What could be better than tasting wines with your best friend? Hmmm… just about nothing, especially when it’s your furry best friend. Astor Wines and Spirits is hosting a free event for humans and pups this Saturday that includes raffles, tastings and discounts! Here are a few things you can expect at this puppy party:

• Cute Puppies: In addition to all of the precious pups in the store, Animal Haven will be on site with some irresistible faces that you may just want to take home with you. We’ll also be doing a raffle to benefit this wonderful organization.
• Doggy Portraits: You can get one for your pooch!
• Tickets To Astor Center Classes: Astor is giving away tickets to two of their popular wine and spirits classes.
• Wine & Cocktail Tastings: We’ll be pouring some special wines that will be on sale and preparing canine-themed cocktails.
• Food: Tasty treats will be served!

http://patrickbucklew.com/

Michelle Edwards and Daniel Fischl, owners of Linnaea Winery in Victoria Australia have an unusual system when it comes to wine testing. Each bottle has a label that reads: Approved by Miss Louisa Belle (and may contain dog snot).

Fischl tells The Herald Sun that Miss Louisa knows if a glass or barrel of wine is off due to tainted corks just by raising a nostril at it. Daniel says, “Most wineries rely on the human nose but that is time-consuming, costly and nowhere near as reliable as Belle, whose nose is 2000 times more sensitive than ours.” Miss Louisa’s nose can also sniff out mildew leaves on vines and faulty corks.

Coming from a long line of search-and-rescue dogs, Miss Belle has a keen sense of smell, but opted to abandon the family profession for sniffing wine. We’re sure her lineage of superior olfactory sense sure comes in handy!

For all you dog loving oenophiles you don’t have to travel to Australia to incorporate the two. This Wednesday, you can help mans best friend and enjoy some delicious wines!

Bideawee is collaborating with 67 Wine for a summer wine tasting event on August 10, 2011 from 4:00 – 7:00PM to raise funds to help support that wide variety of programs that Bideawee offers pets and the people that love them. Below is the information Bidawee has put out about the event:

The partnership between Bideawee and 67 Wine brings together two New York City mainstays to offer pet lovers the opportunity to taste three distinct styles of wines from the Les Compagnons collection from Gabriella Wines at 67 Wine’s Columbus Avenue location on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. At this pet friendly event, attendees will also enjoy light snacks and the pleasure of mingling with other pet lovers and their dogs. To commemorate the event each guest will receive a Bideawee wine glass and 67 Wine will donate $1.00 for each bottle of wine purchased during the event to Bideawee. Raffle drawings and prizes for wine enthusiasts and dog loving attendees will be held throughout the evening.

Bideawee adoptable dogs will be on site in hopes of finding a new forever home.

67 Wine
179 Columbus Avenue (at 68th Street)

Wine tasting event fee is a $10.00 donation to Bideawee. Well-behaved dogs are welcome and will receive complimentary treats and gifts from The New York Dog Shop.

For more information, contact Amy Hraniotis, Bideawee Event Manager, at (516) 785-4687, ext. 369

Maybe you’ll find a Miss Louisa Belle of your own!

"That batch has got to go!"

Fun with Wine Holiday Bash – Wines in the City discount $60 until Dec. 2

In the craze of this season’s holiday parties, Fun With Wine’s Holiday Bash is a special blend of social soiree mixed with a touch of wine insights. Friday, December 3, 2010. 7:30pm.

Celebrate the kickoff of the season with friends old and new; try wines you can enjoy today; taste wines that can age; discover wines that you’d be proud to give as gifts; explore impressive regions and vintages; and party along to great music…. all in one place… on one festive evening.

A night of fabulous variety: wines bursting with flavor, wine insights, live band, social wine lovers everywhere and some truly awesome valuable gems.   More than a $125+ value for $60 with this link.

Click here for RSVP

Cost: $60 with the Wines in the City discount until December 2 – then $70.