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Top 10 Dog Friendly Wineries in Napa Valley

June 26, 2019October 18, 2019HomeLeave a Comment

Puppies, wine, and I’m fine!

We work hard so our dog can have a better life – I’m sure the same goes for you! This is why we put in the leg work to bring you the Ultimate Guide to Dog Friendly Napa Valley. When it comes to our four-legged besties, The Napa Valley knows how to roll out the red carpet. Sit back, relax, and know that you’re in for a fabulous wine country getaway with Fido!

Guide was last updated on 10/8/2019

Napa Cellars Winery

Napa Cellars is located in Oakville off Saint Helena Highway. Grab a seat in a lounge chair or pack a lunch and relax at a picnic table in the beautiful outside garden that overlooks rows upon rows of vineyards. Spend an afternoon tasting through limited release wines while your doggo gets the “Pampered Pooch Experience.” Yes, you heard me right! Sip & swirl your Pinot Noir Rosé while puppy gets to snack on biscuits, wear a Napa Cellars bandanna, and sip water from his/her own silver bowl!

Bonus: this winery is extremely kid friendly! There are yard games for days.

Napa Valley Wines: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel

V Collection: Carneros Chardonnay, Carneros, Pinot Noir, St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker’s Series: Pinot Noir Rosé, Coombsville Petit Verdot, Napa Valley Meritage, Coombsville Malbec, Carneros Syrah, Napa Valley Petite Sirah

Turnbull Wine Cellars

This winery is in the heart of Oakville! Sip inside the charming tasting room that looks like it was designed by thee Joanna Gaines or enjoy a pink sunset in the garden out back where vintage Ford trucks and tractors add a touch of rustic charm! Lucky for all of us, dogs are allowed both inside & out! Walter loves visiting his friends at Turnbull while mom & dad taste wine.

Wines: Bonne Vivante, Petit Verdot, Fortuna Merlot, Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville Cabernet Franc.

Fun Fact: My absolute favorite Sauv B is from this winery! Her name is Josephine and she is fantastic!

Bonus Tip: Rosé of Cabernet Franc is released once a year to wine club memebers.

Flora Springs Family Estate

Flora Springs Estate is located in St Helena and is one of Napa’s most historic wineries. Upon arrival you will be greeted with the most breathtaking of vineyard views that will make your doggo stop in his tracks! Be sure to make an appointment to tour the hillside caves with your fur baby followed by a seated tasting indoors or outside. Your dog will thank you for this!

Wines: Sauv Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Single vineyard Cabs, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and late harvest Sauvignon Blanc

Pop into the tasting room anytime, book a reservation for a full tour at the estate ahead of time.

Paradigm Winery

Another Oakville staple! Paradigm has been family owned & operated since the first 1991 vintage. This winery is a true expression of Oakville terroir! They’re small in size and big in quality – every wine produced is handcrafted from vine to bottle. To top it all off, Heidi Barrett has been the winemaker here since the beginning. Sip outside and enjoy a very intimate tasting with one of the friendly team members while embracing the vineyard covered hills of Napa. Your dog with thank you for this!

Wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Paravines (Merlot + Petit Verdot blend), and my favorite effervescent Rosé of Merlot!

Tastings at Paradigm are by appointment only

Domaine Chandon

Let’s mozy on over to Yountville for some sparkling wine! While this is a larger winery, the grounds are fantastic and this is the ideal spot for outdoor wine tasting. The vibe is relaxed and casual – perfect for your fur baby! You can grab a glass and roam without a care in the world. Literally. Dogs are allowed in the tasting room, on the terrace, and even while you stock up on bottles in the shop. Remember, this is a dog’s world and we’re just living in it.

Still Wines: Rosé, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay

Sparkling Wine: So many. Sparkling Rosé, French cuvee, Reserve Pinot Noir. Sweetness ranges from Brut to Demi-Sec.

Hall Winery

Looking for a modern & artsy winery in St. Helena? @hallwines is it! Not only is the space incredibly unique, but they approach wine making with an artistic mindset. Your experience can be as casual or formal as you’d like it to be! Sip outside with your fluffer butt and basque in the ambiance! There’s a little something for everyone here as Hall has partnered with Baca to bring you Zinfandel and Walt Wines to deliver lovely Pinot Noir.

Wines: Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon

Frog’s Leap Winery

Now let’s head on over to Rutherford and get our fix of the famous “Rutherford Dust.” This winery is surrounded by vineyards with the most laid back vibe around. Every tasting comes with a cheese pairing and you’re free to sip and relax to your hearts desire. Wanna take a break from all that wine and walk the puppy through the gardens out to vineyard? Sure, no problem! Walter has been here twice and each visit was more pleasant than the last!

Wines: Merlot, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, Petite Sirah

Mumm Napa

A few minutes down the road in Rutherford is our favorite stop for bubbly! Mumm Napa is simply beautiful and we cannot get enough of their sparkling wine made in the traditional method. This was among the first wine clubs we joined back in 2016 and we re-visit with Walter every time we’re in the valley. Come for the bubbles, stay for the laid back vibe on the patio where all the dogs are chilling.

Sparkling Wines: Rosé, Blanc de Blanc, Sparkling Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Blanc de Noirs, Brut Cuvee, Blanc de Blanc Oak Reserve. Sweetness ranges from Brut to Demi-Sec.

Still Wines: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir Blanc.

Reverie II Wines

Located in the quaint and picturesque town of St. Helena is one of our favorites! We love the team at Reverie and have been returning for tastings since 2016 back when the winery was located in Calistoga! The new property in St. Helena overlooks the vast valley of vines and is decorated to the nines! Take an ATV ride up the steep hills to the most remote tasting deck out there. If you’re lucky, Carmelita the winery dog will be on site! She’s incredibly playful and kept our boy occupied while we sipped our way through silky smooth wines!

Wines: Mountain Cuvee, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Roussanne Marsanne, Barbera, and Tempranillo

Tastings at Reverie are my appointment only

Aonair Winery

This is a sister winery of Reverie II located in St. Helena just off the beaten path. Grant – head wine maker at both Aonair & Reverie – is basically a Napa Valley genius! Aonair is cozy, classy, and rustic yet perfectly modern with the most outstanding views. We loved the hospitality and Walter loved the resident vineyard pup. They played all. morning. long. We also took an ATV ride around the property and saw Cab Franc vines that are 150 years old! I cannot wait to return to this gem!

Wines: Proprietary Blend, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache Blend, White Wine Blend

Tastings at Aonair are my appointment only

Seasons of Napa

January 7, 2019June 25, 2019HomeLeave a Comment

When is the best time to visit Napa Valley? For us the answer is year round! We’ve visited wine country in January, May, June, July, August, September, and December. February is pending – stay tuned! Consider a decent amount of the legwork done. Now you can sit back, pour some vino, read along, and plan your visit!

May – June

Lets start with May/June. We took an extra day off work for a total of 4 days/3 nights (Fri – Mon) and visited over the long holiday weekend in honor of Memorial Day. Originally our plan was to hit BottleRock – a music festival with gourmet food & wine. I got us plane tickets and waited to book a hotel until all of the ideal spots were flashing no vacancy signs (womp womp). This weekend is probably one of the biggest for Napa Valley. We couldn’t find a reasonably priced hotel within county lines, so we decided to forgo the show, sell our festival tickets, and book a swanky hotel on a vineyard. Thankful that we did! Festivals are always a good time, but we knew the wine country FOMO would’ve kicked in. On Friday we experienced a little bit of “May Gray” and some sprinkles. It was definitely sweater weather on day 1, but that was the only day we tasted indoors. The sun was out for the rest of the weekend and skies alternated between slightly cloudy and bright. Definitely not pool party weather yet, but perfect for the “jacuzz.” If you decide to come up this weekend, be sure to make a few reservations ahead of time. I would say book 60% and leave 40% open in regards to winery visits. As for restaurants, make a resi every night!

Wondering what type of clothes to pack? I wore a slouchy sweater and leggings + booties on Friday, a long sleeve romper + mules on Saturday, and a midi length off the shoulder dress + mules on Sunday. My hubs wore a light sweater and chinos on Fri, a button up with shorts on Sat, and a button up (sleeves rolled up) with pants on Sun.

What’s happening with the vines? Spring Flowering! Buds are beginning to blossom and grow.

July

Photo taken at Far Niente Winery’s
2018 Chardonnay Celebration

Next up is July. We spent Fourth of July weekend 2017 in Napa and loved it! It’s always sunny, no chance of showers, it’s moderately crowded (aka more people to chat with) and everyone is happy. It’s also warm. Very warm. You can expect AC in every tasting room and chilled bottles which really helps with the heat! It’s a bit crowded this time of year, so our recommendation is to book 80% and leave 20% open for tastings. Also, follow suit with May/June and book your dinner reservations! Last year we re-visited Napa in mid-July for an event at Far Niente and Nickel & Nickel. Talk about a perfect weekend. Sunny skies and warm breezes call for flowy dresses and chardonnay! After a day of wine tasting, we’d return to the hotel and swim a few laps in the pool before getting ready for a night out. Highly recommend a July trip if you love tasting wine in the sun!

What’s happening with the vines? Summer Veraison! All varietals are born green. The veraison process is when color takes form – changing from green to yellow, purple, red, etc. Also growers will walk the vineyards and chop off extra bunches that don’t look promising. This leaves elbow room for the MVPs!

August – September

Photo taken at SENZA Hotel located next to Ashes & Diamonds Vineyard

Do it. No questions asked. This time of the year is magical! Fall Harvest has begun in some parts and the fruit is ripe for picking! This means green bushy vines are all around and it truly is a wine lovers paradise. If there’s ever a time to book a full vineyard tour + wine tasting, this is it. Napa gets pretty crowded in September because of harvest season, but early in the month is a great option. We visited over Labor Day weekend and caught nothing but sunny skies and warm temps. Hotels are at peak price, however if you’re planning well enough in advance we suggest looking into an Airbnb somewhere close to vineyards in Saint Helena. Plan and book 90% of your winery visits and leave 10% open for recommendations & pop-ins. This might be on the conservative side, but like I mentioned it’s a popular season and we don’t want anyone to miss out on visiting their faves due to unpreparedness! Definitely make your dinner reservations ahead of time as well.

What’s happening with the vines? Fall Harvest! Grapes are fully ripened and sugar levels rise. Growers select crème de la crème!

December – January

We love Napa in the wintertime for several reasons. Hotel pricing is great, we stock up on wine for the holidays, crowds are small, we love the weather, and walk-ins are feasible. Being from sunny San Diego, we don’t experience a whole lot of cold. Napa in winter is very chilly/brisk, but can still be sunny and cozy. Be prepared to bundle up by a fire and/or under a blanket for relaxation with vino in hand. Small to no crowds provide opportunities for more conversation with your host and we love this! The folks pouring your wine are subject matter experts and vino enthusiasts – so if you get the chance make sure to converse and ask questions! Our last few visits have all extended past the allotted time because we were carried away by extra pours and great company! We recently rang in the New Year in Napa and plan to spend as many NYEs as we can here. It was perfection. Quaint, festive, and full of quality wine + champagne. Wineries are open on NYE, but close early. A vast majority will be closed on NYD as well with the exception of a few bigger guys (list of open wineries coming soon). We slept in on New Years Day, enjoyed brunch at Farmstead, and took Walter on a short hike to an off-leash dog park at Alston Park which is surrounded by rolling hills and vines (a great recommendation from the staff at Farmstead). It was perfect hiking weather! Sunny and clear skies with a cool breeze.

What’s happening with the vines? Winter pruning! This part of maintaining a vineyard is very important. Growers will determine which vines are most viable for harvesting in the upcoming year and care for them accordingly. Also there’s something to be said for seeing vines in the winter. It represents hard-working people and seasons changing, while reminding us to let go of the old and make room for new growth.

Thanks for sipping with us,

The Social Grapes

IG: @smashleythegrape

The Grape Journey Begins

October 27, 2018October 8, 2019HomeLeave a Comment

Thanks for joining us! I’m beyond excited to dive in and continue the never-ending wine journey alongside my husband and Walter (our mini Goldendoodle).

Who are we? A newlywed couple born & raised in Southern California now living the sunny San Diego lifestyle. Yours truly has a career in finance and works for a digital marketing company and my hubby is a BAMF Navy helicopter pilot. I graduated from Whittier College (go Poets!) with a degree in Philosophy and Political Science. My love of wine stemmed from countless girls’ nights at home with my sister whilst binge watching Pretty Little Liars on Netflix. The hubs is a US Naval Academy grad and studied Astronautical Engineering (he’s crazy smart, it’s v attractive). His enthusiasm for wine runs in the family – shout out to my in-laws for this – loving wine was a pre-requisite for marrying me! We’re truly a match made in wino heaven.

We love to travel & taste varietals from all over the world and will combine the two any chance we get. We’ve sipped our way through Tuscany, pilgrimaged to the Wachau Valley, tasted with Eduardo on the beachfront in Mexico, and frequently visit the greatest of them all… Napa Valley! Our aspiration is to continue to travel to historic wine destinations & discover lesser known regions as well!

While we love the thrill of traveling abroad, Napa has drawn our interest and captured our heart. Maybe it’s because we’re CA natives and feel a kinship. Maybe it’s because that’s where we first realized how fascinating the science behind wine-making can be. Perhaps it’s the hospitality, passion, history, and accessibility that draws us in – or all of the above! With over 400 vineyards, Napa is our happy place. From drinking Kathryn Hall on our wedding day to toasting with Mumm’s DVX bubbles when we closed escrow, Napa vineyards produce more than just great wine. They produce memories that will last a lifetime, long after the bottle is empty.

We hope you enjoy our stories, opinions, and experiences. We love connection and making new friends, so please feel encouraged to reach out anytime!

Thanks for sipping with us,

The Social Grapes

IG: @smashleythegrape