Wine owners' taste is for the dogs -- and cats
Animal charity benefits from wine-tasting event
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| Rick Graefe photo/ Labels on some of the wines sold by Wine Necessities in Ballwin, as part of its new Dog and Cat Lovers Wine Club, have pet-related names and photos of local pets. |
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And cats.
“Our new Dog and Cat Lovers Wine Club is a good idea, and for a good cause, with 25 percent of monthly fees going to the APA,” he said Saturday, July 26, during a wine and Dove chocolate tasting event. The Missouri Animal Protective Association, based in Brentwood, benefitted from Wine Necessities’ charity.“We even have periodic wine tastings at the APA. And Jacque (James of Wildwood, Wine Necessities’ co-founder) put pictures of my daughter Cindy’s dog, Ava, and cat, Dora, on some of the wine labels for club members.”
James and co-owner Jen Seitz of Wildwood are happy they can benefit the APA and animal lovers with the new club.
The two-year-old custom winery created the Dog and Cat Lovers Wine Club to help the state APA.
Wine Necessities is based in three rooms on the second floor of a retail-office building, where aficionados can make their own wine with juice from wine-producing areas worldwide.
“We have enjoyed sharing our love of wine making with others,” James said.
Her company also helps customers make their own wines by offering free classes each Saturday. Wine Necessities also offers wine tastings and hosts private wine-making parties.
“At this point in the growth of our winery, we wanted to find a way to give back to the community,” James said. “And we’re animal lovers.”
Each month, Dog and Cat Lovers Wine Club members receive two bottles of their private-label wine, accompanied by food-pairing suggestions. Members can specify their choice of red or white or one of each.
A few examples of the special wines offered include “Puppy P-No” (Italian Pinot Grigio), “Retriever Red” (Chilean Merlot) and “Kitty Cat-bernet” (Cabernet Sauvignon).
Custom labels can feature a member’s own pets for a monthly fee of $3, which is donated to the APA.
Monthly membership is $29.99 plus tax, and benefits include a 15 percent discount on all other wines purchased at Wine Necessities.
And the APA is grateful.
Becky Krueger is director of education and public relations of the Missouri APA, a non-profit organization at 1705 S. Hanley Road.
The APA shelters companion animals that have strayed, been abandoned, or whose owners can no longer care for them and makes every effort to find permanent homes for them. The association’s veterinary clinic provides routine care for cats and dogs while supervising the care of the animals in the shelter.
The APA also maintains an online database of missing and lost animals and educational programs for schools and Scout groups.
“We’re a non-profit organization and rely on support from the community to keep our doors open,” Krueger said. “And the support from the club is wonderful, though the group is fairly new. We hope to get the word out so there are more members. And the wine is fabulous. I’ve tried some myself.”
Lisa Gleeson of Maryland Heights joined the club about four months ago, after having been a Wine Necessities customer for more than a year.
“I have four cats — Leo, Shadow, Sherman and Vladimir, age 7 to 1 — and two were adopted from the APA,” said Gleeson, a real estate agent with Remax Suburban. “The club gives me a couple bottles of wine each month and lets me help the APA. I have my cats’ photos on my wine bottle labels, which is so cute.
“And the wine is good. I don’t need all the wine I get, so I ask my business clients to e-mail me their pets’ pictures and put them on some of the bottles to give to them, which is a nice surprise for them — and maybe will get them involved with the club and the APA.”
Seitz said she was at an APA trivia night July 26 in Kirkwood and sold several bottles of club wine at the event.
“We both have a love for animals,” Seitz said. “I’m a big dog person and have two dogs, Riley and Reagan. “Why wouldn’t we give back to the community? The response to the club has been incredible. People want to do something to benefit charitable organizations, and this club also is an easy way to enjoy wine.”
Seitz said about 90 percent of members put their own pets’ pictures on the wine bottle labels.
“We get some really funny pictures for the labels,” she said. “One is a photo of two cats on a staircase, and one has its paw raised to smack the other.”
Jules Karagiannis of Crestwood has been with the club since it started.
“At the time, my daughter, Mary, had graduated with her vet tech degree from Sanford Brown and was working with the APA, so the fact that part of the club fee benefits the APA attracted me,” said Karagiannis, who has three dogs, Nuke, Ace and Bella, and two cats, Anheuser-Busch and Schlafly. “It’s great to benefit an agency that does so much good.”
Even at the Dove chocolate and wine-tasting event Saturday, some of those attending said they’d consider club membership.
Donna Kasting of Manchester said she “loves the idea of giving part of proceeds from tonight to the APA — I’d consider joining the club, and I love the wine bottles with the pets’ pictures on them.”
“Benefitting the APA is a wonderful idea,” said Amy James of Manchester. “Plus, these are pretty good wines.”
Fran James emphasized that “we want money from the club kept in St. Louis with a local charity.”
Lisa Trimble of Ballwin praised a club that “helps the APA take care of animals, to find them homes — and lets you taste great wines.”
You can contact Mary Shapiro at mshapiro@yourjournal.com.
Wine Necessities Dog & Cat Lovers Wine Club
-- Based at 15274 Manchester Road, Suite 270, in Ballwin
-- Members pay $29.99 plus tax per month.
-- They receive two bottles of wine each month and complimentary food lists to pair with wines, plus 15 percent off any wine purchased through the month.
-- Twenty-five percent of all wine-club sales is donated to the Animal Protective Agency of Missouri. -- Wine bottles can be personalized with a pet’s picture on the label for an additional charge of $3.
Call (636) 346-9273.
Visit www.WineNecessities.com
E-mail wineclub@winenecessities.com
Club wines also can be purchased at Lucas Liquors, 15921 Manchester Road in Ballwin.
Visit the APA web site www.apamo.org.
