Dog-Friendly Winery in Abingdon, VA
About 6 1/2 hours into our Thanksgiving road trip, the dog-friendly winery Abingdon Vineyards was just the stop we needed–and we really can’t say enough about it. Roughly a ten-minute drive off of I-81 in Abingdon, VA, it sits on 45 acres on the South Holston River. We chose it based on proximity to the interstate and the dog-friendly tasting room. While we visited on a beautiful day, it had snowed earlier in the week so we wanted a tasting room that allowed Rummy inside should it be too cold. We had no idea what a treat we were in for!
They Love Dogs!
Our first clue of how dogfriendly they are were the two dog beds positioned right in front of the fireplace. Lucky dogs! Rummy walked straight to them to investigate. The staff member who greeted us let us know that Rummy was free to roam off leash. She also told us about the winery dogs and reiterated several times that if they were too much for Rummy, they could let them outside. They weren’t at all. Jackson and Rummy played for a few minutes before Rummy pulled her classic move of completely ignoring him.
Indoor Seating is a Must
The tasting room has several sofas and another separate room with seating. While it’s wonderful to be able to take Rummy inside, it’s no good if we can’t find a place to sit. We’ve visited so many wineries that have picnic tables scattered all over the lawn to appreciate the views, but just a few tables inside. On some unbearably humid Virginia summer days, there’s no way we’re sitting outside. I don’t care how amazing the view is. And winter wine tasting simply doesn’t happen if there’s no indoor seating. If we can’t find a place to sit inside, we’re moving on to the next winery. So we really appreciate the indoor seating options here. I imagine that later in the winter those sofas and fireplace will make for a very relaxing and cozy atmosphere.
After the tasting, we headed outside with a glass of Knob Red (a rich blend of Chambourcin, Cabernet Sauvignon and Norton) and discovered just how incredible this winery is. There’s plenty of seating outside as well. The patio has several tables and there are picnic tables and benches spread throughout the lawn. The lawn overlooks the water which is not only something humans will appreciate, but an awesome playground for pups. Rummy had a blast running up and down the riverbed and all over the lawn. After six plus hours in the car, this freedom to run and stretch her legs was the sweetest treat I could possibly give her. And with the tables spread across the lawn, there’s room for those not interested in dogs (or kids) to get a little distance.
5 Pups
As with all of our reviews, we rate a business based on how dogfriendly they are, not the quality of their product. This time we just happen to be as impressed with the wine, atmosphere and views as we are with their obvious love for dogs. We give them 5 Pups for allowing dogs in the tasting room, freedom to run off leash, abundance of seating both inside and out, and grounds that any pup would love exploring. We will absolutely return when in the area and look forward to another glass of that Knob Red!
For more dog-friendly wineries, visit our Wineries Page. Read about the rest of the stops on this road trip adventure here.