Yorkville Cellars sits along Highway 128 in Mendocino County wine country, where you can taste wine with your dog sprawled next to you on the terrace. Since 1986, the vineyard has been certified organic, meaning no pesticides or synthetic chemicals touch the grapes—something that matters if you’re thinking about the land while you’re tasting. The setting itself is genuinely lovely: vineyards roll out in front of you, with sheep ranches and apple orchards nearby, and the redwood forest and Mendocino coast are only a short drive away if you want to keep exploring after wine.

The tasting room welcomes well-behaved dogs without fuss. Their outdoor seating area is the real draw—you can actually spread out comfortably with your dog rather than feeling squeezed into some cramped indoor space. A lot of visitors bring a blanket or pad for their dog to lie on while they work through the wine selections, which focus on what the Mendocino terroir produces. The staff clearly knows their operation and can talk through their winemaking process if you’re interested, but there’s no pressure to do the whole educational route. You can just show up and drink wine in the sunshine.

If you want something more structured, they do offer guided tours that include dogs, and these go into the sustainable practices that distinguish them from larger operations. It’s worth asking about when you arrive, since tours aren’t always running.

Bring water for your dog—the outdoor seating is nice but exposed, and Mendocino County heat can be intense in summer. The terrace can get busy on weekends, so a weekday visit is more relaxed if you have the flexibility. Their wine list changes seasonally, so what’s being poured when you visit depends on timing.