Dog-Friendly Napa Valley, Part 4: Wineries That Welcome Your Dog |
Some Napa Valley wineries do more than simply allow dogs. A few offer treats, water bowls, patios, picnic grounds, or even canine tasting experiences. |
Wine tasting with your dog can be a little tricky in Napa Valley. Plenty of wineries welcome pets, but “dog-friendly” can mean very different things from one place to another. At some, dogs are limited to outdoor patios. At others, they’re treated almost like another member of the tasting party.
For Part 4 of our Dog-Friendly Napa Valley series, we’re highlighting a handful of places that stand out for making four-legged guests feel especially welcome.
Napa Cellars, Oakville
Napa Cellars may be one of the easiest places in the valley to visit with a dog. Its garden and picnic grounds are explicitly dog-friendly, and the winery offers a complimentary Pampered Pooch package with a bottle of water, water bowl, treats, and a Napa Cellars bandana. Guests can also bring their own picnic to enjoy with an outdoor tasting. Silver Trident Winery, Yountville
Silver Trident takes the concept a step further with its complimentary Puppy Pairings experience.
While humans work through their wine tasting, canine guests receive their own progression of gourmet treats, including dog cookies shaped like wine bottles and wine glasses, along with a take-home travel water bowl. Puppy Pairings costs $20 and is offered as an add-on to a human tasting experience. Clif Family Winery, St. Helena
At Clif Family, dogs are welcome on the outdoor tasting-room patio, where water bowls are available and the atmosphere is deliberately relaxed. The winery even sells dog-themed accessories, including collapsible bowls and wine-inspired chew toys.
For owners, the attraction is the combination of organically farmed wines, outdoor seating, and food from the Clif Family Bruschetteria food truck.
Honig Vineyard & Winery, Rutherford
Honig welcomes well-behaved, leashed dogs for appropriate outdoor tasting experiences. Its relaxed vineyard setting makes it an appealing option for dogs that are comfortable settling beside the table while their humans taste.
Not every Honig experience permits pets, however, so tell the winery you’re bringing a dog when making your reservation.
Tamber Bey Vineyards, Calistoga
Tamber Bey offers perhaps the most unusual setting on the list. The winery sits on a working equestrian ranch, with tastings held beside the horse stalls.
Dogs are welcome on leash, so your pup can join you while you taste wine and visit with the resident horses. All human guests must be 21 or older, and reservations are recommended.
Call Ahead Before You Bring the Dog
Even at dog-friendly wineries, policies can vary by tasting experience, weather, and seating location. Some welcome dogs only outdoors, while certain tours or food-pairing experiences may exclude pets.
When you make your reservation, mention that you’ll be bringing a dog. Keep your dog leashed, bring whatever they need to stay comfortable, and remember that a busy tasting patio isn’t the right environment for every pup.
But for dogs that enjoy getting out with their people, Napa Valley offers plenty of opportunities to make wine tasting a shared outing rather than another reason to leave them at home. |
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A dog themed chew toy at a winery is something I never expected to hear about. My pup would probably steal it before I finished tasting.
Derek H.Mine would claim it immediately too. At least that’s one souvenir they’d be excited about.
My old dog loved quiet vineyard patios, but she would not have enjoyed a crowd. Glad the piece mentions that every pup is different.
Ruth A.Sounds like she knew exactly what she liked. Quiet patios can be such a nice setting.
I’d call ahead even if the website says dogs are welcome. Weather and seating can change the whole plan.
It’s nice to see wineries making dogs feel welcome instead of just allowing them to sit outside. The bandana is a sweet detail.
Has anyone tried the puppy treats at Silver Trident? The wine bottle shaped cookies sound pretty funny.
I love the idea of a shared outing, but a busy patio can be a lot for some dogs. Good advice to know your pup.
Alisha B.Exactly. Some dogs are happy people-watching, and others would rather be anywhere else.
The Napa Cellars garden sounds like the easiest one to try with a dog. Being able to bring a picnic is a bonus.
We bring a collapsible water bowl everywhere, so it’s great that Clif Family has water available on the patio too.
Sandy M.That’s handy, though I still keep ours in the car just in case.
My dog gets nervous around horses, so Tamber Bey probably isn’t for us. Nice that they welcome leashed dogs, though.
Eric W.Fair point. The horses make it a unique visit, but probably not a relaxing one for every dog.
Tasting beside horse stalls at Tamber Bey sounds like such a unique outing. I wonder how the horses and dogs get along.
I appreciate the reminder that not every Honig tasting allows dogs. It would be disappointing to arrive and find out at the door.
Clif Family with the food truck and patio sounds like a lovely afternoon. I’ll have to see if my pup can handle the crowds.
We’ve had a much better time at tastings when there’s room for our dog to settle outside. Good reminder to check the reservation details first.
Bill CarterSame here. A little space to settle makes the whole visit easier for everyone.
Puppy Pairings sounds adorable, though $20 for dog treats is a bit much for me. Glad to know it’s an option, though.
The Pampered Pooch package is a nice touch. My dog would be very pleased with the treats and bandana.
Thank you for the information! I always feel bad leaving my dog home, so the Napa Cellars picnic grounds sound perfect for us.