Fortino Winery sits on 50 acres of rolling vineyard land in Gilroy, with half the grapes dry-farmed the old-fashioned way. The winemaking here has serious credentials—their bottles regularly win awards at local and international competitions, which means the wine actually tastes like something worth your time and money.

What makes this place different from most wineries is that they genuinely don’t mind dogs tagging along. You can bring your dog to the outdoor tasting areas without any awkward conversations or restrictions. While you’re working through their wine list, your dog can actually relax nearby instead of being stuck in a car. The views across the vineyard are legitimately nice, the kind of backdrop that makes an afternoon feel like you’re taking a real break rather than just stopping somewhere.

Fortino regularly hosts events beyond standard tastings—live music and seasonal celebrations happen throughout the year, and these are typically dog-friendly too. That’s when you might see food trucks or local vendors set up, so there’s usually something to eat if you’re planning to stay a while. Their event calendar is worth checking before you go, especially if you want to time your visit to catch one of these gatherings.

The outdoor setup means you’re not crammed into a tasting room, which matters if your dog gets anxious indoors or you’d just rather be outside. The vineyard itself is a decent area to walk around between tastings, and you’ll see other visitors doing the same thing. It feels more like visiting someone’s property than walking into a commercial operation.

Call ahead if you have specific questions about their current pet policies or want to know if anything special is happening during your planned visit. That way you’re not showing up hoping for something that might not be on that particular day. The combination of solid wine and genuine dog-friendliness makes this worth the drive to Gilroy if you’re in the area.