Dogs & Wine: A Pairing Of The Heart

Peggy Becker in her tasting room with Pat

WOW, WHAT A RIDE TOUR!: MY LIFE IN TRANSITION BLOG

Peggy Becker and I agree, the love for our dogs and the appreciation of good wine go hand in hand. Both get us back to the earth. Both take tender loving care and an appreciation for what is at the root of life; simple stuff like the way the sun moves, the flow of the water, or how the seasons touched down. Grapes grow with these things, so does the love and bond between us and our dogs.  It takes time and trust, trust and time.

Meet Muller, named after one of his Dad’s wines, Muller Thurgau. He suns himself paws up, legs extended, and makes no bones about his massive body or his parts astrewn. Peggy says, “He runs the place” and judging from the tasting he knows what he is doing.

You had me at Merlot, Muller the dog

Peggy met her husband, Charley 11 years ago.  It was Charley’s dream to own a small winery. Before they met,  her lips had never touched liquor. Now, as I beg her to try the Cabernet with hints of cocoa and cherry, I watch her eyes roll back in wonder and she says. “Wow, that is amazing.” And it is amazing- we buy two bottles.  Chocolate freaks, we linger over the homemade fudge she puts in front of us.  She points to the plate and says,“all that is just for you.”  My husband asks if she sells it.  I immediately imagine us pulling a trailer filled with fudge and wine all the way to southern California. Thankfully, she says it is not for sale and she doesn’t give out the recipe.

Peggy and Muller’s story remind me that sometimes life has a happy ending and dreams do come true. There is a simple  joy in a sunny spot, a place of honest work to the rythum of the earth.  Wine & dogs, dogs and wine are a pairing of the heart.

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