At Shannon Family of Wines in Lower Lake, you can spend an afternoon tasting wine while your dog gets to roam the vineyard grounds. The tasting room sits within Vigilance Vineyard, and you’ll notice the working sheepdogs that help manage the property — a reminder that this is a genuine working farm, not just a tasting room.

The vineyard rotates through different wines during tastings, so the experience changes depending on when you visit. You get to sample what they’re currently pouring while sitting with views across the property. It’s a straightforward setup: you’re outdoors with your dog nearby, sipping wine at a family-run operation.

What makes this work for dogs is the simple fact that there’s real space here. You’re not cramped in a tiny tasting room — there are expansive grounds where your dog can move around while you’re focused on the wine. On warm days, bring water for your dog and maybe a collapsible bowl. A leash is smart to have, especially if your dog gets distracted by the working dogs or vineyard activity. The family genuinely welcomes dogs here, which is refreshing in wine country where some places treat them as an afterthought.

Lower Lake itself is a small, quiet community in Lake County’s wine region, so if you’re making a day of it, you’re looking at a more low-key experience than you’d find in Napa or Sonoma. That’s actually part of the appeal — fewer crowds, more elbow room. The Vigilance Vineyard setting means you get some nice scenery without feeling like you’re at a tourist destination.

Since this is a family operation, hours and availability can vary, so checking their website or calling ahead before you go makes sense. It only takes a minute and keeps you from showing up to a closed gate.