I’ve been spending a lot of time recently exploring the incredible and diverse wines of Sonoma. That also means I’ve been seeking out the best dog-friendly wineries in the area so our furry travel companion Booker can join us on our adventures. Many wineries in the area welcome dogs in their outdoor tasting areas only, however with such picture-perfect settings, outside is the only place to be.
As a rule of thumb when wine tasting with dogs, always be sure to bring a leash & potty bags, check with a tasting room host to make sure it’s ok for the dog to join you (especially when a winery/tasting room is crowded), and make sure the dog is well-behaved. Always be respectful of fellow tasters as one bad experience can change a winery’s dog policy for everyone.
Here are some of my favorite dog-friendly spots in Sonoma…
8400 Graton Road
Sebastopol, CA 95472
Ph: (707) 829-8500
Email: info@redcarwine.com
Hours: Daily 10AM – 5PM
Notes: At Red Car, dogs are invited to join their owners inside the hip, relaxed tasting room. My dog was given a bowl of water and lounged on the cool floor under the bar while I tasted through their portfolio and was served Rosé shots for my birthday. Shots or no shots, the Red Car Rosé is delicious.
@ The Barlow
6780 McKinley Street, Suite 170
Sebastopol, CA 95472
Ph: (707) 331-1393
Email: mail@windgapwines.com
Hours: 11AM – 8PM Thursday through Saturday; 11AM – 6PM Sunday & Monday; CLOSED Tuesday & Wednesday
Notes: Wind Gap is another tasting room where dogs are allowed to join their owners in the tasting room. I absolutely love Wind Gap and have written about them before. The wines are consistently great and the tasting room – which is located in the Barlow – has such a breezy, comfy vibe, it’s difficult to leave. As an added bonus, Crooked Goat Brewing is located steps away from Wind Gap and is super dog-friendly for those who need a wine break.
Quivira Vineyards & Winery
4900 West Dry Creek Road
Healdsburg, CA 95448
Ph: (707) 431-8333
Hours: Daily 10AM – 4:30PM
Notes: Quivira is one of the most beautiful wineries in the area. Committed to sustainable vineyard and farming practices, Quivira allows visitors and their pups to explore the winery’s organic gardens, say hello to the resident chickens, and learn something about ecology and biodiversity along the way. We had to stay outside with Booker, but with such a beautiful setting, there was no reason to go indoors. The Sauvignon Blanc’s here were incredible and perfect for a warm, sunny day.
Lynmar Estate
3909 Frei Road
Sebastopol, CA 95472
Ph: (707) 829-3374
Hours: Daily 10AM – 4:30PM
Notes: Lynmar Estate is another winery with a stunning outdoor setting. Dogs are welcome on the outside grounds so we strolled through Lynmar’s extensive gardens with Booker and sipped Pinot Noir on the huge patio.
Porter Creek Vineyards
8735 Westside Rd.
Healdsburg, CA 95448
Ph: (707) 433-6321
Hours: Daily 10:30AM – 4:30PM
Notes: Porter Creek pours wines out of their small, historic tasting room near the banks of the Russian River. Similar to Quivira and Lynmar Estate, dogs are allowed throughout the grounds at Porter Creek (not inside the tasting room). We sipped some fantastic Zinfandel on the patio and admired the vineyard and forest views while Booker made friends with the winery dog and visited some of the chickens who call the property home.
Dillon Dog Beach
No visit to Sonoma wine country would be complete without a visit to Dillon Dog Beach. In fact I’m convinced it’s the only reason Booker tolerates all of our winery visits. An easy and scenic 30 minute drive from Sebastopol, Dillon Dog Beach is a long stretch of sand where non-aggressive dogs can run like crazy, frolic in the surf, and play with other furry friends – all totally leash-free.
We typically drive out to the beach in the morning before a day of tasting in the hopes that Booker will be happy and exhausted for the remainder of the day. There is an $8.00 entry fee, which is money VERY well spent.
Hours: Dillon Beach is open daily and hours change seasonally
Phone: (707) 878-2094 (call for current information)
Info: Picnic tables, trash/recycling bins and restrooms are available on the beach
Related Posts:
Dog Friendly Wineries in Paso Robles
Dog Friendly Wineries in Paso Robles – Part 2
Dog Friendly Wineries in Santa Barbara Wine Country
Wine-ding Road 
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