20 Adorable Winery Dogs at BC Vineyards

Pretty soon, vineyards across British Columbia will be welcoming Spring‘s arrival. Temperatures will rise, buds will start to break and winery dogs will be let loose among the vines to chase birds, howl at deer and greet wine-loving guests.

While tours, tastings and experiences have changed drastically over the past year, the warmth and hospitality of visiting a winery have endured. Part of that comfort is knowing that employees are often treated like family. Sometimes, it’s an actual family that lends a hand in any or all aspect of the winery operations, and that includes the family dog!

For dog-appreciating wine fans, consider the following wineries when you’re planning your tour visits this year. You’ll be glad to catch a glimpse of, or maybe even shake-a-paw with, the province’s most adorable winery dogs.

BLUE GROUSE ESTATE WINERY

Cowichan Valley

Name: Deano

Age: 3

Deano loves to run through the vineyard and getting pets from guests.

For more on Blue Grouse wines, check out this past article.

BLUE GROUSE ESTATE WINERY

Cowichan Valley

Name: Tia

Age: 2

Breed: Blue Heeler

Tia loves to take care of the chickens on the property.

KITSCH

Kelowna

Name: Eddie

Age: 2

Owner: Trent & Ria Kitsch (owners)

Eddie loves chasing his ball, getting pets, shaking paws, running like he’s young, wild, and free.

LAUGHING STOCK VINEYARDS

Naramata

Name: Winston (right)

Age: 2

Breed: Lab-Aussie

Owner: Stef (Assistant Winemaker)

Winston loves helping Stef and running around the vines when other dogs are around.

Name: Ryder (left)

Age: 1

Ryder loves running around the winery telling people what to do.

Winston & Ryder - Laughing Stock Winery Dogs

MOON CURSER VINEYARDS

Osoyoos

Name: Whisky (Instagram @whiskytheaus)

Age: 3

Owner: Christian Scagnetti (Associate Winemaker)

Whisky loves reporting for harvest duties. He has been known to try eating the grapes (don’t tell our owners), but luckily there are lots of “sticks” on the ground leftover from pruning the vines to keep him distracted!

MORAINE ESTATE WINERY

Naramata

Name: Priya

Age: 2

Breed: Border Collie

Owner: Dwight Sick (Winemaker & Director of Winery and Vineyard Operations)

Priya is an avid bird chaser, frisbee and ball player and known to dig up a vole or two in the vineyard.

NIGHTHAWK VINEYARDS

Okanagan Falls

Name: Shadow

Age: 1

Shadow loves to welcome guests, sometimes with a bit too much enthusiasm. He also loves to run through the vineyard picking up vines on the ground.

OKANAGAN CRUSH PAD

Summerland

Names: Bizou + Yukon (brother and sister from two separate litters)

Ages: Yukon (5), Bizou (4)

Breed: Great Pyrenees

Bizou will chase crows circling overhead around and around, and she loves to bark.

Yukon is a work horse. He is the one sitting guard on the hill in the rain surveying the lay of the land; noble and stoic. Always watchful, Yukon puts up the first call at the sign of trouble, yet when push comes to shove Bizou is the fierce one that you do not want to mess with.

RED HORSES VINEYARD

Oliver

Name: Sophie

Age: 15

Sophie loves running through the vineyard, it’s what makes her thrive and is keeping her feeling young. Upon opening the wine shop last July, she found a new job title of Winery Dog and enjoys greeting people.

RIVER STONE ESTATE WINERY

Oliver

Name: Cody

Age: 3

Breed: Golden Retriever

Cody love to greet all of our visitors at the winery, as well as “help” in the vineyard.

SAGE HILLS WINERY & VINEYARD

Summerland

Name: Leo

Age: 3.5 months

Breed: Rhodesin Ridgeback

Owners: Zoë and Keenan (the winemakers & grape growers)

So far he loves running around exploring and pulling weeds with his owners.

SINGLETREE WINERY

Fraser Valley

Name: Maddie

Age: 3

Maddie likes to welcome guests in the tasting room.

SINGLETREE WINERY

Fraser Valley

Name: Autumn

Autumn loves running through the vineyard with Maddie.

SUMMERHILL PYRAMID WINERY

Kelowna

Name: Fozzy

Age: 15

Fozzy enjoys eating all the human food he can sneak and steal, and he is an excellent singer. He howls at the moon for no apparent reason other than artistic expression.

Photo Credit: Ian Harland

For more on Summerhill, visit this article.