PaZa Wines sits on the Placer Wine Trail in Auburn, positioned nicely between Sacramento to the southwest and the smaller towns of Newcastle and Lincoln. The tasting shed has a rustic-elegant feel that works well whether you’re stopping by on a weekend or a weekday afternoon. The real appeal here is how genuinely comfortable they make dogs feel—your dog isn’t treated as an afterthought or tolerated grudgingly, but actually welcomed as part of the experience.

The picnic areas have views out over the vineyards, which makes for a pleasant spot to settle in with a glass and watch your dog explore the grounds a bit. If you’re tasting through their selection, you’ll find award-winning wines that have some actual recognition behind them. The winery has clearly thought through what makes for a good visit when you’re bringing a dog along—no fussy rules that make you feel like you need to apologize for your companion’s presence.

Auburn itself is worth exploring before or after your visit. It’s a Gold Rush-era town with some character to it, so you could easily make a morning or afternoon of being in the area. The surrounding Placer County wine region isn’t as heavily trafficked as Napa or Sonoma, which means you’ll probably have a more relaxed experience without crowds pressing in during tasting. The vineyards in this part of the foothills have their own distinct character compared to what you find elsewhere in California wine country.

Plan to spend at least a couple hours here if you want to properly taste through their offerings and enjoy the picnic areas. Bring water for your dog since you’ll be outside, and if you’re planning to picnic, you might want to pack some food—though that’s something worth confirming when you reach out to them about visiting.