Groundboots Wine Charity Label Launches to Support Soi Dog

Winemaker Deborah Hall of Gypsy Canyon in St. Rita Hills recently launched Groundboots.org, a wine charity label which is crowdfunding to fundraise for and bring awareness to stopping the illegal dog meat trade through wine. She has designated 100% of profits to go to Soi Dog, an organization that has nearly eliminated it in Thailand, and are now moving into Vietnam, China, Korea, and other places,  rescuing and re-homing the survivors.

The campaign is running through September.

And in case you’re wondering about the “taste good” part of the wine, not just the “feel good” part, this Pinot Noir was hand-harvested from their estate vineyards in Sta. Rita Hills. Cluster sorted at the vineyard, berry sorted at the winery. Aged 18 months in 50% new French oak.

According to Wine Enthusiast, the 2012 Ground Boots Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara County gets 91 pts. “This wine by Gypsy Canyon’s Deborah Hall raises money for dogs in Thailand, but it’s certainly no gimmick. Deep aromas of black raspberry, cherry chiffon and dried violets mix with chipped slate, charred pine, morel mushrooms and turned loam. The palate shows sharp cranberry followed by graphite and herbal saps, with noticeable grip.”

Here’s a link: http://igg.me/at/groundboots.

Courtesy Ground Boots

Solvang’s Wandering Dog Wine Bar Expands Private Label Wine Program

More on the intersection between wine and dogs, Solvang’s Wandering Dog Wine Bar—incidentally a very fun, dog- and people-friendly spot—recently expanded its private label wine program from four labels to a current line-up of 14 wines, comprised of eight different, locally-grown varietals.

Each of the 14 wines are made by local winemakers/wineries, sourced from local vineyards, and each winemaker/winery is listed on the respective bottle; every winemaker is given full credit for the wines produced for Wandering Dog, in line with the wine bar’s mission to support and foster local vintners–from those just budding to established makers and brands.

Courtesy Wandering Dog

Wandering Dog’s current releases include a sparkling (’12 “Bentley’s Bubbles”; Norm Yost, winemaker; Santa Maria Valley); ’14 Grüner Veltliner (Graham Tatomer, winemaker; Santa Ynez Valley); ’13 Chardonnay (Kevin Law, winemaker; Santa Maria Valley); ’14 “Mazzey” Viognier (Morgan Clendenon, winemaker; Santa Maria Valley); ’12 “Paige” Pinot Noir (Justin Willet, winemaker; La Encantada Vineyard); ’13 “Leila” Pinot Noir (Norm Yost, winemaker; Rio Vista Vineyard); ’13 “No Leashes” Pinot Noir (Doug Margerum, winemaker; Sta. Rita Hills); ’13 Super Tuscan (76% Sangiovese, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon; Chris Ferrara, winemaker; Paso Robles); ’13 Cabernet Sauvignon (Joshua Klapper, winemaker; Paso Robles); ’12 Zinfandel (Janell Dusi, winemaker; Dante Dusi Vineyard, Paso Robles); and ’12 “Lucy” Petite Sirah (Mark Horvath, winemaker; Viejo Vineyard, Ballard Canyon).

Upcoming releases will include a Syrah by winemaker Michael Larner, from Larner Vineyard grapes (Ballard Canyon).

Over the course of its eight years, Wandering Dog Wine Bar has, in addition to international imports, showcased wines from countless winemakers whose own labels were too small to justify the expense of a tasting room. As time passed, many of these producers expanded into their own locations, clearing the way for Wandering Dog to feature the next wave of winemaking superstars.

“This cycle has been instrumental in [Wandering Dog’s] success, but has had the side effect of ending professional relationships with winemakers who are more than an account–they are our friends,” says Wandering Dog Wine Bar’s “Director di Vino”, Charles “CT” Williams.

Courtesy Wandering Dog Wine Bar

Wandering Dog Wine Bar first produced wines in this fashion with a 2005 vintage created by Norm Yost, of California Central Coast wine label, Flying Goat Cellars. Yost’s Pinot Noir, produced for Wandering Dog from Rio Vista Vineyard grapes, was affectionately named “Leila,” for CT’s childhood Newfoundland. Ever since, a good portion of Wandering Dog’s private label listing follows suit with names reflecting family canines of past and present. Now, in 2015, Wandering Dog has burgeoned beyond its “Signature Series” wines with its “No Leashes” program, focusing on popular wineries from past wine lists.

As is evident from the wine bar’s business name, and the tale behind its multiple, dog-honoring wine labels, Wandering Dog Wine bar is dedicated to all things “doggie”. Wandering Dog is decidedly dog-friendly and often hosts pet-related events and fundraisers, such as the upcoming October 3, 2015 “Pinot for Puppies”, a benefit for Shadow’s Fund’s “Bright Beginnings: Pit Bull Puppy Ambassador Program.”

Wandering Dog Wine Bar is located at 1539-C Mission Drive (next to Paula’s Pancake House), in Solvang.

Cheers!  Click here for more cocktail corner columns.

When she’s not busy working as the editor of Santa Barbara SEASONS, Cocktail Corner author Leslie Dinaberg writes magazine articles, newspaper columns and grocery lists. When it comes to cocktails, Leslie considers herself a “goal-oriented drinker.”

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine on September 18, 2015.