Clos LaChance Winery sits about 30 minutes south of San Jose in San Martin, making it a reasonable drive if you’re looking to combine wine tasting with some outdoor time. The property has an Old-World feel, which means there’s actual charm to the place beyond just the wine itself. The grounds include areas for picnicking and bocce ball, and the courtyard setting suggests you won’t be stuck indoors the whole time.

Here’s the key detail for you and your dog: leashed dogs are welcome in the front Garden Patio area during regular Tasting Room hours. The staff will actually bring tastings out to you in the courtyard so you’re not relegated to some corner with your dog while everyone else enjoys the experience. That’s a practical approach that recognizes dogs and their owners want to be part of the action, not separated from it.

The restrictions are pretty clear though, and they matter. Your dog stays out of the actual Tasting Room, the Grand Terrace, Grand Lawn, Mulberry Grove, and the vineyards themselves. There are also no dogs allowed during any of their public events, so check their calendar before heading over if you’re planning to visit during a specific weekend.

San Martin’s location gives you flexibility—you’re close enough to Monterey if you want to make a longer day of it, but also near enough to San Jose for a shorter outing. The proximity to various Santa Clara County attractions means you could combine this stop with other dog-friendly activities in the area. Just keep in mind that this is genuinely a working winery with specific rules about where dogs can be, so it’s not a free-roaming dog destination. But if you’re someone who actually wants to taste wine while keeping your dog with you rather than leaving them behind, the courtyard setup works.