The Placer Wine Trail encompasses 20 boutique wineries in the Sierra Foothills appellation covering the Auburn, Granite Bay, Loomis, Meadow Vista, Newcastle and Rocklin areas. Most are family owned, with tasting-room visitors often able to meet the winemakers. Most of the wineries along the route are dog-friendly, but be sure and check with them before you go.
A good place to start is Viña Castellano, a Spanish-flavored winery outside Auburn whose tasting room is open Thursdays-Sundays. Tempranillo is the signature wine here, while the Abuelito Red, a Spanish blend, is a multiple award winner. Dogs are welcome in the tasting room, on the stone-walled patio and on the lawn next to a pond at this exceedingly pet-friendly winery. Guests can enjoy the outdoors with a bottle while picnicking, playing lawn games, or paddle boating. The tasting room is typically open Thursday through Sunday, and reservations or group bookings (for things like tapas or picnic boxes) can usually be arranged by calling ahead.
