Lindsey Schmidt

Wine Tasting with Your Pup in Purcellville

Dog-Friendly Wineries and Airbnb in Purcellville, VA

We are always looking for new options for dog-friendly wine tasting and we hit the jackpot in Purcellville! We usually stick around Delaplane, sometimes up to Middleburg. There are so many wineries in this area we didn’t feel the urge to drive further on normal weekends. For a mid-week birthday celebration we decided to venture a little further north and spend the night in Purcellville. And we are so glad we did! First, the drive time was actually comparable to Delaplane (Purcellville via 495 and Leesburg Pike vs Delaplane via 66). Drive time from Alexandria was roughly an hour and twenty minutes. And certainly more scenic than 66.

Accommodations

We wanted a quiet cabin, close to wineries, with land for Rummy to run and explore. There were a handful of options available through Home Away and Airbnb and we chose this Secluded Farm Cabin on Airbnb. Not only was it one of the more affordable options, it had everything we wanted– both a patio and a sitting room to relax and enjoy our wine, historic charm and plenty of land outside for Rummy to explore. The hosts, Wally & Carolyn, were fantastic. Check-in was easy with a tour where Wally provided information about the history of the home.


This is a guest house attached to their home, yet has a private entrance, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and two sitting rooms. There is no private kitchen, which was fine with us as we planned to order food to enjoy with the wine we purchased during the day. Guests are welcome to yogurt, wine and crackers and there is a coffee station in the guest house. For those that must do some work, there is WiFi, albeit very slow. But it did allow me to knock out a few things in the morning so I could have peace of mind and enjoy the wineries afterward. We were extremely impressed with this cabin and do plan to return.

Most Dog-Friendly Winery

The standout winery to us is 8 Chains North, just outside of Purcellville in Waterford. They will allow dogs in the tasting room when the new legislation goes into effect on July 1. This is the most important aspect of wineries to us as Virginia summers are unbearable and it’s not enjoyable, nor safe for Rummy, to sit outside. There are several tables and a few sofas inside as well as a patio. They also have an off-leash dog park! This was an extra special treat for Rummy as she is extremely patient with us as we taste then sit and enjoy a glass or bottle. The park is fully fenced with covered seating. So you can bring your wine outside in the shade and let your pup stretch their legs. If you forgot your bags, they do offer waste bags and a receptacle.

Purcellville Wineries

North Gate Vineyard offers dog-friendly patio seating that is mostly covered (that’s Rummy getting a treat on their patio in the featured photo). There are probably two dozen tables outside and on the quiet weekday we were there, Rummy was comfortable while we tasted inside. Dave, the tasting room manager, was eager to provide her with a treat, which makes us love this place even more. Sunset Hills Vineyard offers plenty of shaded seating for pups– on the wrap-around porch, pavilion and lawn. Breaux Vineyards offers patio seating. They also hold dog-friendly events that not only give your pup a fun outing, but benefit local animal shelters. 868 Estate Vineyards in Purcellville also offers covered patio seating.

Surrounding Area Wineries

The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards in Hamilton, VA also offers a dog-friendly tasting room beginning July 1. They have plenty of indoor seating to include tables and sofas as well as a patio and lawn. Hillsborough Vineyards in Hillsboro, VA has some of the most stunning views we’ve seen at a Virginia winery. There are about a dozen tables on the mostly shaded patio as well as a covered walkway with tables. All of these have unrestricted views of the vines and rolling hills.

The views at Hillsborough Vineyards are not to be missed.

Overall we were beyond impressed with our visit to the Purcellville area. Its proximity to the DC metro area, beautiful rolling hills and concentration of wineries make this one area not to be missed. We are already planning our next trip!

Update: This review was originally posted on May 26, 2018. Breaux Vineyards now offers a dog-friendly tasting room! Check out our recent review for more information.

For more dog-friendly winers, visit our wineries page.