Barnett, Pride Mountain, Smith-Madrone, Vineyard 7&8 represented
October 20, 2025 (St. Helena – Napa Valley, CA) — Dogs from four wineries from the Spring Mountain District are featured in the 24th edition of Wine Dogs California, a popular compendium which shares photographs of winery dogs from all over the Golden State.
Barnett Vineyards’ four dogs are featured on pages 12 and 13. They are a German Short-Haired Pointer (Jax), a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever (Ollie), a Labrador (Montana) and a German Shorthaired Pointer (Goose). At Barnett Vineyards on Spring Mountain, Goose, Jax, Ollie, and Montana spend their days chasing, barking at, and toying with every bird in sight. When not bothering the winery cat, they’re happily napping or plotting new ways to steal snacks. More at https://www.barnettvineyards.com/
Pride Mountain Vineyards’ Border Collie named Sundance is shown on p. 103. Sundance’s nickname, Sunny, fits his bright personality and energy perfectly. Sunny’s always ready to play, run through the vineyards, or swim in the ponds. More at https://www.pridewines.com/
Smith-Madrone’s Springer Spaniel, Tucker, is shown on p. 129.“Tucker is usually rolling in the mud, covered with burrs, so his elegant portrait in the book is a fun twist on his personality,” comments Stuart Smith of Smith-Madrone. More at https://www.smithmadrone.com/
Vineyard 7&8’s Golden Retriever named Cashew is featured on p. 156. “Cashew has been coming to the winery with me since she was 8-weeks old, always eager to take her morning walk around the vineyards, check on the crew, maybe take a dip in the pond, greet the guests in the tasting room, and then just rest in an open doorway keeping watch,” explains Wes Steffens of Vineyard 7&8. More at https://www.vineyard7and8.com/
“The Golden State is the stuff of dreams and home to some of America’s most celebrated wine estates,” explain authors Craig McGill and Susan Elliot. “Wherever good wine is made, you’re likely to find a dog scouring the winery or vineyard. This latest book is a large coffee-table format and is jam-packed with stunning shots and facts about our favorite canines among the vines, barrels and tasting rooms from all around California. This sixth edition of Wine Dogs California features over 120 wineries with captions and portraits of their loyal pooches. Wine Dogs California is a photographic journal of stunning pictures – created all for the love of dogs and wines,” they add.
The four wineries offer the book for sale at their tasting rooms at $50.00 each.
THE SPRING MOUNTAIN DISTRICT
There are currently about 30 vineyards and wineries in the appellation, encompassing 1,000 acres of vineyard. With a unique identity formed over one and one half centuries, the Spring Mountain District appellation became an official AVA in 1993. The region is known for its wide array of mixed hardwood forests, which include oak, madrone, Douglas fir, redwood, tan oak and conifers. The AVA is known for its steeply sloped vineyard blocks, which span slopes up to 30% at elevations between 200 and 2,250 feet.
The Spring Mountain District AVA is primarily reached via Spring Mountain Road, a 10-15 minute drive from the town of St. Helena. Spring Mountain Road provides dramatic vistas as the road curves to the top of the AVA. Heavily forested, the area does not feel commercial, in that there are relatively few wineries, most of which are not visible from the Road. Wineries here grow highly regarded Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay, as well as outstanding Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Syrah and Zinfandel.
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