Dog Friendly Party at Hawkins Cellars in the Columbia Gorge

I’ve been a bit sad lately because some of my coonhound friends from Urban Coonhounds have passed over the Rainbow Bridge. So my owner decided to treat me to a Sunday drive and a wine tasting party. Dogs were invited. The invitation said “bring your family, hiking friends and furry friends.” We were invited to Hawkins Cellars on the Washington side of the river, just across from Hood River.

So I was really excited when our friend Don showed up and took me to the car. I love lounging in the back seat while he drives. The last time we went wine tasting it rained the whole time so I didn’t get out to explore much. But this day was different. It was sunny and beautiful.

We took off down Hwy 14 along the Mighty Columbia River. We drove about an hour and stopped to see some wind surfers. I thought I might sniff around but the stop was only to take pictures. Drat! Some of the windsurfers had lunches in their vans it that smelled pretty interesting.

Wind Surfing works up an appetite so the windsurfers
had snacks and lunches in their vans. But I didn't get any!

Then it was up the hill to Hawkins Cellars where I was greeted warmly and given a big bowl of water. I lapped that up!  I checked out their new tasting room and thought I might like to relax on the cool floor, but they said I couldn’t stay because they were bringing in the lunch. So I wandered outside and found some children to greet.

I checked out the new Hawkins Cellars tasting room.
It was very nice and, on this hot day, there was a cool floor.
I gave the tasting room my stamp of approval.

The party was on beautiful green grass shaded by large trees. There were fabric sails to shade us too. I settled down and rested in the grass.

Here I am at the party. After the photo op, I went and rested in the shade.

All of a sudden I smelled something… pork, cilantro and tortillas. They were speaking my language… food! I kept trying to head into the tasting room where the food was being served but didn’t get very far. Drat!

My favorite part of the day was when they brought in The Huck Truck lunch.
They are usually at Bingen and I think I might visit them on my next trip.

I did get some tidbits of shredded pork after everyone ate their lunch but I didn’t get any of those house-made tortillas that The Huck Truck brought. I guess I didn’t show them my sad-eye look enough.

The pork was excellent!

The whole time everyone was tasting (and enjoying) the selected Hawkins Wines. I thought they might pour me a taste but noooooo! I did get to walk around the grounds, check out the trees and look at the view. Mt. Hood was beautiful. 

I was tired and started yawning.

All too soon it was time to leave. I guess I was glad because I was getting hot… and sleepy too. I was ready to go home and tell Francesca all about the big party I attended on Underwood Mountain. I was certain she would be jealous!

Love, Cinnamon

When You Go

The Hawkins Cellars

Underwood Tasting Room

10401 Cook Underwood Road

Underwood, WA 98651

503-554-9885

Tasting Room hours change seasonally.

Current Hours:

Thursday to Sunday, 12pm to 6pm

Wine Country is Not Always Dog Country

I've always loved going wine tasting with my owner. Why? Well, I don't taste wine but I did find out that many wineries like dogs and let them come in the tasting rooms. Once I get in there, I usually get all kinds of attention! I like that.

So I was thrilled when I was invited to go along on a rainy day wine tasting adventure to the McMinnville area in Oregon. I got my harness on. I had a sheet and towels in case I ended up with muddy paws and I was so excited to jump into the car.

It was a long drive to wine country so I just slept most of the way.

First Stop
Our first stop was at Maysara Winery. It was beautiful, even on a rainy day. I got to get out and walk around a bit. I looked up on the hill and saw vineyard workers and some cattle. I kind of stared at the cattle to make sure they weren't going to chase me!

I got really excited when we went over to the tasting room. We opened the door and I stuck my head in. But then we found out there were NO DOGS ALLOWED. Just service dogs. I got a good enough look to know I would have loved to go in. There were dark red Persian carpets on the floors and nice people at the bar. I suppose they didn't want me in because of the carpets.

So it was back to the car for me and another nap.

After they enjoyed their time at Maysara, I did get to walk around the huge building and check things out. There was water running in ditches. I waded a little bit. I tried to eat some grass but they wouldn't let me!

Second Stop
Our second stop that day, after driving down roads that were beginning to flood, was at the St.
Innocent Winery. I got out and walked around a bit. They had a pretty fountain going... even if it was raining. And, I found out that THERE WERE NO DOGS ALLOWED IN THE TASTING ROOM!

But the reason, this time, was not the carpets. It was that there was a winery dog. A little poodle who was 18 years old was hanging out in the tasting room. I think I would have scared the little dog if I came in. So I stayed in the car, once again!

So after a day of riding around in the car, I slept all the way home. I got to go to wine country but didn't find any dog-friendly wineries that day. I wasn't sad, though. I had the company of people and I got to go on a car trip!

If there are wineries out there that love dogs, please leave the name of your winery in the comments. I'd love to visit your tasting room!

Love, Cinnamon

On Wine Dogs and Winery Dogs

There's a book out... Wine Dogs of the USA. My owner saw it at Wy'East Vineyards when she visited recently. I always thought I was a Wine Dog and the dogs that lived at wineries were Winery Dogs. Well, that's certainly something I need to study up on. I decided it would be a fun thing to do when I started looking at my owner's Instagram photos from last week. There were lots of dogs in those photos and I wasn't in one of them!

In fact Francesca and I were at the Doggie Country Club (AGAIN!) while she toured, did her research, took photos and tasted wine.

My interest in being a wine dog started several years ago when I got to go to Canada. We visited some wineries in the Okanagan area. I usually waited in the car but at one winery things looked so relaxing I decided to bark my head off and invite myself to the party.

Here I am out of the car and joining the party.

Then I really got into it. At the next winery I was invited inside. It was a dog friendly winery and people even wanted to pet me! There's something about wine that makes people really nice!

Here I am getting petted at the winery

I also liked to walk in the vineyards. Here I am sniffing around while my owner takes photos of the view. So the Okanagan Wine Country of Canada was my first experience of being a wine dog.

At another dog friendly winery, I spotted this calendar... Winery Dogs of B.C. No one would buy one for me but I put it on my Christmas list. You see... this is where I decided that Winery Dogs lived at wineries and Wine Dogs just visited. I was a Wine Dog.

So I guess my owner forgot about all of this when she went touring in the Columbia Gorge Wine Country. She went to Wy'East Vineyards and was greeted by one of their winery dogs, a white dog with blue eyes. The dog was so loved, and so famous he had his picture painted. It was hung on the tasting room wall.

And that wasn't the end of the dogs during that trip. She saw dogs out hiking, dogs visiting wineries, dogs at restaurants and dogs on farms.

This dog is on the patio at Mt. Hood Winery
This is a Wine Dog who is just visiting.

So I wasn't a bit surprised when she included some pictures of dogs in her article about the Columbia Gorge Fall Wine Trail.

This all got me thinking. I think I want to go with her next time she follows a wine trail or goes to a winery. Many wineries are dog friendly. And I, Cinnamon, am an INTERNATIONAL WINE DOG!