Mutt Lynch Winery

Why take your dog on a wine-tasting excursion? Dogs like a change of scenery as much as their people do, and they’re welcome at almost every facility in winery-rich Sonoma County.

Three major north-county appellations are represented by Wine Road, an association of wineries and lodgings in the Alexander, Dry Creek and Russian River valleys. Fido’s tail will be wagging no matter which one you choose to nip into on your next wine-tasting weekend. more »

So many wineries are dog-friendly these days that it’s rare to visit one without spotting a least a couple of canines wagging their tails while their happy owners swirl and sip. Sprawling Sonoma County offers many ways  and places for the two of you to enjoy a wine-centric outing together, and you don’t have to go far from the historic Sonoma Plaza to get started. more »

Dogs have become de rigueur at California wineries, it seems, and Sonoma County’s are no exception. more »

Looking for new and thoughtful gift ideas for your pet loving friends and family?

Personalized items with the name or picture of a beloved pet is at the top of the list. more »

Eight—count 'em, eight—dog-loving wineries in Sonoma County are paw-ticipating in the 7th Annual Dog Days of Summer Open House to be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Mutt Lynch winery in Healdsburg. Mutt Lynch will provide live music and "apps and yaps" for humans and dogs, along with exhibitions of dog art and a super-cool Hound Lounge for hanging out. Mutt Lynch, which is proud to call itself the worldís most dog-friendly winery, will also be releasing its Out of Reach Muttitage.Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door, with a portion of proceeds donated to the Healdsburg Animal Shelter. more »

Many wineries welcome dogs on their premises, but for some, the canine connection runs especially deep. Rescue organizations and shelters, both private and public, depend on fund-raisers and donations to keep their programs running. Winemakers with a soft spot for our four-legged friends often step up to the plate by donating their produce to events such as last spring's WoofBay, a benefit for the Sonoma Humane Society; and Wine Down, a recent event co-sponsored by Vintner's Cellars to benefit Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue and Sanctuary.

Other wineries invest time and energy in on-site events for dog-related causes. Mutt Lynch Winery in Healdsburg, for example, hosts Dog Days of Summer, a pet-friendly event benefiting the San Francisco SPCA. Topel Winery, also in Healdsburg, runs a photo contest resulting in a calendar released at an October event benefiting the Healdsburg Animal Shelter. Many other wineries sponsor charitable events benefiting our four-legged friends. We at DogTrekker would love to hear about them. Please drop us a line at [email protected] and help us spread the word.

Sonoma County vintners are increasingly courting the dogtrekker demographic special dog-centric events for four–legged friends and the people on the other end of their leashes.   more »