Photo courtesy of Styring Vineyards
Animal lovers may visit wineries for a relaxing wine tasting, but many go away talking and thinking about the adorable winery dogs who presided over the visit. These days, more winery dogs are rescued dogs, too, inspiring visitors to adopt instead of shop during their visit.
What’s not to love about a tail-wagging welcome wagon? In fact, with their warm greetings and affectionate nature, winery dogs seem to consider themselves canine ambassadors for winemakers and vineyards. Consider these precious pups who may make you want to start planning your next wine-tasting (and dog-visiting) experience today.
Photo courtesy of Andrea Johnson
Miss Cooper from Arlyn Vineyard – Newberg, Oregon
Miss Minnie Cooper, who most often simply goes by Miss Cooper, rules over Arlyn Vineyard in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. The adorable Australian Shepherd belongs to the vineyard’s owner Janis Pate, and the two are best friends. They even make dog treats together. In fact, Miss Cooper has the gig of being a winery dog down to an art form.
Miss Cooper loves chasing sticks and welcoming guests to the farm. She rides with Pate in the farm’s 1954 Chevy pickup to deliver the first bin of fruit to the winery each year. She has soft fur that’s dappled with rust color spots, and she seems to smile with her bright, blue eyes.
Photo courtesy of Iron Heart Winery
Rosie from Iron Heart Winery – Hiwassee, Virginia
Rosie is a German Shorthaired Pointer with a lot of personality. The nine-year-old dog weighs 70 pounds, but she’s a gentle giant who loves being Iron Heart Winery‘s ambassador. Everyone who comes for a wine tasting is nuts about Rosie by the time they leave.
Rosie is regal and seems to think of herself as quite sophisticated. That doesn’t mean she isn’t extremely friendly, too. She greets guests with what seems to be a wide grin and waits patiently to gently nudge a guest’s hand for ear rubs. She’s attentive but never pushy. Rosie likes to just have fun, and she fetches tennis balls like a pro for anyone willing to toss. She also has a weakness for Lay’s Classic potato chips.
Photo courtesy of Dakota Shy Winery
Augie from the Dakota Shy Winery – St Helena, California
Since Augustus Lee was born on May 8, 2018, he was so friendly that he seemed destined to be a winery dog. He has been best known as Augie since he was brought to the Dakota Shy Winery at eight weeks old. The gorgeous Golden Retriever is loyal and happy, greeting all visitors, and he absolutely loves to roam around the winery and vineyards.
Depending on when you visit, you might catch Augie supervising harvest or monitoring the temperature in the barrel room. After all, he loves the great outdoors but needs a break during the heat of summer. Augie is perhaps happiest when he is warming visitors’ feet in the tasting room.
Photo courtesy of Kendall Busby
Bismarck from Jordan Vineyard & Winery – Healdsburg, California
Bismarck Jordan is an accomplished winery dog who is about 13 years old. He was rescued from a dog fighting ring in Alabama in 2008, so his exact age isn’t known. When he came to the Jordan Vineyard & Winery, he quickly bonded with his owner John Jordan. It took him more than a year to adjust to a normal, loving home, but it was worth it. The adorable black dog hit the doggy lottery and lives a spoiled, joyful life.
Bismarck is now a very laid-back winery dog who loves every minute of the good life. He charms guests with his auburn-colored eyes and sweet disposition and especially enjoys coming to the winery to get treats from the accounting department. He also loves cruising by the kitchen and begging for rillettes from the culinary staff. He knows how to open doors and enjoys being adored by guests and his owners alike.
Photo courtesy of Chateau Grand Traverse
Sitka from Chateau Grand Traverse – Traverse City, Michigan
Chateau Grand Traverse has welcomed winery dogs since it was founded in 1974. Sitka now has the honor. He is a handsome, seven-year-old Samoyed with a distinctive white, thick, double-layered coat. He loves to greet guests and keep a watchful eye on the vineyard.
Sitka specializes in customer service and guest satisfaction. He has a good work-life balance and only works in the winery office from 9 am to 5 pm on Mondays through Fridays. He’s a real fan favorite and is used to having his photo snapped with 10 or more giggling celebrants on bachelorette weekends. He loves the attention, hugs and kisses. His favorite pastime is swimming in Grand Traverse Bay.
Photo courtesy of Lincoln Heritage Winery
Roxy from Lincoln Heritage Winery – Cobden, Illinois
Roxy is the official greeter of Lincoln Heritage Winery in Cobden, Illinois. Years ago, the little brindle dog showed up at the winery, and owners Bonnie and Homer Cissell immediately felt affection for her. They took her to their veterinarian and asked whether she would be good with strangers. He thought she would, and the rest is history.
It turns out that Roxy adores people and takes great joy in greeting visitors to the Lincoln Heritage Winery. When she hears someone arriving, she hurries to greet them and sedately walks them to the front door. After they come in and get settled in for the tasting, Roxy relaxes out of the way. When it’s time to go, though, she enjoys escorting the guests to their car. She was never trained to do this; it just comes naturally and inspires lots of tail wagging since she loves what she does.
Photo courtesy of Arrowhead Spring Vineyards
Ian from Arrowhead Spring Vineyards – Lockport, New York
Ian is a Border Collie who has been at the Arrowhead Springs Winery since he was an eight-week-old puppy. His owners Robin and Duncan Ross adopted him after developing an affinity for the breed when they met a rescued Border Collie. Ian finds joy in meeting new people, so he loves to greet customers. He especially delights in interacting with children during tourist season.
In his younger years, Ian excelled in playing frisbee. However, these days, he likes to chill out more. He can often be found touring the farm and vineyard in the back of the farm gator, a small vehicle used by vineyard crew to haul tools and the adventurous dog himself. Sometimes he picks a flower and presents it to a guest.
Photo courtesy of Iron Heart Winery
Baxter from Iron Heart Winery – Hiwassee, Virginia
As one of the winery dogs at Iron Heart Winery, Baxter is quick to grab your attention and your heart. With nicknames B-boy, which is short for Bad Boy, and Beebs, he also has a bit of a (cute) edge. Baxter is a terrier mix who is approximately seven years old, and he weighs in at 20 pounds.
Baxter’s owners say that he is a terrible and great dog all at once. He gets a little anxious and cannot be trusted around unattended food. He once ate eight cooked hamburgers off the kitchen counter without leaving a trace! Nevertheless, this little mischievous soul is exceptionally gentle with children and tolerant of his people. He is loyal to a fault, and visitors to the winery fall in love with him even when he’s a little aloof.
Photo courtesy of Shafer Vineyards
Cody from Shafer Vineyards – Napa, California
Cody has the official job title of “winery greeter,” and he brings a lot of joy to guests of Shafer Vineyards. He is also the dedicated companion of Doug Shafer who owns the winery, and the two love to walk in the vineyard together. The nine-year-old Golden Retriever has been a source of cheer, especially during the pandemic.
Cody is photogenic, so he’s happy to oblige guests with selfies. Ice cubes are one of his favorite treats, though the charming, friendly dog is known for eating anything. He once stole a sandwich out of a guest’s purse, and he once singlehandedly wolfed down a chocolate cake from a countertop in the winery kitchen. (He gave the cake two paws up.)
Photo courtesy of Ab Astris Winery
Buddy from Ab Astris Winery – Stonewall, Texas
Erin and Tony Smith, the owners of Ab Astris Winery, spotted Buddy running alongside the highway not far from the winery. They tried to stop and help the dog who had found its way to the highway, but he ran away. However, the next morning, Tony woke up and saw Buddy lying on the porch. He had tracked them home and decided they were to be his owners. He had no collar and wasn’t chipped or claimed even after much effort to locate any possible owner.
Happily, Buddy has enjoyed being part of the Smith family since he tracked them to their home four years ago. He absolutely loves being the winery dog. Buddy is an incredibly fast runner and loves to race along the vineyard. He doesn’t realize he’s so large and will sometimes try to climb on laps as though he is a small, teacup-sized dog.
He doesn’t mind begging for treats. On Sundays, you can usually find Buddy behind the tasting room in a food coma from all the treats he gets during the weekend. Guests regularly bring him dog treats and ask about him.
Photo courtesy of Los Milics Vineyards
Lucy and Luna from Los Milics Vineyards – Elgin, Arizona
Lucy and Luna were adopted from the Humane Society back in 2010, and they are proof positive that rescued dogs are extra special. They are sure to inspire anyone who meets them to adopt a rescued companion instead of shopping for one.
Lucy is the exalted queen of the house at Los Milics Vineyards. She seems to be a mix of a pit bull, lab and teddy bear. Pavle Milic and Ita, Lucy’s humans who own the winery, always let their adorable dog ride shotgun while they work on farming equipment in the vineyard. They wouldn’t have it any other way.
Luna is the wild one of this dynamic canine duo. It’s believed that she is a terrier of some sort. However, with her free-spirited nature, she seems to challenge labels. Her proclivity lies in sneaking out of the winery. She likes to play with other animals and go on mysterious adventures.
Photo courtesy of Breanna Hamilton
Little Arthur Jackson from Rancho Rossa Vineyards & Rescued Hearts Cellars – Elgin, Arizona
Rancho Rossa Vineyards is the perfect place for a winery dog. Their brand label, Rescued Hearts Cellars, is unique in that 100 percent of the profit is always donated to their non-profit of the same name. It was inspired by a special winery dog named George Bailey who was adopted from the Humane Society. The non-profit has an emergency medical fund for rescues in Arizona.
Little Arthur Jackson is the current winery dog at Rancho Rossa Vineyards. He is a rescued dog who is an adorable combination of Jack Russell, Chihuahua and Dachshund. Arthur likes everyone, and that like turns to love when someone has food. He serves as the Chief Executive Snack Inspector – and he has the business card to prove it! He loves to join wine tasters on the couch when good snacks are involved.
Arthur has his own non-profit wine called Tiny Dancer. When he runs, he does a precious prance, so they thought the name was perfect. The profit from his wine goes into the organization’s emergency medical fund for Arizona’s animal rescues.
Photo courtesy of Horton Vineyards
Syrah from Horton Vineyards – Gordonsville, Virginia
Syrah has a very independent personality, and she is the vineyard supervisor of Horton Vineyards. She’s happy hanging out on her own and exploring the world, but at the same time, she delights in being around people. She especially loves her people, Sharon and Dennis Horton, who own Horton Vineyards.
As a canine supervisor, Syrah works with the crew every day and travels with Sharon on the Kawasaki and on foot. If Sharon ever leaves without her, she sits facing the driveway and awaits her return. Syrah revels in the sunshine. However, on rainy days, she hangs out under the Kubota or the vines so that she doesn’t get her face wet. She certainly loves her treats and she lets you know she has earned them.
Photo courtesy of Cunningham Creek Winery
Crush and Corky from Cunningham Creek Winery – Palmyra, Virginia
Crush and Corky are a dynamic duo. They work together as the star winery dogs at Cunningham Creek Winery. Crush has bright blue and brown eyes that look like marbles, which are common with blue merle Aussies. Corky is a black tri Aussie with a natural bobtail. They like to explore the adjacent woods together and traipse through Cunningham Creek, which has earned Corey the nickname “Swamp Dog.”
Crush was adopted from the rescue organization Green Dogs Unleashed. She loves her role as the all-star greeter dog. Sometimes she will walk customers to their car to say goodbye after a wine tasting, then she’ll surprise them by jumping in their car along with them! She loves to make her presence known among guests as she secretly hopes for dog biscuits and scraps from the treats that guests are served. She has a special fondness for pizza.
Corky is an adventurer with a fondness for the youngest customers at Cunningham Creek Winery. Her preferred pastime is herding both kids and puppies, and this gentle dog enjoys toddler hugs. In fact, a group of local children visit the winery just to play with the dogs.
Corky has a slight sense of entitlement that is somehow charming. She simply believes that all toys are hers, all the time. She enjoys showing them off, too, and she likes parading her toys in circles around customers as her propeller tail wags enthusiastically.
Photo courtesy of Booker Wines
Ella Jensen from Booker Vineyard – Paso Robles, California
Ella Jensen is a wine dog with a lot of joie de vivre at Booker Vineyard in Paso Robles, California. At two-and-a-half years old, this pretty Bernese Mountain Dog is very much a people puppy. She wants to meet everyone who arrives at the vineyard, is extremely loving and follows her owners around like a shadow. She also lights up when she gets treats and belly rubs.
A typical day for Ella starts with an enthusiastic walk from the Jensen’s family home on the 100-acre estate at Booker Vineyard to the winery itself. Then she starts her very busy social life, loving that she gets to greet guests all day long. At the end of the day, she is tired out from all her partying with visitors, and she gets chauffeured home to spend her evenings being loved by her family.
Photo courtesy of Shiba Wichern Cellars
Kaibu from Shiba Wichern Cellars – Newberg, Oregon
Kaibu is living the good life at Shiba Wichern Cellars in Oregon’s wine country, the Willamette Valley. She is a 10-year-old lab-pit bull mix. Even though her full name, Kaibutsu, means “monster” in Japanese, she is very much a gentle giant.
Kaibu loves being a winery dog, and she loves to greet guests. She also loves spending time with human companions in the vineyard. When she’s not relaxing or enjoying her time at the winery, Kaibu’s hobbies include accompanying her human dad Chris on mountain biking adventures.
She isn’t much into games like fetch. She prefers solo sports, such as running and swimming. She’s known for her very intense stare and thoughtful facial expressions.
Jet from Poe Wines – Metairie, Louisiana
Jet is an amazing long jumper. She flies through the air while jumping with grace and determination. This confident dog spends most of her time working in the vineyard at Poe Wines, and she’s determined to protect the vineyard from any intruders. She feels it’s her personal duty to protect the grounds.
Jet adores cheese and cuddling. She seems to know how special she is, with the Lurcher breed being much more commonly found in the United Kingdom. Jet came to the Louisiana vineyard from the UK and will watch British television shows with her owners as though she knows all about her regal past.
Tank from Mia Marie Vineyards – Escondido, California
Sir Tankerton is a very special rescue dog, taking pride in being the official greeter at Mia Marie. He goes by Tank for short, seeing no need for formalities among guests and his adoring fans. Tank welcomes guests with open paws, a cheerful tail wag and a friendly lick. He enjoys trotting around and hanging out with tasting room guests, either lounging in the shade of their umbrellas or begging politely for morsels of snacks.
Since Mia Marie is a dog-friendly winery, wine tasters often bring their canine companions, and Tank is excited when any four-legged guests come to visit. Tank also enjoys participating with monthly yoga classes on the tasting pavilion, and he can often be seen sporting a dapper bow tie to show off what a handsome boy he is. One thing’s for sure: Tank brings joy to all who meet him with his dashing spirit.
Photo courtesy of Smith Story Wine Cellars
Lord Sandwich from Smith Story Wine Cellars – Philo, California
Lord Sandwich is a force of nature in the form of a gigantic Goldendoodle who was born in May 2012. That’s a year before Smith Story Wine Cellars was founded. His human companions, Eric and Alison Story, own the winery. Lord Sandwich has been a vital part of the business since the start, and the adorable dog has the distinction of being the employee of the year at Smith Story Wine Cellars for eight years straight.
Lord Sandwich is kind-hearted and very friendly, eager to welcome guests and revel in being a winery dog. He has a passion for socks, and Socks for Sandwich is a non-profit organization named in the dog’s honor. He even has his own Instagram page with a large following.
Photo courtesy of Shadow Ranch Vineyard
Sadie from Shadow Ranch Vineyard – El Dorado County, California
Sadie is certainly as gorgeous as any show dog ever was, but she lacked qualifications to officially become one. Happily, she was adopted into a loving family and discovered that presiding over a winery was her true calling. Sadie is now the winery dog of the Shadow Ranch Vineyard in El Dorado County, California.
Renowned for being an excellent family and winery dog, she loves playing chase in the vineyard. She adores people and always wants to greet each guest who arrives at the vineyard. She likes many new canine friends, too, and will greet guests’ dogs.
Sam and Kimari Patterson are owners of the Shadow Ranch Vineyard, and they’re Sadie’s human companions. Sadie was a gift from Sam while Kimari was undergoing breast cancer treatment in 2020. She asked for a companion dog and said she couldn’t have asked for a better one.
Photo courtesy of Styring Vineyards
Jojo from Styring Vineyards – Newberg, Oregon
Visitors to Styring Vineyards are often struck by how adorable Jojo is! With big, soulful eyes, the two-year-old chocolate lab is a charmer. She enjoys carefully watching over the vines and supervises all activity at the winery. Of course, with her looks, she doubles as a model with the wine.
Jojo has been with Steve and Kelley Styring, the owners of Styring Vineyards, since she was a puppy. She’s their constant companion, following the tractor, relaxing outside the door of the winery and waiting patiently as her humans work. Jojo also loves meeting new people, so she eagerly greets guests and brings a tail-wagging good time to each wine tasting.
Photo courtesy of Wine Dogs USA
Rosie from Jordan Vineyard & Winery – Healdsburg, California
Rosie was rescued from a dumpster in the North Bay town of Vallejo, a few hours from Healdsburg in 2011. She was thought to be less than a year old at the time, so she would be around 10 years old now. She doesn’t look a day over two, though, and her many admirers ask for her when they come for tastings at Jordan Vineyard & Winery.
Although Rosie, a Schipperke/Labrador mix, may be the smallest dog at the winery, she has the grandest personality. She enjoys being the ruler of the winery and her home. She puts her bigger canine brothers, Bismarck and Halsey, in their place.
Photo courtesy of Ugly Bunny Winery
Vino from Ugly Bunny Winery – Loudonville, Ohio
Vino is a special winery dog who was born to a rescued dog. When they went to spay Vino’s mother, it was discovered that she was pregnant. She had seven puppies, and Vino was the last one left. A friend knew that this special boy belonged at the Ugly Bunny Winery, and Vino has been blissfully living there with his humans, Chad and Sandy Marsh, ever since.
Vino is a doodle of some sort who just turned six months old, and he’s a very laid-back winery dog. He loves people and other dogs, and adores playing tug and fetch. Vino looks forward to his daily morning walk, and he has his own little swimming pool that he jumps in all the time.
With his loving and joyful personality, he loves to get pets and kisses from guests. He also likes to lie down in the tasting room and play tug or fetch with customers.
Photo courtesy of Brix and Columns Vineyards
Wyatt from Brix and Columns Vineyards – McGaheysville, Virginia
Wyatt came to Brix and Columns Vineyards during the summer of 2019. He has brought lots of joy to his human companions and visitors to the winery ever since then. Although many winery dogs want to take on a job, that’s not for Wyatt. He’d rather do whatever he wants to do all the time instead of what he’s supposed to do, and that’s okay because he’s so lovable.
Wyatt seems to be quite proud of the fact that there’s a wine named after him. After all, how many dogs can claim that? When Wyatt can be found in the tasting room, he is often lying around on his comfortable bed or sitting on a chair while he enjoys the instant love of all who meet him. He will get up to greet other dogs or for special treats.
Photo courtesy of Judd’s Hill Napa Valley
Maizel from Judd’s Hill Napa Valley – Napa, California
Maizel is a spirited young winery dog. She is 17 months old and first came to Judd’s Hill Napa Valley at two months old. She’s a Cavachon with a very sweet disposition who started her life as a winery dog during the pandemic, so she didn’t initially get exposure to winery guests. She adjusted quickly, though, and she will enthusiastically greet guests with a friendly sniff and a tail wag while accompanying them to their seats.
Maizel loves hanging out with children who visit Judd’s Hill with their families. She revels in belly rubs and seems to guide visitors around the winery garden to see colorful flowers and cute lizards along the way. Maizel helps make the visit to the winery an entertaining and memorable experience for kids.
Photo courtesy of Ellensburg Canyon Winery
Loretta, Charlie and Dolly from Ellensburg Canyon Winery – Ellensburg, Washington
Loretta, Charlie and Dolly are an adorable trio of winery dogs at the Ellensburg Canyon Winery. As you might guess, the two girls were named after country singers, Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton. Like their namesakes, they have big hair and big hearts. Loretta and Dolly are Newfoundland dogs who love to be everyone’s best friend. They run to greet all guests and love to hang out with people, but they have a mischievous side.
Charlie is the only boy, and he is a Pomeranian-Chihuahua mix who was rescued from the streets of Oakland, California. Although he weighs 100 pounds less than his sisters, he seems to be convinced that he runs the show. His job, which he takes extremely seriously, is to chase magpies out of the vineyard that he claims as his own.
Photo courtesy of Knight’s Gambit Vineyard
Rosie from Knight’s Gambit Vineyard – Charlottesville, Virginia
Rosie is a one-of-a-kind sweetheart of a dog. She’s a quirky mix of a variety of breeds, and they all add up to a whole lot of cute. Rosie loves being the winery dog at the Knight’s Gambit Vineyard in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Although Rosie was shy when she was first adopted, she quickly fell in love with the good life that comes with lounging in tasting rooms. For example, she delights in meeting her adoring fans who come to the winery for a tasting. She can often be found behind the bar helping serve wine or hanging out with her pal and adopted older canine brother Beau. She hides behind him and acts tough with an endearingly silly false bravado.
Photo courtesy of Reynard Florence Vineyard
Ti-Rey from Reynard Florence Vineyard – Barboursville, Virginia
Ti-Rey, which is short for Petit Reynard, is a nine-year-old Corgi and has been at the Reynard Florence Vineyard since he was eight weeks old. He’s as spirited as he is sweet. Alongside four-month-old Brixie, who is also a Corgi, he considers himself the ruler of the winery.
Ti-Rey is a local star who has been featured in several magazines, but he doesn’t let it go to his head. He even has his own wine. “Ti-Rey Rosé” is a customer favorite.
The pup stays down to earth and supervises winemaking, and he also happily greets guests who come for a wine tasting. He enjoys greeting customers in the parking lot and escorting them to the tasting room.
Photo courtesy of Zaca Mesa Winery & Vineyards
Lucas from Zaca Mesa Winery & Vineyards – Los Olivos, California
Lucas may have flunked out of service dog school, but he would ace any test when it comes to being a superb winery dog. He loves presiding over the Zaca Mesa Winery & Vineyards and adores greeting people at the tasting room. He then plays the perfect host by making his rounds and spending time with every dog-loving guest.
Lucas likes to give each person an equal playing and petting opportunity. The bigger the group, the better because he knows he gets more play and pet time. In his spare hours, Lucas is mad about playing fetch and always has a ball in his mouth.
He’s a very intelligent pup who remembers a lot of his training to be a service dog. He learned 105 commands back then, including how to pick up his bowl when he is done eating and bring it to the sink. He still enjoys doing that.
Photo courtesy of Timber Hill Winery
Rudy from Timber Hill Winery – Milton, Wisconsin
Rudy is a handsome winery dog who was adopted as a puppy from a rescue organization in Wisconsin. He rules the roost at Timber Hill Winery, yet he’s also just a mellow, happy dog who enjoys playing and relaxing as part of living his best life. He also has an adopted canine brother named Meeko, who is also a rescue dog.
Rudy is a giant teddy bear who is somehow a mix of hound, retriever and even one-quarter chihuahua. He’s a true adventurer at heart, and he loves to explore and howl when the mood strikes him. He’s always ready to play or snuggle.
