'Wine' for discriminating dogs, cats

By Karen Goldberg Goff (Contact) | Wednesday, June 25, 2008

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It's a balmy summer night, and you're enjoying a glass of pinot grigio on the deck. Why not invite Fido to join you?

In an age when pet lovers will pay for everything from doggie day care to salon-quality gourmet biscuits, it makes sense that dogs can relax after work as well.

That's why sales of Bark Vineyards Fine Wine for the Feline and Canine have been on the rise since the business began near Williamsburg three years ago.

Dogs are enjoying Sauvignon Bark, Barkundy and Pino Leasheo. The White Sniff 'n' Tail has sold so well that Bark Vineyards is temporarily out of stock. Cats, meanwhile, are partial to Meowlot, says Bark Vineyards owner Kathleen Ramsey. Retail price is $15.99 to $19.99 a bottle.

The business was born out of Ms. Ramsey's love of dogs and wine. She and her husband started by making batches of brew on their home stove until they had a product they thought was market-worthy. The Ramseys' own Italian greyhounds and a couple of neighbor dogs served as taste testers.

OK, so Bark Vineyards isn't making and selling actual wine - no grapes are involved and, of course, no alcohol, which can be dangerous for animals. What is in the bottles (complete with corks and artistic labels) is a pet-friendly broth made in an FDA-approved facility.

White Sniff 'n' Tail is a combination of salmon and sweet potatoes. Barkundy is a beef broth with carrot and oregano accents that "captures the savory flavors of its natural ingredients, producing a delightfully appetizing bouquet that will tempt the most finicky of quadruped connoisseurs," says Bark Vineyards' marketing materials. Sauvignon Bark is chicken flavored, as is Meowlot.

"Dog wine is meant to be poured over dry food as an au jus," Ms. Ramsey says. "But they could drink it plain, too. It was important to us to make a healthy product. Dogs like what humans like."

Bark Vineyards also makes "spirits" for dogs. Johnny Barker Black Lab, the company's newest offering, is a liver-broth concoction.

"The dogs are going crazy for that one," says Ms. Ramsey, who recently moved the business headquarters to Arizona. "I had some in a Mason jar, and my dog was trying to open it."

Locally, the product is selling well at dog boutiques and a few wine stores. Carol Fleming, co-owner of the Vienna Pet Spaw, a grooming parlor and boutique, says dog wine is a top seller.

Even in a down economy, people will spring for a gourmet dog treat (the summer collection includes cookies decorated like lobsters and surfboards), little cartons of doggie frozen yogurt and Bowser dog "beer," Ms. Fleming says.

"There is a big market for upscale items for dogs," she says. "By all means, people like to pamper their pets - more so than ever. It is not just empty-nesters. It is working parents who are so busy, they want to do something nice for their pets, whether it is a special bath or a special treat."

Ms. Fleming says that the recent pet-food recalls have increased awareness among pet owners of what is in their pet's food.

"People are so much more aware of the health and well-being of their pets," she says. "It just makes you stop and think about what you are giving them."

So pour a glass of non-chicken-flavored chardonnay for you, and tell Spot to belly up to the bar. Ms. Fleming says she hopes to institute "yappy hour" at the spa soon, possibly in conjunction with the wine store a few doors down.

Cheers.

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