Dogs, fine wine, and fine art, giving back to the community

The portrait of the dog on wine bottle evokes a touch of emotion. Most of us have a soft spot for dogs, and the artist's hand has created a beautiful collection of noble canine images. Each wine label on the Cru Vin Dog line was printed from an original illustration. Each label contains a carefully blended, hand selected, artisan wine.
      It is a brilliant plan; dogs, wine, fine art, and a respectable donation from every bottle to canine charities. For Mary Snellgrove and Bill Foss, who were looking to establish a new concept in which to sell wine, they had conjured up the perfect project for their talents.
      When Grand Vin Distributors sold in 2004 Snellgrove and Foss found themselves looking for a new venture. Snellgrove was the head of marketing for Grand Vin and Bill Foss was one of the founding owners. It was a good run for both of them. They built one of the most respected wine distributors in Colorado. Mary smiles as she talks about how all of the employees of Grand Vin tasted wine. From the salesmen and administrative staff, to truck drivers and merchandisers, blind tastings were a daily occurrences and wine education was abundant.
      This devotion to the product gave Snellgrove and Foss an opportunity to create steadfast relationships in the wine industry. They had a comprehensive understanding of vineyards, grape varieties, terroir, blending, and every other expertise needed to produce great wine at a reasonable price.
      "Being in the wine industry for twenty-six years and my partner Bill for thirty-six, we developed relationships with vineyards and winery owners. Some of the wine we are able to acquire is not always available to the public. We have a certain quality level expectation and we can pick and choose. A group of us do a lot of blending. Once we come to the right blend, we instruct our winemaker." Says Snellgrove.
      It took some brainstorming to come up with the idea and how to execute it. "Wine was in our blood. We wanted to stay in the wine industry, but wanted to do something different, something that gave back to the community. We researched and knew we wanted to choose a local non-profit. We pitched The Allie Foundation because we already had a relationship with them."
      Grand Vin had made a practice of supporting local charities. Snellgrove recollects, "When four year old Alie Berrelez was kidnapped back in the mid-nineties, it was big news in Colorado. It seemed like we were all affected. We at Grand Vin funded two bloodhound puppies and Richard Berrelez trained them and then donated them to law enforcement."
http://www.alie.org/
      Cru Vin Dog's Cabernet-Syrah blend name Bloodhound, is a tribute to the dog who found little Alie Berrelez (albeit with a heartbreaking conclusion). Yogi was a member of a K-9 unit with the Aurora Police Department until his passing in 1998. The experienced touched Mary and her husband Jay and they soon became bloodhound owners. This experience prompted Jay to become friends with the owners of Knotty, one of the bloodhound champions at The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
      Jay Snellgrove is the artist creating the labels for the Cru Vin Dog line of wines. His artwork is exhibited at their South Pearl Street gallery. "That is why the wines are so fun, because they are collectable. We try to match the character of the wine to the character of the breed. The portrait series honors special dogs with special stories. We call them hero dogs and each wine is a red blend. When the wine is gone, the label artwork is retired."
      Jay's skill at reproducing the temperament of each breed is remarkable. Because of his talent he has been commissioned to illustrate other dogs by their adoring owners. "There is a story behind every label; there is a story behind every wine. People are so passionate about their dog's breed. Then there are the art collectors, who are big fans of Jay's work. Many people when they first see the artwork think they are photographs," says Mary.
      "We always see canines helping humans. We wanted to feature at least one charity where humans help canines. It just so happened that the Morris Foundation was located in Denver, so it was a good fit for us. They are the oldest research non-profit for animals and one of their biggest programs is to cure canine cancer. The two breeds that suffer from cancer the most are Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers."
      Cru Vin Dogs supports one other non-profit besides The Alie Foundation and Morris Foundation. Canine Companions for Independence trains Labrador and Golden Retrievers to assist adults with disabilities. Ten percent of each bottle of Cru Vin Dog wine sold is donated to a fund distributed to these charities.

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Case Discounts

Libations Wine & Spirits offers 10% discount on all cases of wine mix or match.   Join us most Wednesdays to sample wine, beer, and spirits in-store, at no charge.  

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Every Wednesday from 4:30pm to 7:00pm we pour samples for you. Join us on selected Fridays too.

Upcoming Tasting Events

November 11th, 2009
Cru Vin Dogs Wines
Greyhound or Labrador Sauvignon Blanc $19.99
Golden Retreiver Chardonnay $18.99
Bloodhound Cab-Syrah $29.99
Yellow Lab Cab-Merlot $29.99

November 18, 2009
Thanksgiving Wines
Louis Jadot Beaujolais Rose $11.49
The White Knight Viognier $11.99
Cartlidge & Brown Pinot Noir $14.99
Gruet Blanc de Blanc Sparkling $24.99
Conundrum White Table Wine $13.49

As always, you will receive a 15% discount on wines, and a 10% discount on beers during all tasting events!

SPECIAL PRICING DURING TASTING HOURS

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Wednesday tasting hours are 4:30 to 7:00 pm. Each sample is a one ounce portion to adults 21 and older. Limit four different samples per person.

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Libations Wine and Spirits is a full service liquor store serving Aurora, Parker, Centennial, Tallyn's Reach, Saddle Rock, Pride's Crossings, Shenandoah, Park Villas, Inverness, Meadow Hills, Foxfield, Cottonwood, Pleasant Run, Heritage Eagle Bend and Littleton, Colorado area. Libations has a comprehensive wine inventory, award winning beer selections, all of your favorite spirits and few unusual items as well. Whether you are driving from the DTC, (Denver Tech Center), downtown Denver, Parker, Aurora, Castle Rock, Franktown or Inverness, Libations is on your way home. We are located in Southeast Aurora, near Cherry Creek Reservoir, at Arapahoe Crossings. Our staff are knowledgeable about wine, beer, liqueurs, and spirits, and are always eager to serve you. You must be 21 years or older to shop at Libations Wine & Spirits.

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Libations Wine & Spirits
Arapahoe & Parker Roads
Northeast corner at Arapahoe Crossings
6554 South Parker Road, Aurora, Colorado 80016
Monday - Saturday, 10am to 10pm
Sunday from 11am to 6pm
Phone: 303-766-0575
info@libationswines.com
libationswines.com
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