Wine enthusiasts in Santa Rosa can look forward to a new addition this summer as Owl & The Vine gets ready to open. The concept is slated to open at 3535 Guerneville Road in Santa Rosa, according to a liquor license filing with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
The wine bar will take over the Walter Hansel Wine Bar & Bistro spot, closed in 2025. While an exact opening date has not yet been announced, Owl & The Vine’s website points to late summer of 2026.
Lawrence Bondulich, the restaurateur behind the business, may bring a similar experience to Sonoma County, inspired by his former New York venture, Bin 71. The wine bar and restaurant was known for its curated selection of Old World vintages alongside biodynamic, organic, and natural wines sourced from around the globe, complemented by house-made pastas and seasonal tapas-style small plates.
Opened in 2005 by Lawrence and Anselmo Bondulich, Bin 71 continued the father-and-son duo’s longtime connection to New York City’s restaurant scene following the sale of their West Village restaurant, Bondini’s, which Anselmo had owned since 1972.
On Owl & The Vine’s website, Lawrence and his wife, singer-songwriter Stephanie Bondulich, say their “love and experience in the restaurant industry goes back decades,” adding that they are “excited to bring community together in this special place” in Sonoma County.
