Verde Vineyards specializes in small lot, hand-crafted Bordeaux Varietals from their estate vineyards in the Santa Clara Valley. The winery’s focus is on creating wines that engage all the senses, balancing flavor components to give a cohesive first impression of the wine. It’s the kind of place where you can taste that attention to detail in every glass.

You’ll likely encounter the owner’s dogs Sophie and Tess hanging around the property during your visit. Dogs are clearly central to the vineyard’s identity—two of their wines are actually named after them. Sophie’s Blend and Tess’s Blend showcase just how much these animals mean to the family running the place. It’s a genuine connection, not just a gimmick.

The tasting experience here works well with dogs in tow, though there are reasonable expectations. Your dog needs to stay leashed the entire time you’re there, and you’ll need to clean up after them. Those are straightforward rules that keep things manageable for everyone visiting and for the vineyard staff. The Gilroy location sits in wine country that’s increasingly dog-friendly, and Verde Vineyards clearly gets that wine tasting and dog ownership go hand in hand for plenty of people.

The owners actively encourage dogs to visit and have turned it into something fun—if you snap a photo with your dog at the vineyard, send it to them. They feature visitor photos on their website and social media, which adds a nice community element to the place. It’s a small touch that shows they’re not just tolerating dogs but actually want to celebrate them being there.

If you’re exploring the Gilroy wine region and want to include your dog in the experience, Verde Vineyards makes it straightforward and welcoming without requiring special arrangements or advance notice.