Here at MacRostie Winery and Vineyards, we love wine and we love people. That’s why in the 10 years since opening our beautiful MacRostie Estate House near the charming town of Healdsburg we have been hailed as one of “The Ten Most Beautiful Wineries in California” by Condé Nast Traveler, the “Best Tasting Room in Napa and Sonoma” by San Francisco Magazine, and one of The Press Democrat’s “go-to Sonoma County spots to take out-of-town guests.”

While our love for welcoming guests always shines through, we love dogs just as much. Sure, they never buy wine, and we’re not certain that they tell their doggie friends about how much they enjoy visiting MacRostie, but when they’re here at our estate, everything seems even more carefree and fun.

Calling us dog friendly is probably an understatement. We are dog delighted, dog passionate, maybe even a little dog obsessed, which means dogs are always welcome and we treat them like the amazing furry beings they are. From fun doggie merchandise like branded puppy bandanas, personalized dog bowls (for dog regulars) and plush toys shaped like wine bottles, we are ready to host your dog (and you) at MacRostie.

“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring—it was peace.”―Milan Kundera

As dog lovers, we are thrilled with how dog-friendly Sonoma County wine country has become in recent years. From dog and pet-friendly hotels to restaurants and wineries, there are many destinations where you can feel at ease visiting with your canine companion. With National Dog Month just around the corner in August, we’re highlighting a few of our favorites:

Pet-Friendly Hotels

Offering 6 acres of intimate gardens, winding flagstone paths, verdant archways, fire pits and secret nooks, the MacArthur Place Hotel and Spa will delight any dog and their owner, and happily welcomes pets of any size for a fee of $150 per pet. Another popular doggie destination is the The Lodge at Sonoma Resort, which allows 2 pets up to 75 lbs for $150 per stay. Providing an oasis of serenity within walking distance to quaint shops and world-class restaurants at the Sonoma Plaza, the Lodge at Sonoma provides dog beds, water bowls and treats for animal visitors. One of wine country’s most iconic resorts, the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa features a 40,000 square foot oasis set atop an ancient mineral hot spring and offers a variety of spa experiences. While there is no spa for animals, four-legged friends are welcome for $150 per pet, and beds, food and water bowls are provided.

Dog-friendly Restaurants

With beautiful weather and abundant patios, Sonoma County even has dog-friendly restaurants, including HopMonk Tavern, which has locations in both Sonoma and Sebastopol. With expansive biergarten patios and delicious pub fare, the outdoor seating area is great for hanging out with your dog. For a truly deluxe dining experience with your doggie, try Healdsburg’s famed farm-to-table Barndiva Restaurant. One of the fanciest places Rover will ever go, the Michelin-starred restaurant’s lush garden patio welcomes your doggo with water and biscuits. For breakfast or lunch, grab a sidewalk table at Sunflower Caffe in historic Sonoma Plaza. Or, if you’re in the mood for Mexican food, El Molino Central is a dog-friendly Mexican restaurant serving street food to Boyes Hot Springs locals and tourists alike.

Dog-Friendly Wineries and Wine Tastings

In addition to visiting MacRostie, where dogs are always welcome, there are several other nearby Healdsburg wineries where you can also bring your furry friends on leash, including Mauritson Wines, Papapietro Perry Winery and the Sip Sip Lounge at Matrix Winery, where four-legged patrons are welcome to join their parents on the patio seating area.

Wine Country Dog Parks and Trails for Dogs

Once you’ve eaten your fill, savored the best Sonoma County wines, and perhaps even had a spa treatment, it might be time for you and your dog to go for a hike or a walk, and Sonoma County wine country has tons of great options. One of our favorites is Bartholomew Park, where you can walk your leashed dog on a 3-mile trail featuring a duck pond and windmill, mature oaks, madrones, redwoods and beautiful vineyards. With a fully fenced dog park that’s perfect for off-leash play and a half-mile paved trail with picnic tables, Ernie Smith Park in Sonoma is another great spot. We also love Healdsburg’s Riverfront Regional Park, a pet-friendly destination with a redwood grove picnic area, two lakes for water activities, and scenic hiking trails including the 2.18-mile Lake Trail, circling Lake Benoist, and the half-mile Redwood Hill Trail through coast redwood trees.

Warmest Holiday Wishes And Our Thanks for a Wonderful 2024!

Dear Friends,

As another year draws to a close and we prepare to make merry in the festive days ahead, we want to express our gratitude for your patronage. We are incredibly fortunate to have such an amazing community of friends. Thank you for your support—it’s a constant source of inspiration for our team!

Sunset Memories

Looking back on 2024, we have so many wonderful memories. In June, we launched our incredibly popular Sunset Series, an evening experience where we featured a different live musician and local chef each month. From the delectable Asian cuisine of Second Staff to the Middle Eastern delights of Shwarmaji to the lobster rolls from Brunch Boys, it’s been incredibly fun to pair our wines with an array of cuisines. Nearby Healdsburg has emerged as a foodie paradise, and we are excited to announce that we will be continuing our Sunset Series next year where we will continue to spotlight the talents of Sonoma County’s amazing chefs and musicians.

Nightwing Takes Flight!

Marking the debut of our new Nightwing Calera Clone Pinot Noir, Swan Clone Pinot Noir, and First Flight Pinot Noir, 2024 was an amazing year for our youthful Nightwing Estate Vineyard. Like our winemaker, Heidi Bridenhagen, Nightwing has earned a reputation for excellence at an early age, with the promise of more great things to come. While it often takes years for new vineyards to produce the highest quality grapes, Nightwing has matured at an extraordinary pace. For Heidi, this reflects the site’s inherent quality and the care that goes into its farming. “We have tried to give everything we can to the vines. The vines are giving back.”

Looking ahead, Nightwing’s future looks bright. In 2025, we will be releasing some exciting new small-lot wines that continue to highlight the uniqueness of the vineyard. We will also be debuting a brand-new Nightwing Tasting Experience that will include barrel samples and a comparative tasting of our acclaimed Nightwing wines.

Unforgettable Events

2024 was filled with fantastic events, including our Spring Soirée and Autumn Affair. To reflect our commitment to the environment and our connection to nature, our Spring Soirée had llamas and sheep as special guests. For our Autumn Affair, we were joined by West Coast Falconry, who brought five adorable owls for guests to interact with—both to highlight the fact that Sonoma is home to more than 200 species of birds, and as a nod to the name of our Nightwing Vineyard, which honors the Petaluma Gap’s many indigenous birds.

High Praise for MacRostie

With the release of wines from the exceptional 2021 and 2022 vintages, 2024 was another banner year for great press. So far, our wines from these two vintages have earned 107 scores of 90 points or higher, with the promise of more great reviews to come. In the 12 years since becoming our winemaker, Heidi’s wines have earned more than 500 scores of 90+ points, which is remarkable! Following on the heels of earning the “Winemaking Excellence Award” at the 2023 Women in Wine Awards and being named one of North Bay Business Journal’s “Forty Under 40,” we just found out that Heidi is being honored with another exciting award in 2025. While we’re not allowed to tell you what it is just yet, we look forward to sharing this exciting news in the New Year!

The Promise of the 2024 Vintage

As a winery dedicated to cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the 2024 growing season was excellent. Because everything was picked before a big October heat wave, the grapes arrived in pristine condition, with pure, profound flavors and an electric intensity that promises a standout vintage. While it is still very early to properly assess the characteristics of individual wines, overall, 2024 looks to be an extraordinary vintage, with the potential for our 2024 Chardonnays to rival our acclaimed 2021 bottlings!

A Memorable Milestone in 2025

This coming February we will be celebrating the 10-year anniversary of our stunning MacRostie Estate House. Back in 2015, when we opened the Estate House, we had just a few hundred club members. Today, we have a vibrant community of several thousand. The Estate House changed everything for MacRostie. It gave us our Thale’s Estate Vineyard and a new small-lot Pinot Noir winery. Most importantly, it gave us a home where wine lovers could come and explore our wines and share their passion with like-minded wine enthusiasts. Thank you for your passion and patronage over the past decade, and if you haven’t visited us recently, we hope to see you soon!

Until then, thank you for another amazing year. May your holidays be filled with joyful gatherings and unforgettable wines!

Warmest holiday wishes,

The MacRostie Team