Rutherford Grove Winery is a family-owned spot in the heart of Napa Valley where you can actually bring your dog along while you taste wine. The Pestoni family runs the place, and they’ve clearly decided that dogs should get to enjoy a vineyard afternoon too.

The setup here works well if you’re traveling with a dog. You can walk around the grounds, which include gardens worth exploring, and there’s space to spread out for a picnic. It’s more low-key than some of the bigger Napa operations—you get a genuine sense of a family property rather than a polished corporate experience. The wines themselves are made on-site, so if you’re curious about how things work, that hands-on feel carries through.

If you’re coming with a group of five or more people, you’ll need to make a reservation ahead of time. That’s worth knowing because it means you’re not just dropping in and hoping for the best. Smaller groups can usually work without reserving, but honestly, calling ahead is smart either way, especially if you want to make sure they’re set up for dogs that day. Well-behaved dogs are welcome, which means they’re thinking about this as a real accommodation, not just tolerating it.

The location puts you right in Rutherford, so you can combine this with other stops in the area if you want to make a full day of it. The casual vibe around the grounds means your dog won’t feel out of place the way they might at some fancier tasting rooms. You can actually relax here instead of feeling like you’re managing your dog while trying to enjoy wine.