If you love dogs and wine—we at Sidewalk Dog sure do—you’re in luck, because Home for Life Animal Sanctuary recently introduced a private label wine called Wet Nose wines. Available exclusively at The Wine Market (locations in Mendota Heights and Woodbury), Wet Nose wines are reasonably priced at $12 per bottle, and 20% of Wet Nose wine sales are donated to Home for Life.

Here’s what Home for Life’s Web site says about their wines and their label dogs, HFL residents Greta and Beauty:

Wet Nose Red: From California, this wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aromas and flavors of cherry, dark berries, wild strawberries, chocolate and subtle hints of toasty vanilla spice from the oak. A full-bodied, crowd-pleasing red that will be a great accompaniment to hearty dishes.

Label Dog Greta: An intelligent, energetic Keeshond, Greta came to Home For Life through another shelter, where she had waited for nearly two years to find a new home. Greta now lives in HFL’s feline leukemia facility and dutifully performs her tasks of greeting visitors and providing security for the cats. In early 2009, Greta became certified through Therapy Dogs International and loves her job visiting patients at University of Minnesota Medical Center and University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital.

Wet Nose White: A classic California Chardonnay, this wine shows beautiful aromas of tropical fruit, baked apple and lush spice. On the palate, it has bright acidity and a creamy mouthfeel. Filled with rich flavors of baked apple pie, caramel, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Label Dog Beauty: Beauty’s name matches not just her appearance, but her loving temperament and intelligence as well. When she came to Home for Life, Beauty, a Husky-Border Collie mix, was already a guide dog to her companion Pepper, a blind cattle dog who followed the bells on Beauty’s collar to get around. Beauty and Pepper were surrendered to HFL by a rural Minnesota shelter that took them in when their family had to abandon their home due to domestic abuse. Beauty is presently working hard with volunteers to become a certified therapy dog through Therapy Dogs International.

Editor’s Note: This Sunday, November 22, dog owners will be able to walk ’til they drop (or at least until they get to the refreshments table) to support the animals that Home for Life cares for and the community outreach programs it organizes at the first annual Doggone Early Dog Walk inside the Mall of America. Registration is $25 per four-legged accompanied by up to two two-leggeds. Each additional human is $25 and kids walk for free.

By Meredeth Barzen

Among the many obligatory holiday errands is that trip to the liquor store to pick up a little something to make the celebrations (or, rather, those doing the celebrating) a bit merrier. Not so merry is the idea of leaving the pooch behind as you prepare, but several Twin Cities liquor stores have made shopping for spirits a six-legged endeavor by embracing dogs in their shops.

At Sam's Wine Shop, Nan Haislet, wife of owner Sam, and her dog Toumie both enjoy spending passing the time and greeting other visiting dogs.

Sam’s Wine Shop [editor's note: Sam's Wine Shop has closed.] in Minneapolis welcomes customers of all breeds with water dishes and two kinds of treats “for the choosier puppies that visit us,” says owner Sam Haislet. And when Toumie, Haislet’s adopted terrier/beagle/aussie shepherd mix, isn’t spending time on the family farm, he graces the store as a mascot of sorts.

Just down Washington Avenue, Sorella Wine & Spirits also keeps a steady supply of dog cookies ready for four-legged guests. And, since many of the employees bring their own dogs to work, there’s usually plenty of good company to be had.

If you’re craving a big-dog fix with your pinot noir, South Lyndale Liquors is home to Abbey, a 7-year-old, 160-pound Saint Bernard, who was trained Colorado in avalanche rescue and is spending her retirement in Minnesota as a much-loved shop dog. The decades-old store has always been dog-friendly, says owner Dan Campo.

Abbey leads the way to great wine deals at South Lyndale Liquors.

Saint Paul pups with good noses might like to visit Solo Vino in the Cathedral Hill neighborhood, where they’ll probably be more interested in the treats than the wide variety of hand-crafted wines. Owners should note that the store specializes in bottles from the Iberian Peninsula.

Or, dogs from east of the river can hang out at The Wine Thief for a custom experience. Owners—and husband-and-wife team—Paul and Trina have actually admitted to custom-grinding treats with a mortar and pestle to make them more palatable for smaller dogs that visit.

So whether you’re planning on popping a cork or mixing a cocktail, there are plenty of places to stock up on holiday libations with your furry friend in tow. A nice full-bodied cabernet for you, a belly rub and a treat for him.