Vina Castellano is an 8-acre Sierra Foothill vineyard on the historic Mendez Family Ranch in Auburn, and the Spanish-style tasting room welcomes dogs throughout the property. You can taste wines at the rustic bar or in the cozy bistro inside their stone-barrel cave, where the staff shares stories about the winery’s history and guides you through their Spanish and Rhone varietals. It’s the kind of place where you actually feel the owners care about making your visit personal rather than just another transaction.

The seasonal Cabana Bar is worth timing your visit around if you can. It opens on Mother’s Day and runs through September, positioned right by a tranquil pond with several tables where you can order wine by the glass, sangria, or wine cocktails. You’re sitting out there watching the water while your dog settles nearby—that’s the experience here.

If you want to stay longer, the Picnic Tier Program lets you build your own meal with wine pairings and claim your spot across the grounds. There’s an island Gazebo, a dock area, or plenty of Adirondack chairs scattered around the lawn. The winery provides picnic rounds if you didn’t bring your own blanket, which is a nice touch when you’re coordinating a dog, wine glass, and food all at once.

Auburn itself sits in the foothills with some genuine gold rush history if you want to explore beyond the winery—the Old Town area has some interesting buildings and shops within a short drive. The landscape here is genuinely pleasant in spring and fall, with the kind of dappled shade under oak trees that makes it bearable even when it gets warm. The combination of good wine, pond views, and a property that actually seems to welcome dogs (rather than merely tolerating them) makes this worth the drive into the foothills. Check their website for current hours before you go, since seasonal operations mean the Cabana Bar specifically has limited availability.