My bottle, don't touch - Photo Credit: @travels_with_dafydd
Monterey wines rely on warm sun, cool fog and nurturing soils resulting in intense varietal flavor. Chardonnay, pinot blanc and riesling are notable varietals grown near the coast, while reds are more common in the warmer southern areas. You can sample them all while your dog waits patiently (we hope!) by your side at dozens of pet-friendly tasting rooms from Cannery Row to Carmel to the Santa Lucia Highlands. Best bet: Pick a region and check out our recommended itineraries. more »
Wine snob - Miner's Leap Winery - Photo Credit: @russ.hooper
The San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta (often referred to as the California Delta) is a maze of navigable waterways winding from Sacramento to the San Francisco Bay. You don’t need to go far out of town to get a taste of the farm towns, wineries and bucolic agricultural scenes alongside the Sacramento River. The dog-friendly places we recommend for a short outing are all within 15 miles of downtown Sac. more »
Langtry Estate & Vineyards - Photo Credit: @embeckwith
While water activities are of course a big attraction in Lake County, more than 30 wineries, most with dog-friendly picnic areas and tasting rooms, welcome visitors in what is one of the fastest growing wine regions in the country. While the region is best known for its sauvignon blancs, petit sirahs and big reds are gaining well deserved cachet. The Lake County wine-growing region blanketing the eastern portion of the county is divided into seven AVAs (American Viticultural Areas), or appellations, each with its own sense of place. more »
The Lodge at Blue Lakes
Photo Credit: @nima_and_jasper
Clear Lake, that big puddle of blue in the middle of Lake County, is a popular vacation destination for families, but it’s hardly the only body of water in the vicinity. Blue Lakes (Upper and Lower), just five miles away, are a pair of clear, spring-fed bodies of water ideal for swimming and fishing. Only human-powered craft or those with or electric motors are allowed (speed limit is 5 mph), but you can rent an electric “yacht” or pontoon boat from the Lodge at Blue Lakes and pile the family (dogs included) on board for a great day of cruising about. more »
Bed & Barrell at Stonehouse Cellars
“Agritourism”—an agriculturally based operation or activity that brings visitors to a farm or ranch—is as old as winemaking in California, yet there aren’t many places where visitors with dogs can spend the night on the premises. Bed & Barrel at Stonehouse Cellars, a winery/tasting room/B&B in Clearlake Oaks, Lake County, is an exception. more »
Lord Sandwich and friends at Smith Story Wine Cellars
Photo Credit: sandwichthedoodle
Talk about having it all beneath one roof…The Madrones, an Italian-style enclave in the Mendocino County town of Philo, is a multifaceted destination with three tasting rooms, five pet-friendly “guest quarters,” a wellness spa and a dog-friendly restaurant, Stone & Embers, specializing in wood-fired cuisine. Visitors with four-legged companions in tow will get a special welcome at the Smith Story Wine Cellars tasting room, where the resident goldendoodle, Lord Sandwich, reigns supreme. more »
If you’re up for a special-occasion getaway centered on food and wine and can’t leave your four-legged other behind, consider the oh-so-chic Napa Valley town of Yountville. This culinary mecca is chock-a-block with strollable tasting rooms and restaurants (most with dog-friendly outdoor seating). Some 19 tasting rooms clustered within a mile of each other participate in the Yountville Wine Walk, which awards prizes based on the number of establishments visited. more »
Oh, the carefree life of a winery dog. It ranks high on our list of reincarnation fantasies. Yet in Santa Cruz County, which is home to over a dozen dog-friendly wineries, you needn't wait until the next go-round to enjoy a breezy life of leisure. more »
Vineyard Supervisor at Popie Wines
Photo Credit: @popiewines
Are you one of those folks who enjoys taking selfies with your dog wherever you roam? Add some fun to your quest by participating in the Placer Wine Trail Photo Hunt, a contest taking place through December. The deal: Visit a member winery, find the “treasure” (it might be an artwork, an artifact or a physical feature of the property), take a selfie, post it on Instagram and be entered to win a $100 gift card. more »
Lagoon Valley/Peña Adobe Regional Park
Photo Credit: @itskalinotcali
Don’t you love it when you stumble upon something great that you never knew about before? That’s the feeling that takes over upon entering Lagoon Valley/Peña Adobe Regional Park, a 470-acre preserve just off Interstate 80 between Vacaville and Fairfield. more »