Meeting The Wine Nazi at a dog-friendly winery | The Jet Set Pets

Lucy relaxes at Ram?s Gate Winery in Sonoma, Calif.

The Soup Nazi episode of?Seinfeld? is one of those hilarious classics that won?t be forgotten anytime soon. Neither will my encounter at a dog-friendly winery with whom I call The Wine Nazi during my recent trip to Sonoma.

I was in the midst of enjoying the perfect day in pet-friendly Sonoma, part of California?s popular wine country. In the morning, I romped around the grounds at The Fairmont Mission Inn & Spa, where I was one of many four-legged guests. At lunch, I perched myself on a wooden bench next to my mommy at the super pet-friendly Sunflower Caff? Espresso & Wine Bar and watched her eat a yummy-smelling lamb burger that she didn?t offer me. Whatever!

And then I went to Ram?s Gate Winery?on the southern edge of Sonoma.?Ram?s Gate boasts that it is a dog-friendly winery but I beg to differ.

When we arrived at the so-called dog-friendly winery, one of the rare wineries where visitors can dine and sip,?I wasn?t surprised to hear that I wouldn?t be allowed in the area where food is served. That is natural as there are laws prohibiting my kind from being around food. A female employee told my mommy that we would have to stay in the lounge area, which was fine with me. And that I wasn?t allowed on the furniture. Again, no problem with me obeying that rule either.

Chic but not so much a dog-friendly winery

Ram?s Gate is super chic and modern. Unlike any winery I?ve ever visited. A wall of windows gives way to a breathtaking view. The lounge?s blazing fireplaces at first seemed out of place considering it was quite warm but which added a nice, homey feel at this dog-friendly winery. The sofas, chairs and tables too were just perfect. Very cool! I gave this dog-friendly winery a paws up, despite its restrictions.

Kelly has her hands full with Lucy (left) and Ladybug at Ram?s Gate Winery in Sonoma, Calif.

My mommy thought it would be nice for us to take a photo in front of the fireplace at this dog-friendly winery so we did with Ladybug, a Terrier mix I met that day at lunch. Just as my mommy was about to snap a photo of Ladybug and her guardian Cindy in front of the fireplace, a male employee with a thick German accent came over and informed us that dogs are not allowed on the furniture.

Our mommies explained that Ladybug and I were not on the furniture but rather were on our guardians? laps. Didn?t matter. We had to be on the ground. Rules are rules at this dog-friendly winery.

I always feel safe on my mommy?s lap. No one ever steps on me when I?m in her lap. And I don?t care how much I smell from another dog?s scent on her, I would never tinkle in my mommy?s lap either. No reason for me to mark my territory when it?s mine anyway. So what?s the problem with me being in my mommy?s lap or Ladybug being in Cindy?s lap? Who we were hurting??Why not have a seating area dedicated to those with dogs if you?re worried about my kind leaving fur behind instead of banishing us to the floor? Maybe The Wine Nazi thought I would poop on the couch? As if! I have some manners.

In his German accent, he?explained that a few bad eggs at this dog-friendly winery had spoiled it for pooches like me and Ladybug. A dog bit an employee. Some people didn?t pick up their four-legged friends? poop. Something about incidents with kids. (It?s none of my business, but what are kids doing at wineries? They shouldn?t be drinking wine any more than I should be ? and I?m not allowed to drink alcohol.)

Suddenly, I didn?t feel very welcome at this dog-friendly winery. The fun was taken from the visit to the winery so we left. If kids are allowed at wineries then shouldn?t fur babies too? I?m just asking.

I wondered if Ram?s Gate should continue to call itself a dog-friendly winery based on my experience. Before we left, my mommy asked and was told that for the next month or so, Ram?s Gate would continue to welcome dogs. But after that, well who knows.

You?ve been warned, just as I was, by The Wine Nazi.

Source: http://thejetsetpets.com/meeting-the-wine-nazi-at-a-dog-friendly-winery/

bobbi kristina brown keanu reeves pebble beach clive davis cause of whitney houston death the watchmen whitney houston dies