It’s always beautiful in Mendocino County, but this scenic corner of California feels especially magical in the fall. Changing leaves and clear skies set the backdrop for hikes, train rides, picnics and wine tasting with four-legged companions.
This season, spend your Mendocino-area time in Anderson Valley. Nearly a dozen Highway 128 wineries between Boonville and the ocean welcome dogs.
From Navarro Beach on the Pacific coast, travel east along Highway 128 to reach Greenwood Ridge Vineyards. A Smooth Fox Terrier named JJ greets guests at this family-run spot that’s repeatedly been ranked among America’s top 30 wineries by Wine & Spirits Magazine. Plan a friendly game of bocce ball or bring sandwiches to savor while sampling wine on a patio overlooking a pond.
Follow the highway east to visit Toulouse Vineyards. Two resident dogs welcome guests, and it’s a gorgeous spot for sipping gewürztraminer on a sunny day.
Furry friends serve as ambassadors at plenty of other Anderson Valley wineries, too. Mocha is the resident mini labradoodle at Brashley Vineyards. Sasha and Spot, a lab-pointer mix and McNab Shepherd, hang out at Boonville’s Foursight Wines. Bee Hunter, a favorite for pinot noir and Riesling, sometimes has adoptable puppies at its dog-friendly tasting room.
For more best-in-show winery adventures, check out the fenced dog play area – and meet Buster, a McNab Shepherd – at Witching Stick Wines. There’s a fenced dog park adjacent to the Maggy Hawk tasting room, which pours noteworthy chardonnay and pinot releases.
Dog treats, water bowls and off-leash vineyard hiking dazzle guests at Lula Cellars, a standout for estate pinot noirs and single-vineyard offerings. Goldeneye Winery has a pup-friendly patio complete with “bark-uterie” plates and bandanas for purchase.
