Rolling green hills, blue skies, free-flowing Zinfandels and Chardonnays, and…doggos? No, this isn’t heaven (although I suppose that depends on who you ask); this is Sonoma.
Since adding our Cockapoo puppy Cooper to our little family in October of last year, we’ve been on the hunt for dog-friendly destinations around California. One of the best finds so far? You guessed it – Sonoma Wine Country.
Whether you’re a California local or visiting from out-of-state, this dog-friendly guide to Sonoma outlines the best vineyards, Airbnbs, hotels, and restaurants to visit…whether you’re traveling with your pup or not!
Understand: Planning a Trip to Sonoma County
Something that first-time visitors might not be aware of is that Sonoma isn’t just a single city or region; it’s an entire county, spanning more than 1,700 square miles and made up of 9 official cities and dozens of other census-designated areas.
It stretches from the rugged Pacific coastline through miles of redwood forest and rolling valleys, towards Napa County to the east. Its best-known attraction – the famed Sonoma Wine Country – is made up of various subregions, nearly 60,000 acres of vineyards, and more than 400 wineries.
Whew! So how does one go about narrowing down the long list of options when planning their Sonoma vacation? Here’s my best advice: don’t overthink it!
Sonoma County as a whole just might be one of the most scenic places I’ve ever visited, which means you truly can’t go wrong when choosing a “home base” city and corresponding winemaking region to explore. Some of the most popular regions to visit include:
- Alexander Valley: Nestled along the Russian River north of Healdsburg; known for its Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc
- Russian River Valley: Located in the geographical heart of Sonoma County, with Santa Rosa and Sebastopol to the south and Healdsburg to the north; known for its Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Zinfandel
- Dry Creek Valley: Despite being just 16 miles by 2 miles, this region just outside Healdsburg has more than 90 wineries; known for its Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc
- Bennett Valley: Located south of Santa Rosa and west of the historic town of Glen Ellen; known for its Merlot, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon
- Sonoma Valley: Situated in the southeastern corner of the county, this region is home to the small towns of Sonoma, Glen Ellen, and Kenwood; known for its Zinfandel, Merlot, and Chardonnay
We opted for the Dry Creek Valley, both for its high concentration of wineries as well as for its laid-back reputation and many family-owned vineyards – perfect for bringing along an energetic 6-month old puppy!
For us, Dry Creek Valley was the perfect introduction to Sonoma Wine Country.
It’s spectacularly scenic, compact, highly dog-friendly, conveniently located, and home to some truly world-class wines. Need I say more?!
Where to Stay: Dog-Friendly Accommodation
Our weekend getaway to Sonoma was planned at the very last minute, so we were short on dog-friendly accommodation options. However, we lucked out big time with this sweet little Airbnb in the small town of Windsor (by the way, if it’s your first time booking get $40 off here). Our host Marie was extremely accommodating and absolutely lovely – five stars all around.
However, assuming that you’re planning your trip a bit farther in advance than we did, I’d recommend trying to find a pet-friendly Airbnb even closer to the charming town of Healdsburg, which has repeatedly been recognized as one of America’s Best Small Towns.
I love the look of this 2-bedroom garden house, just one mile from the town square. The property even has its own vineyard, orchard, and vegetable garden – how sweet is that?! There’s also this adorable 1-bedroom cottage, which also has its own gardens, vineyards, and even chickens!
For something a bit more spacious, try this 3-bedroom house with a hot tub and fire pit in the backyard, or this charming 3-bedroom house on 2 acres. Either would be perfect for families or a group of friends with their pups.
As for traditional dog-friendly hotels in Healdsburg, your options include the Best Western Dry Creek Inn, h2 hotel, and Hotel Healdsburg. All three options are highly rated!
Breakfast: The Parish Cafe
The number one rule for a successful full-day of wine tasting in Sonoma? Don’t go on an empty stomach!
Seriously – skipping breakfast will not only lead to you feeling the effects of your libations much more quickly (which in this case is not a good thing), you’ll also have an increased risk of ending up with an upset stomach or bad hangover. No bueno!
Instead, start your day with something hearty and filling. We opted for The Parish Cafe, a highly rated Cajun and Creole restaurant in charming Healdsburg.
Beignets, po’ boys, and shrimp & grits reign supreme at this laidback eatery, but Derek and I both opted for the special of the day: blackened salmon eggs Benedict on French bread, with a side of potatoes.
GUYS. As someone who has spent a LOT time of in the southern United States, this place is the real freaking deal. As a bonus, the pup-friendly porch is spacious and comfortable. There was even live music when we dined here!
Dutcher Crossing Winery
Our first stop: the jaw-droppingly gorgeous Dutcher Crossing Winery.
Rolling vineyard views may be a dime a dozen in California’s Wine Country, but they never get old…and that’s especially true at a winery as absolutely enchanting at Dutcher Crossing.
Whether you’re inside the airy tasting room or sipping in the shade outdoors, you’ve got access to panoramic views of the scenic Dry Creek Valley.
We opted for a quick tasting inside before exploring the property on our own with the pup. You can also grab a bottle and take it outside to the vine-covered terrace or covered patio, if you prefer to do all of your drinking al fresco.
The tasting at Dutcher Crossing included a nice selection of both red and white wines. I tend to be more of a white or rosé kind of gal myself, but I still found the reds here to be quite tasty. That’s a win!
Outside, there’s a nice grassy yard for dogs to play and explore (although they do need to be kept on their leashes…much to Cooper’s dismay!). They’re allowed in the tasting room as well, which we were happy to discover.
In retrospect, I almost wish we had saved Dutcher Crossing for later in the day. It would have been an absolutely perfect spot for a picnic lunch!
Wilson Winery
From Dutcher Crossing, we headed just a few miles south to our next stop: Wilson Winery. The vibe here couldn’t have been more different; whereas Dutcher was intimate and quaint, Wilson greeted us with a sprawling wooden patio and a lively atmosphere.
The wooden deck is elevated directly above the vines, and encircled by massive shady trees that keep the sitting area nice and cool. Despite an abundance of seating, there was just one patio table available when we arrived, which we happily snagged.
Unlike Dutcher Crossing, Wilson was heavy on the reds – in fact, their menu was 100% Zinfandels. This time around, we opted to skip the tasting and purchased a bottle to share on the deck instead.
Cooper made plenty of friends here; not only were there other dogs visiting the vineyard with their families, but there were a handful of off-leash dogs (who I assume belong to the winery owners) who stopped by to say hello.
And it’s safe to say the humans were a fan of his too – one woman even asked if she could scoop him up and bring him over to her table, to show him off to her friends!
Another feature that sets Wilson apart from the pack? A massive 26-foot steel coyote, which was originally displayed at Burning Man. Naturally, I had to set Cooper up for a mini photoshoot in front of it.
Amista Vineyards
Our third vineyard of the day ended up being one of our favorites…in fact, it’s the only vineyard where we actually signed up for a wine club membership.
That decision was inspired in part by the delicious wines we sampled (I went for the sparkling flight, mmm), as well as the incredible hospitality we experienced. David, who led our tasting, couldn’t have been any more knowledgeable, welcoming, or friendly.
Neither Derek nor myself are wine connoisseurs by any means, but David made it easy to pick up on the subtle qualities of the wines we were tasting.
We also opted to add the cheese platter to our tasting experience. Mmmmm, cheese.
But while we certainly enjoyed our time at Amista, it was nothing compared to the absolute joy Cooper experienced. While I’m still not sure whether or not dogs are technically allowed to run off-leash at Amista, the staff let it slide so that Cooper could play with David’s German Shepherd, Bruno.
There were a few other dogs running free as well, which led to an all-out pup race around the property. Cooper may have been the little guy compared to the rest of the crew, but he had the absolute time of his life.
I mean, that face says it all:
Best day ever, eh Cooper?
Christopher Creek Winery
Our final vineyard of the day was Christopher Creek, an elegant boutique winery known not only for its award winning wines, but its incredibly scenic estate.
The tasting room at Christopher Creek is cozy and rustic, but the real showstopper is the outdoor patio. Perched above the vines, this was the perfect spot to wind down the day with a sunset and a glass of vino.
Christopher Creek isn’t a place that I would have pegged as being dog-friendly at first glance, but we were thrilled to discover that Cooper was allowed inside the tasting room in addition to the outdoor patio.
Although we weren’t facing the actual sunset, we were able to watch as a golden glow was cast over the rolling landscape. With the string lights twinkling overhead and the red wine keeping us warm as the temperatures dropped, the atmosphere was as tranquil as it was romantic.
Swoon.
Simply put, it was a magical end to a magical (pup-friendly!) day.
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Do you enjoy traveling with your pup? What’s your favorite pet-friendly destination?
Wow… Sonoma looks so idyllic. Your puppy is precious too! 🙂
Thank you, I think he’s a total cutie too! 🙂 And “idyllic” is definitely a great way to describe Sonoma.
Your little dog has such a cute smile! I can imagine that travelling with a pup in tow is a real treat! 🙂
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Haha definitely a treat, but a bit complicated at times too! 😀
What a great post. We are planning a trip to the area with our pup and your suggestions will be very helpful. One question – did you book in advance for the any of the tastings or just walk in on the day?
Thanks and I look forward to reading your other pup-friendly posts.
No need to book appointments in our experience, we just walked in! However, if you have a large group (more than 4 people) I’d probably recommending reserving a spot. Have fun!!
Such a great read! Glad I stopped by 😉
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Throughout your blog, you refer to both men and women as “GUYS” This seems unnecessarily sexist. It’d be wonderful if your language were more inclusive.
Alternatives: People, friends, y’all, everyone, folks, readers, fellow travelers…
Hi Linda! This comment definitely prompted a lot of discussions, research and reflections. After reading online and talking it over with some fellow feminists whose opinions I really value, my honest and heartfelt belief is that saying “guys” or “you guys” is not sexist or anti-women.
The reason I feel this way is because I think “guys” in this context has evolved to be a gender neutral term, and I personally use the term “guys” in all-women groups as well. I know I don’t speak for all women, and I can appreciate that some women may be put off by being addressed in this way, so I will be more sensitive to that going forward. I hope you can also appreciate that you do not speak for all women, and that saying point-blank that the term is sexist is not necessarily accurate or full-picture.
That said, I do see how it’s not the most inclusive term and could be triggering for non-binary people, so I will make use of your alternative suggestions more frequently.
Saying “you guys“ is the way everyone in California talks when they are referring to any group of people…of any gender. It is not offensive in any way to anyone who lives here. I am thinking that maybe you are from the mid west? All my cousins lived in Kansas and Oklahoma and when we would visit when i was a kid, they thought saying “you guys” was funny as they would say “you all” or y’all. Which we thought was funny!
I am about to take a similar trip (a few days off the Pacific Coast Highway) through Sonoma. Luckily enough, I was thinking about a similar region. How did you get around to the multiple locations? Is there a transportation service or did you provide your own transportation? Thanks!
We drove ourselves. Unfortunately, Sonoma doesn’t have much public transportation at all. I know there are some companies that offer private transportation around wine country, but I imagine they’re fairly expensive. Still, if you don’t want to worry about driving it may be worth looking into!
You have such a beautiful dog! almost looks like a cute soft toy. You really had a nice foresight to find a dog friendly trail, thus lots of worries about his wellbeing at home went off and your enjoyed a nice trip.
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