Pet Owner Winery Guide | Villa Bella Clementina | Sonoma Guide
Dog-Friendly Wineries in Sonoma, Within 20 Minutes of Villa Bella Clementina
A guide for guests traveling with pets — from the hosts of Villa Bella Clementina, Sonoma
Sonoma Valley has long held an unofficial distinction among California wine regions: it is, by most measures, the most dog-friendly. The combination of outdoor patio culture, expansive estate grounds, and a genuinely pet-welcoming ethos among local vintners makes it possible — even easy — to spend an entire weekend of wine tasting without leaving your dog behind for a single glass.
Villa Bella Clementina is a pet-friendly property by design. Our guests arrive with dogs regularly, and one of the most common questions we receive is: where can we bring them? This guide answers that question thoroughly.
All wineries listed here welcome leashed, well-behaved dogs in at least their outdoor spaces. Policies change, so a quick call ahead is always worthwhile — but these are the properties our guests return to most consistently, and the ones we recommend without reservation.
Walking Distance and Minutes from the Plaza
Roche Winery & Vineyards
122 West Spain St., Sonoma | ~6 min from the villa
One of the most dog-welcoming tasting rooms in downtown Sonoma. The shaded patio with fire pit is an ideal spot to settle in with a flight and a dog at your feet. Walk-ins welcome, and the staff reliably has water bowls out for canine visitors. Their small-lot Rhône-style wines and Pinot Noirs are consistently well-regarded.
Three Fat Guys Wines
Broadway, Sonoma | ~7 min from the villa
Dogs are explicitly part of the culture here. Three Fat Guys operates out of a backyard garden setting where the atmosphere is relaxed, welcoming, and built for lingering — exactly the kind of tasting experience that works well with a dog in tow. No reservation required, large shaded seating areas, and fire pits for cooler evenings.
Five to Ten Minutes from the Villa
Gundlach Bundschu Winery
2000 Denmark St., Sonoma | ~8 min
Gun Bun, as it's affectionately known, is one of the great dog-friendly estates in Sonoma Valley. On-leash dogs are welcome across the property's beautiful grounds, and the winery's long history — it has been in continuous family ownership since 1858 — gives the visit a depth that many newer properties lack. The Gewürztraminer and Estate Merlot are standouts.
Bartholomew Estate Winery
1000 Vineyard Lane, Sonoma | ~8 min
375 acres of preserve, hiking trails through wooded groves and vineyards, and views stretching toward San Francisco on clear days. Bartholomew is one of the best winery experiences in Sonoma for guests who want their dog to genuinely stretch out — not just sit politely at a patio table. The tasting room is housed within the estate grounds, and the entire property invites exploration.
Larson Family Winery
23355 Millerick Road, Sonoma | ~10 min
Few wineries in Sonoma are as sincerely dog-oriented as Larson Family. Their dog-themed wine label ("Three Lab Cab," named for the winery's resident Labradors) tells you everything you need to know. On-leash dogs are welcome across the lawn, picnic area, and barn tasting room. Cornhole on the lawn, wine in hand, your dog in the sun — this is the Sonoma afternoon you came for.
Cline Family Cellars
24737 Arnold Drive, Sonoma | ~10 min
A charming, spacious estate known for Zinfandels and Rhône-style wines, with beautiful gardens and room for dogs to move around comfortably. The grounds include a historic farmhouse and a relaxed, unhurried atmosphere that suits a longer visit well.
Ten to Twenty Minutes from the Villa
Buena Vista Winery
18000 Old Winery Road, Sonoma | ~12 min
California's oldest premium winery, and one of its most dog-friendly. The estate's historic caves and expansive outdoor areas welcome leashed dogs, and the theatrical tasting presentations make for an unusually memorable visit. Book in advance.
Abbot's Passage Winery & Mercantile
777 Madrone Road, Glen Ellen | ~15 min
Set among century-old vines in the village of Glen Ellen, Abbot's Passage is a family-friendly, dog-friendly tasting room with a mercantile component that makes it worth exploring even if you're not staying for a full tasting. The winery was founded by Katie Bundschu — part of the family behind Gundlach Bundschu — and the small-lot wines reflect that heritage.
St. Francis Winery & Vineyards
100 Pythian Road, Santa Rosa | ~20 min
Named for St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, St. Francis takes its dog-friendly identity seriously. The winery welcomes leashed dogs throughout its outdoor spaces, provides water bowls and treats for visiting dogs, and offers a self-guided vineyard walk through the Wild Oak Vineyard. They donate a portion of proceeds to Canine Companions annually. The food and wine pairing experiences here are among the best in the county.
Anaba Wines
60 Bonneau Road, Sonoma | ~15 min
A boutique winery focused on Rhône and Burgundian varietals, with a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere and outdoor seating that accommodates dogs comfortably. Known for their Chardonnay and Grenache, and for a guest experience that feels genuinely unhurried.
Tips for Wine Tasting with Your Dog
Call ahead. Policies can change seasonally, and confirming before you drive gives you confidence and spares any awkward conversations at the door.
Bring water and a bowl. Many wineries provide these, but having your own means your dog stays hydrated regardless.
Midweek and morning visits are easier. Weekend afternoons bring the most visitors and the most potential for canine overstimulation. A Tuesday or Wednesday morning tasting is often the most relaxed experience for everyone.
Keep to outdoor spaces. Even at dog-friendly wineries, dogs are typically restricted to patios and grounds rather than interior tasting rooms. This is standard, and the outdoor spaces in Sonoma are almost always the better seats anyway.
Two wineries, then home. A long day of sun, new smells, and unfamiliar social situations can be tiring for dogs. Build in downtime at the villa — the garden and yard give dogs room to decompress between outings.
Villa Bella Clementina is a pet-friendly luxury villa located six minutes from Sonoma Plaza. Our guests' dogs are genuinely welcome. Book your stay directly here.