Howlin’ Good
Posted in Uncategorized on January 29th, 2008 by annetteLet me tell you about the importance of the The SPCA of Monterey County to our region: Monterey County is a really big, diverse county, and the services our SPCA provides reflects that diversity. Not only do they help homeless dogs and cats by sheltering them and adopting them out, they also offer classes to assist and educate pet owners and also to train pets; a small (and busy) veterinary office that offers low-cost spay/neuter and vaccination services; a wildlife center that rehabilitates injured animals and returns them to the wild when appropriate; large animal rescue, care and adoption; animal advocacy and cruelty investigations, and the list goes on. The impact they have on the lives of animals, and by extension, people, is profound. With all of us here at the winery being animal lovers, we wanted to raise funds and awareness for this cause. So, being a winery, we decided to create a wine to sell in our tasting from which 100% of the profits would go to The SPCA of Monterey County.
Now, let me tell you a little about how this product evolved….
We made the wine(see below) — that’s the relatively easy part. Coming up with a name (unique, creative, marketable and something we all agreed to) was a different matter. All kinds of ideas were flung around, we asked everyone we knew to come up with something, and even asked the staff at the SPCA [Mutt, Cellardog Red, Drooling Red, Doggone Good Red], but when we came up with something we all liked, then the name was not available for one reason or another. While this was going on, my dog Sweetie often came to work with me. She’s a mild-mannered and somewhat shy Rat Terrier that enjoys howling at times, and though seemingly unimpressed, howling let’s her hidden soulfulness express itself (click here to see and hear her in action). One day, while witnessing one of her performances, some bright individual said “What about ‘Howlin’ Good Red’” and — Voila! — it all came together. So, Ginny Westcott — a mighty wonderful woman, fantastic graphic designer, and animal lover herself — was kind of enough to donate her services to render this label with Sweetie’s silhouette.
The wine? It is a tasty and appealing blend of Syrah, Petite Sirah, Merlot, mostly. We only made around 300 cases, it’s $20/bottle and is available now from our tasting room (on the westside of San Carlos between Ocean and 7th, Carmel-By-The-Sea (map); 831-620-0645; open Thurs-Mon 11-7). We are in the process of organizing an event with the SPCA and will announce that when it is decided….. Â