Winetasting with Ms. Peep

by winecountrydog & pawlitico

It's terroirific when a human makes great wine. It's even better when a human like winemaker Rod Berglund explains to us dogs and our humans de-tails about his winemaking.

We visited Joseph Swan Vineyards in the Russian River Valley again recently and sniffed out some fantastic terroir. Furhaps you know that the late Mr. Swan was one of California's Pinot pioneers.

Ms. Marsha Peep accompanied us. She was touring Northern Sonoma County in search of nice tasting rooms.


Ms. Peep enjoyed tasting the estimable wines. She likes Pinot Noir a lot.


Our dog-ma appawreciates Joseph Swan wines very very much. How can we tell? Not only did she hang around and taste and chat with Karen, but also she did the unthinkable: She asked Karen fur another taste of one of the wines.


Dog-ma won't tell us which one, but we're betting it was the Great Oak Syrah.

Paw-note: We must mention how much we missed seein' Pappi the winery dog runnin' round. Pawleeze pay tribute to the late great Pappi by enjoyin' photos on the winery site.

Dry Creek Valley wine dog day

by winecountrydog

The fourth day of April was a super-nice spring day fur walkies in Dry Creek Valley!

This is the view from the deck at Mutt Lynch and Wilson wineries.


We were happy to meet Sophie, a very sweet mini Schnauzer. Sophie had a tremendous view of the valley from Rachel's lap.


Many of us dogs were out fur the Barkus Wine & Treats event at Mutt Lynch Winery. It's a fundraiser fur Healdsburg Animal Shelter.

We wanted to walk around and greet everybuddy and eat treats. Dog-ma made a donation and we made a beeline fur some treats that had dropped on the winery floor.

I was, as usual, more outgoing than my buddy, Jack Corgi. Actually, Jack was feelin' uncharacteristically cranky. He asked if we could take him home and let him sleep it off.

I think that poor dog-ma barely got to taste the Merlot Over and Play Dead and the Chateau d'Og Cabernet Sauvignon.


I noticed that Patch the winery dog was interested in a big hunka green stuff. It reminded me of florist's clay — you know, the clay you put at the bottom of a vase to hold the flower stems. Is it pawsible that Patch does ikebana?


Paw-note: You can check the Mutt Lynch calendar of events or pawmail them to get the date fur the next Barkus event!

@twitchhiker in wine country

by winecountrydog

A beautiful day yesterday atop the hills in Sonoma Valley wine country.


I was at dog-friendly Kunde Family Estate with @twitchhiker – aka Paul Smith. Here you see him taking a pic for twitpic.


Standing right in the middle of Kunde's Magnolia Lane Sauvignon Blanc vineyard, sommelier Chris Sawyer explains how humans open screw caps by magic. Winemaker Jeff Kunde looks on knowingly, holding a bottle of same.


Next, twitchhiker does the screw cap bottle-opening trick brilliantly! Anastasia Schuster, aka @AccessInspirati, watches carefully. I bet she can now do the trick too!


Does it make sense fur humans to drink right from the bottle? Below, sommelier Sawyer's obviously in favor of using a glass fur tastin' the next wine. Jeff Kunde pours his '05 Reserve Century Vines Zinfandel.


Humans look so yappy when winetasting. Makes me wish we dogs drank wine.

Twitchhiker apparently enjoys the old vine Zinfandel.


Having finished his Zin, twitchhiker takes a break to twitter.

Howl, just imagine: Paul's the first human to travel the globe by the good graces of twitterers!


Twitchhiker looks cool in his new Kunde vest, below. He's the nicest human, really, and he's raising funds for safe drinking water in schools in developing nations.


You can follow @twitchhiker on twitter. Pawleeze read his blog to learn about twitchhiking and helping charity: water.

Paw-note: I'll be goin' back to Kunde 'cuz it's a super dog-friendly winery. Check out their dog hikes and eco-hikes!

Is wine going to the dogs?

by winecountrydog

Look at lovely Violet! She's a Pom/Chihuahua at the tender age of six months.

"I met her on a Saturday and my heart stood still.
Da doo ron ron ron,
da doo ron ron.
Somebody told me that her name was Violet.
Da doo ron ron ron,
da doo ron ron."

You don't remember this song by The Crystals? Oh howl.

What a beautiful March day it was for seeking out dog-friendly wineries in the Russian River Valley. More than 120 wineries were on the map for the Wine Road barrel tasting event in the valleys of northwestern Sonoma wine country.


I warmed up my olfactory sensitivities in the midday sun at rustic Battaglini Estate Winery, a small family winery that makes Chardonnay, Zinfandel, and Petite Sirah.

'Tis I here, below. And in the background is Jack "pawlitico" Corgi. The bottle of wine's not ours. Dogs don't drink wine. We socialize.


Young Violet, very vigilant, alerted Andrea to the fact that her wine glass was empty.


Sometimes a canine wine tourist would like a chew. We're entitled.


I get distracted by all the socializing. That's how I furgot to point out the old Zinfandel vines to Violet.


It'd be arfully nice if Violet were to come back and visit so we can talk about chewin' on things next year!

SF Giants Baseball Dog Days

By pawlitico

Hey, dog buddies, get your humans to take you out to the ballgame!

This year's annual Dog Days of Summer baseball game will be San Francisco Giants vs. San Diego Padres. It's on Saturday, August 23, 2008, at AT&T Park San Francisco.

Advanced Dog Zone registration is necessary!

Look what dogs will get to do: Be in a doggy costume contest, parade around the field, and take home a doggy souvenir that's designed especially for the day. Woofin awesome!

A portion of the Dog Days Giants game ticket proceeds will benefit the San Francisco SPCA.

Humans, paw-leeze read the following Dog Days Park Rules, Recommendations & Info.

• Any participating dog must be at least 6 months old.


• Only one dog per human adult, and no dogs in heat, please!


• All dogs MUST have ID Tags and current rabies vaccination.


• The Park reserves the right to refuse entry to any dog.


• Waiver forms must be completed before entering the ballpark.


• All dogs must be kept on leash at all times.


• Don't bring a dog who's unpredictable in crowds, with other dogs, or with strangers.


• Use good judgment regarding dog temperament so event will be enjoyable for all.


• Note that dogs and owners will be restricted to a certain area within the ballpark.


• Please pick up after your dog. Be courteous and responsible.

A veterinarian will be on hand in case of an injury or emergency.

Remember, you've got to get your Dog Zone tickets in advance. This is true even if you're a human with season tickets. It's easy. Go to the SF Giants website. Buy a ticket and also paw out the registration form.

Enjoy those hot dogs at the game.

'Dog Days' at wineries Aug 9–10

What "dog days of summer" means to most people is that it's doggone hot weather.

But Dog Days originally meant the days when the Dog Star, Sirius, rose just before or at the same time as the sun. The Romans named this period caniculares dies — days of the dogs — after the Dog Star. In the northern hemisphere, the period falls between July and early September.

The Dog Star is the brightest star in the sky. This doesn't surprise us dogs.

The ancients thought that the dog days of summer was a bad, bad time. Somebuddy ancient said the dog days are "when the seas boiled, wine turned sour, dogs grew mad, and all creatures became languid, causing to man burning fevers, hysterics, and phrensies." Obviously that human didn't know dogs.

If you dogs and your humans want to have a good time at two dog-friendly wineries, go to two Dog Days fundraisers (and "fun-raisers") that benefit Healdsburg Animal Shelter.

For two days, August 9 and 10, Mutt Lynch Winery in Dry Creek Valley will host their annual Dog Days of Summer Open House and Charity Event from 11 A.M. to 5 P.M. Donations appreciated. You dogs are more than welcome — your attendance is a time-honored tradition at this "dog and wine" event.

I'm drooling at the thought of munching on the hot dogs that Big John's donates to the event. Woof! Pass the Greyhound Poupon.

Humans get to do Mutt Lynch winetasting and see dog art. There'll be works by Mylette Welch and other artists. I've visited with Mylette, and I like her Welsh Corgi print that my dog-ma hung on our wall.

Mutt Lynch Winery (707-942-6180) is located at 1960 Dry Creek Road, northwest of Healdsburg.

On August 10, another famous annual Dog Days event is being held at Trentadue Winery from 12 noon to 4:00 P.M. You dogs have to take your humans so that you can both enjoy an afternoon of doggie games, obstacle courses, and cooling-off water stations to beat the heat.

Trentadue will have an event center with pet related vendors, training tips from dog trainers, and more "cool dog stuff." Food and drinks will be available for purchase. The event fee is $5.00 per adult and $ 5.00 per dog. Children are free. A portion of the proceeds benefits Healdsburg Animal Shelter.

Did you know that Trentadue had grapevines way back in the 1890s? Well, they are in Alexander Valley — Old West Sonoma wine country. Trentadue still makes a pre-Prohibition field blend-style wine: You humans can check out the Old Patch wine, based on Zin, Petite Sirah, and Carignane. I'll check out the old patch.

Trentadue Winery (888-332-3032) is at 19170 Geyserville Avenue in Geyserville, California.

'Revolution' in Juilliard Park

We've been having total dog-friendly fun at an outdoor concert series: the Annual Live at Juilliard Summer Concert Series. It's happening Sundays from 5 to 7 in Juilliard Park — a nice, sprawling downtown park in the North Bay city of Santa Rosa.

See the Labrador? Her tail's pointing toward the Roshambo Winery van. Dog-ma says Roshambo's Carignane was a big, tasty pour for only 5 bucks.


Many dog lovers have stopped and talked to us. Dog-ma adored baby Lucia, who was enjoying herself with super-nice Auntie Lisa.


Little Abbott the Scottie was grooving on the park lawn with Deb, his dog-mom.


Every Sunday you'll hear amazing music. The Bay Area's alt rock band Luvplanet played this week.

Last week, the BBC, a Beatles tribute band, played to a large crowd. Dog-ma and the other dancing humans went nutz when the faux Fab Four played "Revolution."


Event sponsors include the local Krush — KRSH 95.9 radio.


Credit for Juilliard Park photos: Dog-ma

Dog-friendly Barley and Hops Tavern

The town of Occidental, just down the Bohemian Highway from the Russian River Valley, has a dog-friendly watering hole: Barley and Hops Tavern. It's the tall yellow house with dogs and humans on the porch.

Chloe and Squirt loved the porch. From their bench they kept an eye on the bar.


Chloe, Border Collie/Shepherd/Greyhound mix, is a rescue dog from Placerville. Her buddy and housemate Squirt is a Blue Heeler who does canine karaoke.


From our porch pawspective, we could see people sitting inside downing craft beer and food.


My dog-ma looked blissful with her Lagunitas Farmhouse Saison draught in hand as she surveyed the bottled brew list.

Tavern owners Noah and Mir are very nice. Also extremely efficient, smart, and friendly. . . . I'm talking highest paw rating. They're so spot-on that they're putting up leash hooks for dogs to sit-stay on the porch.

Dog-ma sez she couldn't help drooling over a grass-fed beef Occidental Burger. A customer was devouring one and praising it wildly. Noah was behind the bar. He finally quipped, "Yes, our food is every bit as good as our beer, and our beer is fantastic." Dog-ma raised her glass to Noah's summation.

Mir appeared with a tray of Lata's vegetarian samosas and mint chutney. Dog-ma and dining companion ordered quickly. I soon overheard dog-ma telling Noah they're the best samosas ever, and a perfect pairing with Saison ale. I wonder what they meant by "synergy" and "grassy" qualities. Woof?

Such juicy, on-the-dogspot, mouth-watering foods and beers. If only I'd been beneath the bar, catching scraps. Imagine the scraps that Porter the cat (seen on the tavern logo) must get.

Read Noah's lively blog. There you'll find Tavernmistress's lunch and dinner menus. Plus a brilliant beer menu and eclectic little wine list.

Shouldn't I go back right now for some Porter Walnut Pie and Guinness Mousse?


Credit for photos: Pat (PR Petsitting, Napa) and Tina (Chloe and Squirt's dog mom, Placerville)

Credit for tip about this dogstination: Henry Ehlers (The Midglen Studio, architects & builders)

Dog-friendly Movies in the Park

Hey dogs! Here's some summer fun you can take your people to: Outdoor movies in Petaluma parks! The film fun begins this week on July 12 with Bee Movie, at McNear Park, 11th & G Streets. The movie starts at 8:45 P.M. You can get there as early as 4:30 to put out your blanket. Or maybe at 6:30 when the food goes on sale.

Another movie series begins at Prince Park, 2301 E. Washington St., on July 26 with a showing of Nacho Libre.

I was howling happy when Robin Harrigan, producer of Movies in the Park, explained the dog pawlicy to me: "If you're a friendly-type dog and promise not to bite, pee on blankets, or cause a ruckus, then you're welcome at Movies in the Park." Woof!

Ms. Harrigan's Shitzu, Beau, offered some helpful tips: If you get tired of a movie at McNear Park, you can "take time for relaxation and reflection in the car, under the shade trees. . . . [Dogs might not want to] attend the movies at Prince Park since there isn't much shade available there."


I believe Beau's more interested in the aesthetics of trees than in being the Jan Wahl of dogs. What impresses me is Beau's smarts about knowing his limits in the heat and sun. Which reminds me, we should take our water bottles, and maybe cooling vests and mats — though Petaluma evenings are known to be cool.

If you're a real film buff, you might want to spend the whole movie dogging your person's blanket, riveted to the big screen. Better take your dog snacks, or else you'll be tempted to snag people's popcorn, pizza, or ice cream — just some of the goodies sold before the movies start.

Pant alert: BBQ or hot dogs will be sold at some showings.

All this fun for a small suggested $4 adult human/$2 kid donation at the door. (Parks have doors? Would they be "out"doors?) You're entered to win prizes when donation is paid at the "out"door. People interested in being a sponsor or an on-screen advertiser can email info@petalumamovies.com, or call 707-694-9888.


The Movies in the Park website www.petalumamovies.com has complete schedules and info for both series, which run until almost the end of September. You can also call for info at 707-694-9888.

Shouldn't a town named PETaluma be the furfect host for dog-friendly events?

Tippi Hedren at Bodega Bay

I got back to Bodega Bay — the first I've been on the Sonoma Coast since my back surgery. I couldn't jump or run fast. I sniffed. Cool sea air. Other animals. Seafood smells coming from the Tides Wharf restaurants. Pelicans belly-cans. The wharf is a five-star sniffin' dogstination.

I love the ocean. The photo below is of me on a favorite beach just north of Bodega Bay.


I love having my head stroked by Tippi Hedren at Bodega Bay. The photo below is of the actress being nice to Bullseye, the Target mascot dog, at an American Film Institute 40th anniversary event. She was nice to me, too.


Ms. Hedren was at Tides Wharf on July 4th signing photos and talking to humans. She comes often to this famous film location where Alfred Hitchock made the 1963 classic The Birds. Tippi Hedren is the movie's star. She's also Melanie Griffith's mother and "den mother" to many animals.

I sat down on the rug right next to Ms. Hedren at her Tides table. She and her assistant asked dog-ma about my surgery when they saw I'm missing fur on my back. You can't see me in the photo below 'cuz I'm behind the table.


My buddy Jack corgi squeezed in next to me at the table. Usually shy, he didn't want to leave Ms. Hedren's side once she started scratching his ears. He and I know this is the kind of scratching and stroking you get only from a real animal lover.

Years ago, Tippi Hedren started Shambala Preserve and Roar Foundation in southern California — not to make pets out of lions, tigers, leopards, cougars, and other exotic cats, but to protect them, to rescue them from mistreatment and neglect. Elephants too. Shambala is a true sanctuary, a place that doesn't breed, buy, sell, trade, or use animals commercially.

Ms. Hedren talks to the public about the problems of exotic pet ownership and advocates for legislation to protect big cats. She and dog-ma talked about the costs of caring for animals — a million dollars a year to care for the Shambala cats! — and the impawtance of spaying and neutering pets. These humans worry about how animals will fare in a tougher economy.

I'll wade into the political waters anytime with humans who want to limit private exotic animal ownership.

Dog-ma has BIG reasons for supporting Ms. Hedren and others who help with exotic animal rescue and accredited sanctuaries. She says, "Few individuals, no matter how well meaning or rich, succeed in providing a safe haven for wild or exotic animals. Individuals apparently have a hard enough time trying to take care of domestic animals, including farm animals. . . ."

Dog days in wine country

by winecountrydog

Are you a dog headed for wine country? . . . It's not easy in summer for a dog traveling in hot California, Oregon, and Washington wine country. Where are you gonna hang out and stay cool? Dog-friendly places? . . . In California, you can't go in restaurants or farmer's markets, and relatively few winery tasting rooms. There are few places that'll let you inside with your guardian/owner. Yet you could die from heat stroke waiting in the car.

I've got to admit that, if I were a tasting-room manager or gift buyer, I wouldn't want rowdy dogs wagging merchandise off the shelves. And as a winery patron, I wouldn't want to run into big rowdy dogs, especially in crowded tasting rooms.

So what's a friendly dog in wine country to do?

1) Get to googly pawing. Find dog-friendly tasting rooms, not just dog-friendly wineries — there's a difference. Ask wineries whether they have shady outdoor spots for us dogs. And look for other dogstinations — you know, dog events like Bark in the Park, Graton Day festival Pet Parade, and Healdsburg Dog House Halloween parade. Always make sure you've got your dog bytes right though: Contact wineries, inns, and events to confirm their dog policies!

2) Make a plan for how you're going to stay cool, which means all day long in summer. Don't worry about evenings; it cools off before sunset. You could get a professional dog walker, doggy daycare, or a dog spa visit along your travel route. (Consider a single-run kennel 'cuz you might get overwhelmed by strangers.) Tell your people to see about advance reservations and other requirements!

3) Pack everything you need to stay cool: your water bowl, plenty of water, your leash and outdoor tie-down, cooling bandana neck-scarf, cooling pet mats, Cool Vest, shade umbrella, and a stack of towels. Towels soaked in cold water and wrung out will help you and your people stay cool. Remember, too, to pack your food, treats, travel ID, toys, emergency contacts, vaccination records, and other regular stuff.

4) Get a good doggie seatbelt harness. I wear my Ruff Rider Roadie harness and wouldn't do car travel without it. Forget the dog crate! You'll suffocate inside that thing in the summertime here.

5) Tell your people to sit-stay flexible. Be prepared to change the itinerary on super-hot triple-digit days. We have only a few in a row, then it cools off again. On the hottest days, head for wineries and recreation spots in the cooler Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast. (See WineRoad.com.)

6) If you get desperately hot on the wine road: Ask your driver-person to stop and buy bags of ice to arrange close to you — not directly on you! Even with ice and cooling mats, you cannot survive long alone in the car. If your people park in the sun instead of the shade, you're done for. You're taking a risk if you even try to stay in the car, so just don't let your people leave you there.

7) If your people have an emergency: Tell your guardian/owner to speak up, and go get the people at the winery or restaurant or wherever to let you go inside with them while they take care of the emergency!