1 week Ago By Chris Chamberlain
It’s been a while since I’ve shared much wine info here on Bites. I like to call myself a casual collector of wine, but usually with a weekly turnover. Still, I have to admit I’m a sucker for a good story, so when the opportunity came to review some wines from a California-based operation named Rescue Dog Wines , I was intrigued.
My family has only ever adopted rescue dogs — usually older ones — so we’re big supporters of these sorts of organizations. Recently, we drove to Eastern Kentucky to pick up the latest additions to our family: Iggy and Ollie are two puppies who were rescued from puppy mill operations. It’s been decades since we’ve had any puppies in the house — and let me tell you, it’s a lot.
We forgot what it was like to have a couple of velociraptors running around, but they’re getting better. All that to say, the mission of Rescue Dog Wines called to me. The winery donates 50 percent of its profits to pet rescue organizations, and in October they targeted groups involved in the rescue and recovery of displaced animals affected by Hurricane Helene.
Iggy and Ollie The wines are primarily from the Lodi and Central Valley AVAs of California — lesser-known regions that produce award-winning wines but don’t receive the attention that Napa and Sonoma do. Rescue Dog Wines offers a wide variety of varietals, from chardonnay and sauvignon blanc in their portfolio of whites to rosés made from grenache and pinot noir grapes to pinot noir, cab sav and a Bordeaux-style red blend. They also offer a trio of fun sparkling wines for a special occasion that won’t break the bank.
So how d o they taste? Well, have you seen the memes about Josh wine ? The gist is that Josh is ...
fine. If you bring Josh to a party, probably nobody will be extremely disappointed, but nobody will be that excited either. Rescue Dog Wines are better than Josh.
While admittedly younger and less complex than their Napa neighbors, the whites tend toward the floral and sweeter end of the spectrum, and the reds are jammy and fruit-forward without being overl y sweet. The sparkling wines are bright and vivacious — perfect for celebrations. While Rescue Dog Wines aren’t currently distributed in Tennessee, you can order them online , or you can join their wine club for monthly shipments and discounts on individual purchases.
Tennessee laws limit wine shipments to no more than 12 bottles per month and 72 bottles a year, so you might want to keep that in mind. Pricing for most of their bottles are in the $20 to 30 range — so a little bit more than, say, Josh. But keep in mind that half the profits are going to good dogs, and when you tell your guests the story, they’ll be a lot more excited than when you introduce Josh to the soiree.
Plus, Iggy and Ollie would be very happy if you helped to support rescue dog efforts. Good boys!.
