Revisiting the Top 10 Dog Friendly Sonoma Wineries

When we arrived at the rental office we were handed a post of the Top 10 Dog Friendly Sonoma Wineries. This post from 2006 lists some amazing tiny (and not so tiny) wineries that, at that time, allowed dogs. We love wine and we love lists, so with a bit of planning we set out to revisit the ten on the list (plus a few more).

As you would expect, there have been a few changes since 2006. Some new wineries have popped up and a few have changed hands. To our dismay, several have changed their policies due in large part to Dog Owners who think dog friendly is a right rather than a privilege. We also have a slightly different interpretation of Dog Friendly than the 2006 author. In order to qualify for our list you had to be able to have your dog by your side while tasting.

Anyway, here is our list, be nice to these folks, ask if you can bring your dog, don't assume just because they allowed us that they will allow you...

Our revised Top Dog Friendly Sonoma wineries are:

Rank	DF	Winery	2006
1	DW	Wilson Winery	4
2	DW	Matrix	*
3	DW	Mazzocco	10
4	DF	Donatiello (Formerly Belvedere)	2
5	DF	Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves	*
6	DF	Taft Street Winery	3
7	DF	Russian Hill	5

We dropped the following wineries because they do not allow you to have your dog with you while tasting.

DF	Winery	2006
DT	Seghesio	6
DT	Gary Farrell	9

As I said, a few dog owners ruined it for the rest of us. The following wineries are no longer on the list because they do not allow you to have your dog on the grounds.

DF	Winery	2006
NP	Iron Horse	7
NP	Hop Kiln	8

And finally, we did not evaluate Joseph Swan Vineyards because they are closed weekdays, though they were very nice about it even after I totally misread their hours on their web site!

Dog Friendliness Rating: DW=Dogs Welcome, DF=Dog Friendly, DT=Dog Tolerant, NP=No Pets

Wilson, Matrix, and Mazzocco

If there is a common dog/dog owner heaven it probably feels a lot like Wilson, Matrix and Mozzocco. Award winning wines, great views, tables for picnicking and cool concrete floors for hot dog tummies make these sister vineyards our top pick. If that were not enough the staff are dog people as well as wine people. Their passion for both infused our conversations with equally disparaging comments about wine snobs and bad dog owners. Pick up a sandwich and some pasta salad from Big John's Market on the way to Wilson.

Donatiello

Crisp wines and an amazing garden make Donatiello another great stop for a picnic with your four footed friend. The water falls and English garden steps make for a picturesque backdrop for wine tasting and picture taking.

Bella

You may be surprised by how hot it can get in the summer in Sonoma. Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves offer a cavernous tasting room that stays cool on the hottest summer day. The concrete floor feels great on a dog belly. Great people, great wines.

Taft Street

Taft Street started in a garage in Berkeley (or is it Oakland?) "As long as Finnigan is OK with it..." you can bring your friend into this tiny tasting room. Though Willa ignored the cat, Finnigan would not leave her alone, playfully patting at Willa's paws and sniffing her in a very canine way.

Russian Hill

More great views and a very cute winery dog named Kiri (after the famed opera singer) greet you as you reach the top of the hill. Russian Hill has a nice variety of wines including Port.

Honorable Mention

We have to give Iron Horse Vineyards honorable mention for their very gracious and welcoming winemaker David Munksgard. We arrived late and spotted the "No Dogs" sign. After telling us he was closed, he paused and with a "what the hell" opened a bottle of their terrific 2003 Classic Vintage Brut. I inquired about the "No Dogs" sign mentioning the Top 10 list and he told us why he changed his policy...suspicions confirmed...bad dog owners.

Dog Friendly is not binary

As my wife and I travel around with our dog we find many places that tout their "Dog Friendly"-ness. To our disappointment we usually find that they are "Dog Tolerant" or "Dog Accessible" but far from dog friendly. There are two important concepts that the owner of any so called dog friendly establishment must understand before laying out the welcome mat:

1. Understanding the attachment of a dog owner to their dog. Dare I say...actually owing a dog yourself.
2. Understanding what it is like to travel with a dog. Dare I say...that you actually traveled with a dog...outside your city limits...for at least a few days. (Extra points if you have taken you dog through one bath cycle away from home.)

Once you have the basics understood the next step is to evaluate your "offering" based on how far you (or the local health department) will allow dog owners to go. This is where the gap exists in the definition of "dog friendly". After minutes of consideration we have developed the following scale:

No Pets

This is the clearest category. Simply put, leave your dog in the car. There are many reasons why proprietors choose this designation. I respect the clarity of this designation. I also choose not to spend my money at these establishments unless there is an overriding reason. Examples include National Parks (dogs in parking lots only) and restaurants without outdoor dining facilities.

Dog Tolerant

Dog tolerant establishments pretend to be dog friendly but really aren't. Dog tolerant means that you can have your dog present with you on the grounds but must never be off leash (see my point about your responsibility when taking your dog off leash). Dog tolerant hotels generally make you pay extra for keeping a dog and you have to sign some huge contract. Well behaved dogs are welcome most places but there are restrictions imposed by the proprietors that have nothing to do with the health department.

Dog Friendly

Dog friendly establishments allow you to keep your dog as you would at home. The only way a joint can be labeled Dog Friendly is if I have equivalent access to the establishments offerings while I have my dog at my side. For example: restaurants that serve me on a deck or patio, wineries that allow my dog in the tasting room or serve tastes outside. Many of the so called "dog friendly" wineries did not allow tasting with a dog by your side.

Dogs Welcome

Establishments that open their doors to good dogs and good dog  owners allow access to all areas under the health code. This means that unless the establishment serves food, dogs are welcome everywhere (except on the tour). This designation goes beyond physical access, it also indicates a mind set that some thought and consideration has been put into the accommodation for dog visitors. Whether it is water dishes and water for those who may have forgotten or biscuits behind the bar, it is that good dogs are welcome without hesitation, indoors and out.