By Gennifer Rose
https://www.genniferrose.com
One of the woes of being a parent to young children is that all of a sudden many of the “adult places” that you love to frequent become distant memories. Because wineries and breweries are production places where alcoholic beverages are made, some of the properties and events are only for patrons 21 years old and over. Luckily, in recent years there’s been a renaissance in the wine and beer industry, and many of these companies are embracing a more family-friendly atmosphere.
It can be difficult to know in advance whether a winery or brewery is welcoming to children before you arrive. The idea for this article was sparked by my own personal experience. When my daughter was about 6 months old, we were invited to review a wine event for our blog. My husband and I were very excited at the prospect of spending time with other adults while sipping some wine in a venue with beautiful ambiance. Upon our arrival, we were promptly told that our baby couldn’t enter the event because she was under 21 years of age. Needless to say, it was an awkward moment for everyone, and we had to return home without being able to enjoy the experience.
In order to ensure that all visitors have a great experience, I did extensive outreach to over 35 wineries and breweries in Placer County to ask them about their policies around bringing children. I am happy to report that many of these locations had an overwhelmingly positive response to parents bringing their kids and actively promote family-friendly vibes on their property.
Bear Belly Brewing Company – Take a trip to Tahoe and enjoy a beer at the Bear Belly nano brewery at Kings Beach. Families with children are welcome to play games such as Giant Connect 4 and Giant Jenga, bag game, foosball, and darts.
Dueling Dogs Brewing Company – With a craft brew in hand, check out the authentic Italian wood-fired pizza oven for a freshly made pie. In addition to acres of land to roam on, they sell fishing nets to the kids to catch (and release) pollywogs and small fish from their pond.
Goat House Brewing – Just as their namesake implies, Goat House is located on a farm in Lincoln, and they have a dairy goat herd that children love to visit. Not to mention a social-butterfly miniature donkey named Rory, who hangs out at the brewery and hop farm. Some of the more social chickens like to mingle, along with ducks and geese swimming in the pond.
Hillenbrand Farmhaus Brewery – My contact at Hillenbrand Farmhaus Brewery said their patrons are primarily families, so you can feel confident bringing your children with you. Their food truck menu serves German food and beer for the adults and root beer, caramel corn, nachos, and grilled cheese for children. They recommend you bring camping chairs and blankets for your visit. Outdoor games such as cornhole are available for family fun.
Kathrin’s Biergarten – During my outreach process for this article, Kathrin and I bonded over the mutual struggle of parenthood. She said: “I’m a mother of 4 myself, and I know how it is to not be able to go out to have a beer because some breweries are not child-friendly.” Thus, her brewery has a huge outdoor area for families, a game room and kid-friendly food. Kathrin’s German biergarten, restaurant and brewpub is located in Rocklin.
Knee Deep Brewing – This Auburn microbrewery is known for its hoppy beers and warehouse-style indoor beer garden. They serve food on-site, and there are games for parents to play with the kids.
Moonraker Brewing Company – In addition to brewing high-quality beer, Moonraker Brewing Company prioritizes sustainable practices so that you can enjoy your drink while knowing that quality and sustainability go hand in hand. Bring the family along, settle in on the covered patio, and grab a bite from one of the rotating food trucks while you enjoy a laid-back afternoon.
Loomis Basin Brewing Gastropub and Smokehouse – While the Loomis Basin Brewery location is reserved only for adults, children are welcome at the LBB Gastropub & Smokehouse location in Loomis. Their restaurant has both indoor and outdoor dining space for all ages with a kid’s food menu.
Monk’s Cellar Brewery – Located in Roseville’s metro area, Monk’s considers itself to be a family-friendly destination with areas of the restaurant that are welcoming for children. They offer a kids menu, children’s books, booster seats, and highchairs.
Shred Beer Co. – This Rocklin brewery has many regulars that bring in their whole family to enjoy the afternoon at their establishment. They have events, games, and coloring books out for kids and family-friendly games as well.
California Distilled Spirits – Try a new twist on tasting with award-winning gin, whiskey, bourbon, rye, and brandy at California Distilled Spirits in Auburn. While they do welcome children to accompany their parents, I recommend bringing along activities and snacks for them.
Crooked Lane Brewery – Located in Auburn, Crooked Lane has decomposed granite Biergarten areas which are excellent places for families to gather. The team at Crooked Lane prides themselves as being one of the most family-friendly breweries in the county with events that are great for kids. They offer rotating food trucks as well as delicacies like in-house pizza, chips with salsa, seltzer water, and sodas for the kiddos and non-drinkers to enjoy.
Top 5 Kid-Friendly Wineries in Placer County
Dora Dain Wines – The Lincoln winemakers at Dora Dain make oaky, buttery wines that reflect the hard work and care that goes into each bottle. Sat along the base of the Sierra Foothills, this open-air space overlooks a pond, pumpkin patch, and grazing animals–making it the perfect place for the whole family (including your kids and pets) to grab a glass or two and admire the view.
Lone Buffalo Vineyards – Located in Auburn, Lone Buffalo has tables in the vineyard to give families space to roam and bring along your very own picnic spread. They also offer bites to eat, including charcuterie snack items, fresh local popcorn, and food trucks for special events.
Rancho Roble Vineyards – The team at Rancho Roble encourages picnics, and they have plenty of room outside for families to enjoy the property. Their wine tasting options include sparkling, white, rosé, and reds. They are located in the Placer County town of Lincoln.
Dono dal Cielo – A single-estate vineyard set among the exceptional beauty of Newcastle, this winery crafts exceptional wine and provides the perfect setting for making laughter-filled memories with your family and friends.
Vina Castellano – This family-owned, fully estate-grown vineyard offers an intimate setting for savoring the bold flavor. The timeless property is both kid- and pet-friendly, making it ideal for leisurely family outings spent lounging in the picnic area or booking an event for big celebrations.
In conclusion, there’s one point many of the venues wanted me to relay – wine tasting with children is a two-way street. While many in the wine and brewing industry have opened their doors to families, it’s very important for parents to return the favor with well-behaved children. Please be mindful and respectful of the other adult patrons and facilities.
With that being said, start planning your weekend trip to one of these amazing destinations. Cheers!