How to Drink Wine and Support Dogs

Wine and canines? Do they really mix? They sure do—if you purchase one of various labels that support dog charities. Here are some popular wineries and the good deeds they do.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Dog Lovers Wine Club is a California boutique winery that supports the Humane Society of the United States. Their colorful dog labels, including special editions, are literally works of art: “Sisters” Sangiovese and “Opposite Attraction” Syrah, to name just a couple. You can also customize your own labels by emailing them digital pictures of your pooch or anything else you choose (within reason). Memberships are monthly, bimonthly and quarterly with the wine shipped to your house. You can even sign up to host a “Yappy Hour Wine Tasting” and receive limited production vino for you and your friends to sample, while supporting the dog charity of your choice.
2. Dog House Wines donates a percentage of each sale to Guide Dogs for the Blind, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for the visually impaired through the human-animal bond. The choices range from "Charlie’s Chardonnay" to "Patches’ Pinot Grigio," each with a variety of vintages and suggestions for food pairing. And it doesn’t hurt that they won over 48 medals in three years at top wine competitions.
3. Mutt Lynch Winery is another dog-friendly gem in the heart of California wine country that hosts frequent events and tastings to support animal shelters, charities and causes, as well as offers discounts for dog and animal charity events. Their dog-themed labels including the 2005 "Merlot Over and Play Dead” and signature “Portrait of a Mutt Zinfandel” continue to take home the double gold, silver and bronze in worldwide competitions. And in case there’s the threat of running out—you can join their Club Mutt to have it delivered to your doorstep.
4. Cru Vin Dogs tracks down small lots of quality wines from around the world and donates a percentage of the sales to animal charities and causes, including Morris Animal Foundation’s “Cure Canine Cancer" campaign. Each label features a graphite or pastel drawing of a different breed of dog by Colorado Artist Jay Snellgrove—and when the wine is gone, the label is retired and never used again—making them highly collectible. Cru Vin also has a wine club offering members the first chance to purchase limited edition Snellgrove prints, as well as new-release wines in advance of the general public and exclusive wines that may never be released.

Tips & Warnings

• Prices range from about $10 to $100 a bottle.
• Don’t drink and drive. If you do, you may not be of any use to yourself or the dogs.