiful covered patio where patrons could sit and relax year-round. New lights and fire pits to added to the ambiance and overall experience. “Even though we offer small bites on our menu, there are some people who come in specifically for dinner,” said Alyssa. “Any of our Roman style pizzas are our best sellers by far. We struggle to even keep them in stock.” Just like their sister restaurant, Attraversiamo, which is right around the corner, Vine + Grain boasts a seasonal menu using as many local farm ingredients as possible. “We’ll use anything that’s in bounty for Brentwood for food items. But also for fresh pressed juices and garnishes in drinks. For example, we offer a corn pizza using local Brentwood corn, which is incredibly popular.”

 

With the addition of their second location in Sacramento, Alyssa and Anthony noticed a demand for more than just wine and beer, especially right before special events. So, the two decided it was time to add hand crafted cocktails to their menu, something their already very familiar with at Attraversiamo. “We’ve started off with about five cocktails for now with the plan to add more as we go,” said Alyssa. “We have a Hibiscus Margarita, a Tangerine Smash with either vodka or bourbon, and our incredibly popular Old Fashioned that we smoke right at the bar. That one is beautiful and smells lovely.” Alyssa and Anthony are also working towards having bottles available for purchase, so that any customer can order their favorite drink from a full-service bar.

 

 

If you think you’ve already had the Vine + Grain experience before, try it again. Things are always changing, like live music on Wednesday nights with a rotating list of musicians. They also have seasonal specialties like girl scout cookie and wine pairings, personalized make-your-own tableside s’mores, Halloween candy pairings, and watermelon pops. “They’re a watermelon popsicle in a glass with champagne poured over it,” said Alyssa. “It’s perfect for those scorching summer nights.” Vine + Grain also offers private events where hosts can rent out the entire patio area, and the Vine + Grain team takes care of all of the work. “We do it all for you. We also work with preferred vendors, so everything is ready to go and it’s a true walk-in concept.”

 

As if the two weren’t busy enough with one restaurant and two bars, the couple and their Bar Directors, Shannon Foster and Alex Estrada, will be launching their mobile bar concept in August. “Our transformed horse trailer will be ideal for weddings, engagement parties, birthdays, you name it,” said Alyssa. “Our goal is to pull up to any special event and be able to give people the same experience and everything they love about Vine + Grain and Attraversiamo.” Hosts will be able to select around four drinks from a ten-drink menu to offer to guests. “As with everything we do, our service is our main priority. We want everything to be 150%, not just 100%.”

 

 

Regardless of where the future takes them and how many additional locations they add to their list, Brentwood will always be home for the Roosts. “I was born and raised in Discovery Bay,” said Alyssa. “When this opportunity came to have our roots in Brentwood, it just made sense to expand into a community that is and always has been so supportive. This city got us through some of the scariest times in our industry. Even with more expansion plans, Brentwood and The Streets are home.”