VML Winery sits on Westside Road in Healdsburg, right in the heart of Russian River Valley wine country. The tasting room has a relaxed vibe that makes it easy to spend an afternoon with your dog while working through their lineup of Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays, Sauvignon Blancs, and Sparkling wines. Their dry Gewurtztraminer is worth trying if you’re into something with a bit more character than what you’d find at most places around here.

What makes VML different is their genuine enthusiasm for the cool-climate vineyards that define this part of Sonoma County. The wines taste like they come from somewhere specific — you can actually taste the place in them, which is refreshing when so many wineries in the valley feel interchangeable. The Sauvignon Blancs here have won awards, and once you taste them you’ll understand why.

The setup works well if you’re coming with a dog. They’re genuinely okay with dogs being part of the experience, not just tolerating them as a box to check. Your dog can hang out while you’re tasting, and the staff treats you both like normal people out for the day, which matters more than you’d think. The outdoor space around the tasting room gives everyone room to move around comfortably.

If you’re driving the backroads through wine country and want to stop somewhere that actually has interesting wines and a real welcome for dogs, VML is worth the detour off Highway 101. The Westside Road location means you’re already in the middle of some beautiful vineyard scenery, so even if you’re not super into wine, the setting itself is pretty nice. You’ll get a real sense of what the Russian River Valley actually produces here instead of just what gets marketed the hardest.