Raise the Woof

Celebrate summer with your dog outdoors with tastes for everyone in vineyards

Memorial Day spells the start of summer for most Northeast Ohioans, although the official meteorological beginning of summer doesn’t happen until the summer solstice at 5:13 a.m. on June 21.

The long-awaited season for road trips, hikes in the parks, picnics and vacation getaways begins with more than 1 million Ohioans heading out on the highways this weekend alone.

It’s a delightful season to spend time outdoors in appreciation of a climate that’s neither too hot nor too cold, too wet nor too dry through most of the summer. When humidity rises, we’re never far from a fresh breeze, an air-conditioned space or a spot to take a cool dip.

Ohio’s close-by wine country is always a good destination, and the upcoming Woof, Wag & Wine Trail encourages you to bring your dog along.

Cindy Lindberg has nestled a new dog-friendly covered patio into the woods at her Grand River Cellars Winery & Restaurant and is working with her colleagues at Debonne Vineyards and Cask 307 to make folks and their dogs feel especially welcome from noon to 6 p.m. June 6 through 12 at the Woof, Wag & Wine event.

The $35 admission, which includes two wine tastes and a plate of food plus a treat for Fido at each winery, will help support the efforts of the Lake Humane Society. Participants also will receive a bandana for the dog.

All three wineries are in Madison, just a few minutes’ drive from one another. They’re surrounded by the spring vines, which are greening up nicely for grapes that will produce wines of increasing excellence.

Here’s what you’ll find at each:

Grand River Cellars, 5750 Madison Road (Route 528), will serve Pupadew Pepper and White Cheddar Mac n Cheese with Andouille Sausage with a Pink Poodle Cocktail for an extra cost.

Cask 307 Winery, 7259 Warner Road (Route 307), will serve Puppy Chow Sweet Treat and have a Bark n Stormy Cocktail at an extra cost.

Debonne Vineyards, 7840 Doty Road, will serve MiniDogs topped with Beer Cheese & Bacon and offer Salty Dog Sangria for an extra cost.

In the meantime, Cask 307 is preparing for another Summer Opera Night in the Grand River Valley with its first live performance accompanied by a five-course dinner at 6:30 p.m. June 7. Soprano Julie Anna Gulenko will perform.

The menu begins with an antipasti plate and loaded zucchini skins followed by Chicken with Pesto Cream Sauce and Sundried Tomatoes Pasta and a Cassata Cake dessert. The $59.95 ticket price includes the first drink of the evening but does not include tax or tip.

YEVHEN GULENKO Soprano Megan Santora sings at a Summer Opera Night event at Cask 307 in Madison.

SUBMITTED Erik and Catherine Beattie enjoy their wine and beer while overlooking the spring vineyards at Cask 307with their dogs.