The words “wine” and “Sacramento” may not seem to go together—until you realize more than 200 wineries and tasting rooms are situated within 75 miles of the state capital. Many welcome tail-waggers as warmly as the uprights on the other end of the leash.
Once you and Sparky have experienced the friendly atmosphere in the Sierra Nevada foothills, along the Sacramento River corridor or in surprising nooks and crannies of Yolo and Lodi farm country, you might see no reason to visit that “other” wine country again.
To help with navigation, go to DogTrekker.com and check out the winery listings in the Gold Country, Central Valley and Sacramento County pages. Use them in combination with the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau’s new Regional Wine Guide to map and create a personal itinerary for you and your best friend.
Suggestions for a yappy day:
Start your road to discovery in Sacramento, the wine region’s hub, where you and your furry friend can nab a patio table at Revolution Wines and sample the latest releases along with a small plate or a full-fledged meal.
Follow the Sacramento River south to Clarksburg, duck into Miner’s Leap Winery and enjoy a glass of crisp Albarino on a shady patio outside a century-old barn.
Make it a Lodi day with a visit to one of our favorite haunts, Jessie’s Grove, where leashed dogs are welcome on the grounds of a picturesque, 19th-century farmstead housing the winery. Then hop over to the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it village of Lockeford, where you’ll find a cluster of pet-friendly tasting rooms and interesting shops to explore.
