Mellowood Vineyard sits on 25 acres in Fair Play, a wine region in the East Bay’s Sierra Foothills that doesn’t get as crowded as Napa or Sonoma. The vineyard has been operating since 2002, focusing on Zinfandel and Syrah grapes grown on 9 acres while letting the rest of the property stay wooded and wild. That combination of cultivated vines and natural landscape gives the place a less manicured feel than many wineries.

The real draw if you’re bringing your dog is that they’re genuinely welcome here, not just tolerated. You can walk the property together without anyone making you feel like you need to keep your dog in a designated area or worried about vineyard damage. The wooded sections especially give dogs room to move around while you’re taking in the views between tastings.

Mellowood offers guided tours and wine tastings where you’ll actually learn about what goes into their wines rather than just getting poured a glass. It’s the kind of place where the owners seem to care about how their Zinfandel and Syrah turn out, not just moving people through quickly. The Sierra Foothills climate does good things for those varietals, and you can taste the difference when wines are made from grapes that thrive locally rather than fighting the conditions.

The setting is quieter than you’d find closer to the Bay Area, which frankly makes it nicer for dogs who might get overwhelmed by packed tasting rooms. You’ve got space to breathe, actual vineyard to walk through, and enough tree cover that you won’t be scorching on a hot day. If you’re planning a visit, their website has current information about tour times and what to expect during your visit.