While it has been said that a good bottle of wine has led to many a memorable evening, rarely has it been said that it has saved a life. Well, that’s precisely what Rescue Dog Wines has been doing for the last seven years, helping save thousands of rescue animals across the United States.
Located in the town of St. Helena, in the heart of Napa Valley, Rescue Dog Wines is the passion project of two animal lovers turned winemakers, Laura and Blair Lott. Founded in 2017, the brand donates an astounding 50% of its profits to a wide array of non-profits dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating animals in need of help.
Daisy, the dog that started it all is featured on the label of Rescue Dog Wines sparking wine.
Rescue Dog Wines
The impetus for their philanthropic venture was their own rescue dog, Daisy, which Laura adopted in 2007. A charismatic boxer who recently passed away, Daisy acts as the brand’s chief inspiration and is the North Star that both founders claim drives their passion to this day.
“When I met Laura for the first time in Atlanta, where we both were living in 2008, she was a package deal with Daisy. I quickly fell in love with both of them and we both realized we wanted to help other animals in need,” says Blair Lott. “In fact, she was one of the main reasons we decided to buy the vineyard in Lodi in 2017, which led to Rescue Dog Wines. We wanted to have more space to foster more animals and maybe grow some grapes on the side.”
Like many wineries, they started making their wines as a hobby on the side. Blair wanted to try his hand at winemaking and came up with the name in honor of Daisy. He worked with a local artist to create a label featuring a dog and posted his first creations on Facebook. They took off. Within a month, they had over 10,000 followers, with people clamoring for more wine. Thus, Rescue Dog Wines was born.
Laura and Blair Lott with Daisy.
Rescue Dog Wines
“We have always said that we are a purpose-driven brand. Our primary goal is to raise money to help animal rescues,” says Blair Lott. “To ensure people that we weren’t being insincere in our mission, we have, from day one, donated 50% of our profits to help charities. We have partnered with over a hundred organizations since our founding, and nothing makes us and our team happier than knowing the more successful we are, the more we can help. To date, we have donated over $100,000. It’s certainly not a recipe to get rich, but it is one that I wish more companies would follow.”
The primary way that Rescue Dog Wines helps is through donations of its wine to organizations. It could be a few bottles for gift bags or a few cases for silent auctions that the non-profits, many of which operate on shoestring budgets, can use to raise funds. It’s a system that works with their partners reporting substantial funds raised due to the uniqueness of their bottles.
Besides helping raise money, their philanthropy has also raised the brand’s profile and introduced it to a segment of the population known for passionate loyalty. One of the primary ways the brand has gotten its name out is by setting up tasting booths at fundraising events and fairs to promote its cause. Through their model, the brand has realized they could leverage the wine-loving community to raise awareness and funds for shelters without sacrificing product quality.
Rescue Dog Wines Cabernet Sauvignon features a lovable bulldog.
Rescue Dog Wines
Their project has been quite successful. Their distinctive labels, created by artist Lawrence Peters of Modesto, California, make their bottles stand out on crowded shelves. Each label features a dog and sometimes a cat, which exemplifies the wine made from their vines and others sourced high-quality grapes. Their Cabernet Sauvignon, made with Lodi grapes, features a pugnacious bulldog that exemplifies the big, chewy nature of the juice. Their sparkling wines feature their beloved Daisy, her joyfulness and bubbly nature made her the obvious choice.
Working with winemakers Susana Rodriguez Vasquez and Eric Donaldson, Rescue Dog Wines offers a wide array of wines, from big, bold reds to delicate roses and Sauvignon Blancs. In the seven years since it first entered the California wine scene, Rescue Dog Wines has won numerous awards.
Today, their wines are available in retail across their home state and in select locations in Oregon, as well as on their website. While still a small boutique venture, they plan on expanding slowly to help fuel their mission to help animals in need.
“What we are doing is important, and that drives us daily. All of our team are pet lovers, and we have been able to forge a connection with consumers that understand and love our mission,” says Lott. “Consumers insist that brands bring something to the table these days, which is what we do at Rescue Dog Wines. Our passion to help drives our sales and messaging forward these days.”
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