Photo credit: Linda Rose
If you and your fur buddy have only a day or two to spend in large and diverse Sonoma County, it’s wise to pick a region (such as the Alexander, Dry Creek or Russian River valleys) and stick to it. But you won’t have to spend all your time driving country roads. Sonoma’s urban areas also offer ample opportunities to taste, often within walking distance of restaurants and shopping.
In Santa Rosa, for example, Vintners Square is a fast-expanding “urban wine village” with three tasting rooms, a craft brewery, shops, restaurants and lots of dog-friendly patios. At nearby Cornerstone Sonoma, site of Sunset magazine’s new demonstration gardens and outdoor test kitchen, you can wine-taste at two venues between exploring a variety of home-and-garden shops.
In Sonoma, Buena Vista Winery, just five minutes from the historic plaza, offers shady, canine-accommodating picnic grounds that attract many DogTrekkers. Also close to the plaza is Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery, a frequent first stop for visitors to Sonoma Wine Country, and one that welcomes four-legged visitors in the tasting room as well as the picnic area.
Don’t overlook wine-centric Healdsburg, whose historic plaza is home to numerous tasting rooms, among them dog-friendly Topel and Portalupi.
For more on Sonoma Wine Country:
No-Whine Wine Tasting in Sonoma County
Wine Road Northern Sonoma County
Sounds Like Sonoma Wine Country
Photo credit: Linda Rose
