Garré Vineyard, Winery & Cafe

The Tri-Valley region, an hour east of San Francisco, is nothing if not full of surprises, especially when it comes to wine. Production is centered in the rolling Livermore Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area), where the first grapes were planted in the 1840s. More than 50 wineries, two dozen of them proudly dog-friendly, have since sprung from the rich soil, and they’re all close enough for a day trip or overnight trip from the Bay Area or Sacramento. So leash up your pup, crack a window and take off into the so-close-but-so-far-away countryside. more »

There’s no shortage of places in Tri-Valley to chow down at an outdoor table with your pup at your side. Enjoy the small town hospitality and laid-back vibe whether your choice is award-winning California cuisine, local farm-to-fork comfort food, rustic bistro classics or pubs featuring craft brews. Speaking of craft brews, nine out of the 14 dog-friendly breweries, tap rooms and restaurants on the Tri-Valley Craft Beer Trail serve food. Many are conveniently situated just off Interstates 680 and 580, in or near the cities of Pleasanton, Dublin and Danville. more »

Northern California’s love affair with craft beer and local wines just keeps getting stronger, with new breweries and wineries springing up all over Oakland and the Tri-Valley region. more »

With 40-plus wineries tucked into a landscape of rolling hills and sun-dappled valleys, the Tri-Valley region's Livermore Valley Wine Country shares a landscape very similar to the more famous Napa Valley on the other side of the Coast Range. The region’s boutique labels are produced in small lots and not widely known, which makes it all the more fun to go exploring. The sunny Tri-Valley produces several notable cabernets, and plays a pivotal role in the history of California chardonnay. more »

Residents of the East Bay’s Tri-Valley region know they’ve got it good when it comes to open space, but the casual visitor buzzing through on the Interstate 680 corridor might not realize the foresight and vision responsible for the region’s semi-rural character. Regional plans limiting urban sprawl and protecting agriculture are why vineyards, rather than houses, grow on Tri-Valley’s rolling hills, and why wide-open views are available even from densely populated areas. more »

The Tri-Valley region is sometimes wrongly dismissed by those who don’t live there as a drive-by destination on the way to somewhere else. That’s their loss and your gain. The  intrepid DogTrekkers who take time to explore this East Bay region encompassing three adjacent valleys and five dog-friendly communities are amply rewarded. more »

With 40-plus wineries tucked into a landscape of rolling hills and sun-dappled valleys, the Livermore Valley Wine Country shares a landscape very similar to the more famous valley with a name beginning with the letter “N.” more »