Rescue Dog

Sometimes things just happen; something gets dropped in your lap. Without thought, reason or plan, circumstances put you in a position to do something or make something happen. At the winery, we had been saving some select barrels of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, wanting to create a blend that was greater than the sum of its parts, yet waiting for the right inspiration.

Rescue Dog Red Wine is the result of that inspiration.

Gilstrap Brothers’ Rescue Dog Red Wine is a blend of our premium, award-winning red wines and is perfect for any occasion. Rescue Dog opens with a fruity bouquet of fresh picked berries, yielding to oak and sweet licorice. On the palate, Rescue Dog is soft in texture with hints of bright red cherries and plums. An expanding finish encourages Rescue Dog to be paired with foods of flavor and distinction, whether steaks off the grill, your favorite pasta dish, or a juicy burger.

Rescue Dog presented Gilstrap Brothers with an opportunity to give back. Too many animals are abandoned and suffer at the hands of irresponsible and uncaring people. In the case of Ky, our very own “rescue dog,” the decision to provide her with a happy life was simple. The extension of her rescue and idea to further the cause of animal rescue, has been equally rewarding.

With your purchases of Rescue Dog Red Wine and merchandise, Gilstrap Brothers will donate a portion of sales to Hearts United for Animals, a national no-kill animal shelter, sanctuary and animal welfare organization. HUA rescues dogs from all over the country and specialize in long distance adoptions. They take animals that are lost, afraid, hungry or ill, and comfort them, give them a warm, soft bed, good food, medical care, and most of all, love.

Producing this Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend for the benefit of animal welfare is worthy of the wine, and our effort behind it.

Our Rescue Dog's Story

I was on an eight-day motorcycle trip through Colorado and New Mexico with ten friends during the summer of 2009. While leaving Pagosa Springs, Colorado, en route to Springerville, Arizona, we decided to break into two groups so that some of us could take a longer, more scenic ride through the picturesque Monument Valley.

While riding south towards the town of Kayenta, Arizona, our group of five rode over a rise in the highway in time to see a pick-up truck pulling out of the weeds on the side of the road. Behind the pick-up, a little yellow puppy came charging out onto the busy two-lane highway in pursuit of the truck. Our group came to an immediate stop to help this little scared dog.

My buddy, Dave, pulled his bike out into the oncoming lane to stop traffic. The puppy was all over the centerline. We all jumped off our bikes to try to pick up the pup. She was running in circles, afraid of us, but clearly in need of help. It took all five of us to surround her before I was able to reach down and grab her. We were in a precarious spot and needed to get off the road immediately for our own safety. With some help, I got her stuffed down in the front of my coat and we rode away. I don’t want to imagine what would have happened had we not been there to help her on that busy highway.

As I rode, I had been thinking of calling the dog Ky, after the town of Kayenta, and evenutally decided that would be her name. Hours later we arrived in Springerville and checked into the Rode Inn Motel, a dog-friendly hotel. My room happened to be right next to a couple who were traveling with their dog. They gave Ky some puppy food and provided a water bowl. With their help, we were all able to enjoy our last night of the trip; Ky included.

The last day of our ride took us back into Arizona and the intense summer heat to our respective homes. I took Ky directly to my girlfriend’s house in north Scottsdale so she could meet her. As I travel for a living, I knew that I would need both of us to care for her. My plan worked perfectly. For Pam, her teenage sons, and their dog Sadie, it was love at first sight.

Ky is a very lucky little dog that through a unique set of circumstances, has a wonderful life now. She has become a part of Gilstrap Brothers Winery in Cove, Oregon where she greets winery visitors with her friend Maggie, the winery’s black lab. She is also the inspiration for our new red wine, “Rescue Dog,” where a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Hearts United for Animals, a national no-kill shelter

Since the hectic afternoon when I found her, I’ve been spending a lot of time with Ky. I’ve had some time to think about what I’ve been missing being so busy. For me, a middle-aged guy who has been working way too hard and not taking enough time to “stop and smell the roses,” I really have to ask myself, “Who rescued who?”

To all the animal lovers out there who have the heart to rescue an unfortunate animal, and to everyone who has supported my efforts to save this little dog, I say thank you. This wine’s for you.

-Ted Gilstrap

Motorcycle rider, pilot, winemaker, and dog lover