Family-Friendly Wineries and Breweries in the Bay Area

While your late-night clubbing days may have ended when your child came along, having kids doesn’t mean the end to all adult-oriented fun. Throughout the Bay Area, there are plenty of places that welcome children while their parents sip wine and sample microbrews. Some even offer up extra enticements for family fun – from splashing in a winery pool to taking a pre-wine tasting horseback ride to hanging out at a beer garden-adjacent arcade and bowling alley. Make sure to check whether venues are open and reservations are required before heading out.
East Bay
Chouinard Vineyard and Winery – Summer concerts and movies in the vineyard are just some of the family-friendly events this winery has offered. The shady grounds are a great spot to spread out a picnic. 33853 Palomares Road, Castro Valley. 510-582-9900. 
Temescal Brewing – Kids are welcome at this spacious outdoor taproom patio while parents sample a rotating selection of small-batch beers, from juicy IPAs to crisp lagers. There’s also a different food truck on site daily Tuesdays through Fridays. 4115 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. 
Plank – This Jack London Square beer garden and entertainment center has something for everyone in the family, from bowling and an arcade indoors to bocce and a playground near its large outdoor patio. There are tasty pub-style eats and 48 beers on tap. 98 Broadway, Oakland. 510-817-0980.
Rosenblum Cellars – Sit on the patio fronting a large lawn with room for kids to roam, while taking in bay views and tasting zinfandels and other Rhone-style wines from this urban winery pioneer in Jack London Square. Dining options include cheeses, charcuterie and Snackimals for the kids. 10 Clay St., Oakland. 877-478-9467. 
Faction Brewing – For a stunning view of San Francisco Bay and the city, drop by the former Alameda Naval Air Station and visit Faction to try more than 20 beers on tap or a tasting Flight of the Day. Children and dogs are welcome on the patio but must stay within their party’s designated seating zone, until COVID restrictions change. Food trucks are on site on weekends. 2501 Monarch St., Alameda. 510-523-2739.
McGrail Vineyards – McGrail has an outdoor patio with beautiful views and a sprawling lawn for picnics, plus live music on weekends. (At press time, families were welcome to make reservations on the lawn but the patio was reserved for adults.) Special events often involve a food truck. 5600 Greenville Road, Livermore. 925-215-0717. .
Rock Wall Wine Company – Next to Faction is Rock Wall’s “tasting tarmac,” where visitors can sample wine by the glass or bottle while enjoying the view and tasty food from Scolari’s at the Point. While pre-COVID kids could play cornhole or run around on the pavement, at press time they were required to stay at their family’s table. 2301 Monarch St., Alameda. 510-522-5700. .
San Francisco
Park Chalet – A perfect spot to meet friends and enjoy a beer from the adjacent Beach Chalet Brewery, plus a wide selection of other drinks and food on an extensive lawn near Ocean Beach. 1000 Great Highway, San Francisco. 415-386-8439. 
Sol Rouge – Taste wines from Lake County and play bocce at this Treasure Island wine tasting room, part of the Winemaker Studios. 448 Clipper Cove Way. 415-756-2254. 
Sunset Reservoir Brewing Company – Head to the Outer Sunset for house-made beers, brunch, dinner and more in a family-friendly atmosphere. 1735 Noriega St. 415-571-8452. 
North Bay
Bear Republic Brewing Company – Kids and dogs are welcome at this large lakeside brewpub in Wine Country, which also offers live music and pub fare with a twist. 5000 Roberts Lake Road, Rohnert Park. 707-585-2722. 
Castello di Amoroso – Kids reluctant to accompany their parents for wine-tasting may get a kick out of a tour of this Calistoga castle, constructed in 13th century Tuscan-style with the same techniques used by medieval builders and complete with an armory and torture chamber. 4045 St. Helena Highway, Calistoga. 707-967-6272. 
Cline Family Cellars – You can visit the California Missions Museum (closed at press time) to view scale models of the original 21 California missions created for the 1939 World’s Fair, stroll the gardens and visit the turtle and fish pond and resident donkeys. And also taste wine. 4737 Arnold Drive, Highway 121, Sonoma. 800-546-2070.  
Francis Ford Coppola Winery – With swimming pools with reservable cabins, restaurants, bocce courts and a movie memorabilia museum, this is not your average winery visit. 300 Via Archimedes, Geyserville. 707-857-1471. 
Larson Family Winery – This child- and pet-family winery has bocce, farm critters, three friendly dogs and cabanas for members. 23355 Millerick Road, Sonoma. 707-938-3031. 
Preston Farm and Winery – Taste wine and seasonal ciders, olive oil, fresh-baked bread and pickled vegetables; have a picnic in the gardens; and visit the sheep, chickens and pigs. You can visit the farm store and play bocce, too. 9282 W. Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg. 707-433-3372. 
Truett Hurst – This holistic vineyard and farm has a tranquil creekside setting, biodynamic gardens and friendly farm animals. 5610 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg. 707-433-9545. 
Peninsula and South Bay
Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards – For a unique outing, book a trail ride at the neighboring Garrod Farms Stables before wine tasting at the outdoor garden patio. Kids ages 8 and up and 42 inches tall can ride the horses. 22645 Garrod Road, Saratoga. 408-867-7116.
Faultline Brewing Company – Sample house-brewed beers from standard to specialty, plus cocktails, wine and a full food menu. The outdoor dining patio overlooks a manmade lake. 1235 Oakmead Parkway, Sunnyvale. 408-736-2739. 
Half Moon Bay Brewing Co. – The waterside patio is a popular spot to sample craft beers from the in-house brewery, plus a large menu including seafood specialties. 390 Capistrano Road, Half Moon Bay. 650-728-2739. 
Pichetti Winery – Enjoy peacocks, picnic grounds and nearby hiking trails with a seasonal pond hosting banana slugs, frogs and other critters. Created in the 1890s, this winery is one of the oldest in California. 13100 Montebello Road, Cupertino. 408-741-1310. 
Rosotti’s Alpine Inn – Affectionally known as Zotts, this large, woodsy Portola Valley beer garden is a family-friendly spot for beer and wine on tap, cocktails, wood-fired pizzas, burgers and more. Founded in 1852, it’s the second oldest continually operating tavern in California. 3915 Alpine Road, Portola Valley. 650-854-4004.