Tasting wine

To someone with a high level of wine expertise, like Cru Vin Dogs President Mary or CEO Bill, tasting wine is easy. But to us every day wine drinkers, sometimes we need a refresher in the best way to try wine and truly experience it.

To start, take a moment to appreciate your wine's appearance. Tilt the glass away from you and then hold it up against a white wall or a piece of white paper. How does the wine look? White wines become darker as they age; red wines tend to develop a brown hue.Watch the wine slide back down the glass; does the wine slowly fall down the glass, or does it trickle? That trickle is referred to as "legs" and indicates that a wine is more viscous and more full bodied.

CVD President Mary Snellgrove

Swirl your wine in the glass -- this opens up the wine, releasing more of the wine's aromas. Now smell the wine, let the glass cover your nose, take your time and really think about the smell. Smell the wine several times: taste it, smell again, you'll discover new aromas as you do.

Take a sip of wine. Let the wine venture around your mouth and visit all the different taste buds -- remember that different areas of your mouth taste different things. Draw air through your lips, as if you were going to whistle. This is called aspirating your wine. It allows the wine to open up, much in the same way that swirling the wine in your glass opened up the aromas. While you taste your wine consider these points:

• Did the wine have a full body? Did it feel heavy in your mouth, or thin? Different varietals have different weights -- so a Pinot Grigio should be lighter feeling than a Chardonnay.
• How was the acidity? Did it taste crisp and fresh? Too much or too little acidity can result in a wine that is flat or sour. 
• Tannic structure -- Tannins come from the skins, stems and, seeds of the grape. They can taste bitter, but are an important part in developing a well-balanced wine. Tannins soften with age and become almost silky.
• Flavor: what does it taste like? Vanilla and nuts indicate that the wine has been aged in oak. Think about fruits, seasonings, meats, flowers, and any other flavor you can while you taste the wine. And be sure to talk about it with a friend, often times you won't taste a flavor until someone else points it out.

And then swallow (or spit). How long does the taste stay with you? Better wines will leave the flavors lingering in your mouth.

The best way to learn more about wine is to keep a journal. As you try wines, write down what you taste, what you experience. It's the best way to learn and grow your wine knowledge. And don't worry if it's hard to come up with a description at first. When my brother (who is an expert on almost everything) started his wine journal, he found that many of his first submissions consisted of "tastes like...wine."

Have fun and happy tasting!

Traveling days

One of my favorite travel companions is my dog, Sasha, but it can often be difficult figuring out where to go with a dog in tow -- especially a 65 pound dog like mine. When you're on the road, you don't always think in advance about what hotels will accommodate your best friend, or what adventures are fun for the whole family.

Sasha on her first vacation in Montana

So with the holiday this week, and tons of people leaving for vacation in the upcoming weeks, I thought I would offer a few links to help you plan your summer travel:

• Cesar's Way: The best vacation destinations for dogs. (Featuring Sonoma, California and Fort Collins, Colorado)
• Bringfido.com All the resources you need for planning a trip with your dog. From hotels to outdoor restaurants.
• American Kennel Club's Tips for traveling with dogs.
• PetsWelcome.com Another great resource for finding pet-friendly hotels and other pet travel advice.
• And don't forget to check out my summer safety tips!

"But this shower is just as good as my crate!" Sasha on her first night in a hotel room.

 Happy travels!

Colorado wildfire pet support

As most of you probably know, there are a number of very serious wild fires throughout the state of Colorado. Across the state, shelters and humane societies are working to help the animals who have been displaced by these terrible circumstances. Below is information about what to do with your pets if you have to evacuate your home and how to help those who have been affected by the fires.

If you have to evacuate your home:

• Be prepared: 
• create a "buddy plan" with relatives or neighbors in case you aren't home when you have to evacuate. Exchange written permission for your "buddy" to take care of your pet in case of emergency. If you don't have a buddy system in place or are unable to use your buddy system, contact animal control or a local humane society for assistance. 
• Keep copies of your pets' medical records, vet information and digital and paper photos of you with your pet in a safe location.
• Microchip your pets and make sure that their information is up to date with your current address.
• If you have to evacuate, keep pets on a leash or in a crate, be sure to bring three days' worth of food and water, and keep your pet's identification on at all times. 

• Local humane societies and shelters are helping to house pets who have been displaced by the fires. Here is contact information for shelters in some of the affected areas:
• Larimer Humane Society  970-226-3647 ext. 7 http://www.larimerhumane.org
• They are offering assistance with rescuing pets, one time water supply for pets still on the property, and sheltering displaced pets. 
• If you have been separated from your pet, visit their lost and found page: http://www.larimerhumane.org/animals/lost-and-found

• Humane Society of Boulder Valley 303-442-4030 http://www.boulderhumane.org
• They are offering shelter for displaced pets. 

• Humane Society of Pikes Peak Region 719.473.1741 http://www.hsppr.org/waldocanyon
• They are offering shelter for displaced pets at their location and a second location at Freedom Financial Event Center. A list of other businesses that are helping to house evacuated pets is on their website. 
• There are additional services for displaced pets at Cheyenne Mountain High School (contact: 719-385-5256, jmsmith@springsgov.com for more information) and Douglas County Fairgrounds (contact 303-663-7743 for more information)

If you want to help:

• Donations are needed at all the shelters to help with their expenses. Click on one of the links below to donate.
• Larimer Humane
• Humane Society of Boulder Valley
• Humane Society of the Pike Peak Region
• Volunteers are still needed at the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region, the Larimer Humane Society and the Teller County Regional Animal Shelter. Click one of the links to find out more.
• The Humane Society of Pikes Peak is offering free cat adoptions to make room for the animals displaced from the fire, adopt a cat to help make room for those in need! See who is up for adoption here.
• If you want to donate supplies, contact Lauren at Pawsitively Pooches for a list of what shelters need what supplies: Lauren@pawsitivelypooches.com
• Help Colorado Now has an excellent list of how to help those affected by the wildfires, both two and four legged.
• And, as always, don't hesitate to contact a member of the Cru Vin Dogs staff for more information.

Barbecue and Sauvignon Blanc? Wine not?

It is hot in Colorado right now, which makes it hard to think anything more than sitting by the pool enjoying some barbecue. And with Fourth of July right around the corner, I thought I'd share some pairing tips to make you find the perfect wines to pair with your summer meals.

To start, here are a few guidelines:

• Make sure your food and wine are in the same weight class. Think about it: in this weather you might want something super light, like a Pinot Grigio, but you're not going to taste it after a bite of that steak. Same is true if your wine is too big: your delicious Halibut will be washed away by that Cab. 
• Opposites attract... While your wine should have the same body weight and flavor intensity, opposing flavors go great together. Having something super spicy? Try a Reisling or a Gewurtztraminer. Match strong acidity, like a Sauvignon Blanc, with creamy dishes or fried foods. Wines with strong tannins are another great way to cut through the fat.
• ...but then again, birds of a feather, flock together. Certain characteristics in food can bring out some great similar flavors in wine, and vice versa. If you're eating a mushroom risotto, try a earthy Pinot Noir. Juicy Cabs go great with juicy steak. Speaking of which...

Great pairing tips for barbecue:

• For red meats and anything covered in barbecue sauce, go for a big, juicy wine, preferably with a bit of spice. Try the Blue Heeler Shiraz-Grenache-Mouvedre with a burger. Give the Zinfandel in The Loyal Companion red blend a chance to shine against some barbecued ribs or chicken.
• Too hot for red? Try the West Highland Sauvignon Blanc with some grilled shrimp or any tomato-based sauce. The acidic flavors are a delicious compliment to the sweet barbecued tastes!

And just to make this easier for you, we're offering a special for Independence Day: the Red, White, and Blue Heeler pack! Available in three, six, or 12 bottle orders. On sale through the end of July. Visit the Cru Vin Dogs store for more information.

Golden memories

Last winter, a woman named Jude contacted us about buying Golden Retriever Christmas ornaments from us. When she received them in the mail, she told me a bit more about why they are so important to her. Six months later, I still think about what she told me. And thought that it was worth sharing with you:

“Years ago, we ordered lots of the Golden Retriever Chardonnay. My husband saved one of the empty bottles and he will NEVER dispose of it. I believe we have ONE bottle in the wine cellar, which will probably forever stay there. The year following we lost our girl precious Golden, Doral. When Father's Day came around, and Doral's Birthday, my husband opened the wine to celebrate her life, but there were LOTS of tears. Now it's easier with our new little girl in our lives, and we think of Doral with more smiles now than tears. That "lone bottle" in the wine cellar, as I said, will remain in her memory.”

 

 

Doral, Jude's beloved Golden Retriever

 

Torrey, Jude's new Golden puppy

As a side note, the blog is going to be taking a bit of a break, while I go get married. Have a wonderful two weeks everyone, and you'll be hearing from me on the 25th!

Summer safety tips for your Loyal Companion

Summer is pretty much here. With all that excitement and fun, we need to remember to give our best friend a little extra TLC. So here are a few tips to help make sure your dog has a safe and happy summer:

•  Never ever leave your dog in a hot car. Even if it's only 80 degrees outside, it can get up to 120 degrees in the car.
• Dogs can get sunburned, especially ones with short hair or light colored fur. Be sure to limit your dog's exposure to the sun when it is especially hot outside. It never hurts to protect your dog by putting sunscreen on his ears and nose before going out. 
• If you're going to the ocean or a beach, keep in mind that salt water is bad for your dog's coat. Wash him off after going swimming to avoid damaging his fur.
• Swimming is great exercise for dogs, but it takes a lot of energy. If your dog is playing in water, keep an eye on him in case he starts to get tired.
• Heat stroke can be a serious problem -- especially for dogs with short faces like pugs and bulldogs. Keep an eye out for excessive panting, dark or bright red gums and tongue, staggering and other signs of weakness. If your dog starts to suffer from heat stroke, take him to the vet immediately. Use cool water, not ice water, to help him cool down. 
• Be careful about your dog's paws on asphalt or sand -- it can get very hot and burn your dog's feet. Try to limit walks and runs to the mornings or evenings when it's cooler out.

This is only a partial list. Be sure to be smart, ask your vet about any questions or concerns you have.And have a great summer everyone!

First Fridays

One of the greatest benefits of sharing an office with an art gallery is the First Friday Art Walk. From April through December, we open our doors on the first Friday of the month, and invite anyone passing by to come in, see Jay's artwork and enjoy a glass of wine and a small snack. Sometimes we invite a special guest, such as Sadie, the arson dog who was one of winners at last year's Hero Dog Awards, or Richard Berrelez, the founder of the Alie Foundation -- one of our charity partners.

Here are some photos from previous First Fridays:

Lucky's owner and Cru Vin Dogs friend, Randi with Austin, a firefighter and artist

Mary, Jay, and Bill presenting a check to the Alie Foundation based on the sales of Yogi

Bill from a few years back

Be sure to stop by the gallery (1500 S Pearl) tomorrow between 4pm and 8pm. We'd love to see you there!