Wine for Paws

Wine for Paws

Posted: Apr 4, 2011 4:52 PM by Jeanette Trompeter
Updated: Apr 11, 2011 8:50 PM

It's a cause close to my heart combined with one of my favorite pastimes. This weekend, you can help homeless pets by simply doing doing a little wine-tasting along the central coast.
And you can support our local wineries all the same time! Just map out your agenda right.

Don't be surprised if you see a few pets hanging around tasting rooms this weekend. almost 60 wineries will be pouring in their honor. "We have people who have turned this into their big wine tasting event, both locals and people from out of town" says Sarah Tomasetti, director of the weekend event. It's called Wine for Paws. For the third year in a row, participating wineries will donate a portion of their sales this weekend, or all their tasting fees to Woods Humane Society.

"We have a lot of people in the community who have gotten their pets from woods, from the wineries themselves to the people who are out tasting. so this is just a really fun and easy way for them to give back to woods and say thank you." says Tomasetti. Some vintners take it even a step further producing a special varietal in honor of their four-legged friends. "We're getting ready to release our second vintage of Emma and Riley's Emergency Relief." says Brianna Shore of Arroyo Robles Winery. "It's a Zin-Sarah-Merlot-Ccab blend. Just kind of fun table wine that pairs well with anything from seafood to chocolate cake."

In it's first three years, wine for paws has raised 25-thousand dollars. 17-thousand last year. They're hoping this year will be even bigger. Even in this economy, our local wineries are pouring a portion of their proceeds into this worthy cause. all you have to do, is do your tasting at those who are and you'll be helping out animals in need of homes as well. And that, in my book, is worth a toast indeed!

You can print up maps of participating wineries by clicking here. And make sure to have your passport on the back of it stamped to qualify you for a grand prize drawing.