While Napa and Sonoma bask in California wine-country publicity, Solano County’s “Rustic Wine Country,” aka Suisun Valley, deserves a place on your dog-friendly bucket list, too. The “hidden” valley is just off Interstate 80 near the dog-friendly city of Vacaville (40 miles from Sacramento, 33 from Davis, 52 from San Francisco), which you’ve likely zoomed past many times without a thought of getting off the highway and exploring.
Do so, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised, and then some. This isn’t a new wine-growing region; it’s oldest vineyards date to the 1880s. In the past couple of decades, though, there’s been a surge, with wineries and tasting rooms popping up all over the landscape.
If you’re into just cruising around and seeing what you can see without a lot of scheduling or appointments, check out pet-welcoming wineries including Backroad Vines, Mangels Vineyards, Wooden Valley Winery and the Suisun Valley Filling Station and Visitor Center. (The latter is a vintage gas station where you can stock up on info and taste wines from regional winemakers, as well as local craft beer.)
