In the Livermore Valley, Crooked Vine and Stony Ridge wineries sit on land with real history — the original Stony Ridge operation dates back to 1887. The current setup came together gradually: the Livermore property has been home to winemakers since 1975, the Vaughn family added the Crooked Vine label in 2000, and the Corbett family took over in 2007 with a focus on estate-grown wines made from vine to bottle.

What makes these wineries work well with dogs is the straightforward approach to having them around. The vineyard grounds give you room to walk through actual plantings and landscaping, and there are designated picnic areas where dogs can spend time outdoors alongside you. People actually do bring blankets, some food, and a bottle to sit for a while — your dog gets to be outside in a relatively open space rather than confined to a small patio area.

The wineries host events and tastings throughout the year, which is worth checking their website for if you want to coordinate with something happening during your visit. The atmosphere tends toward the casual side rather than stuffy, which helps when you’ve got a dog in tow. Keep a sturdy leash with you since leash laws apply on the property, and know that you’ll want to call ahead to confirm their current pet policy and see if any particular event might affect your timing. The Livermore Valley itself has enough going on around it that you could combine this stop with other exploring if you’re spending a full day in the area.