You might know Rescue Dog Wines is committed to donating 50% of our profits to rescue dog organizations, but did you know that we’re also dedicated to sustainable farming practices?
Our Vineyard
When we started Rescue Dog Wines, we knew we wanted to make premium, sustainable wine that honored the rich winemaking history of California. We quickly fell in love with Lodi, a community outside Sacramento with historic roots in American winemaking that date back over 100 years.
After two years of searching for just the right property, in 2017 we purchased a vineyard in Acampo (just a few minutes’ drive north of Lodi). We knew we had a lot of work ahead of us to get the vineyard ready for planting and were fortunate to meet and partner with Round Valley Ranches and vineyard manager Aaron Shinn.
We couldn’t have asked for a better collaboration. As Aaron says, “Round Valley Ranches is a client-oriented, client-driven vineyard management company. Our goal is to work with the client to make them successful. We’re a company that’s built on long-term relationships.” We’ve watched our vineyard transform under Round Valley Ranches’ management. Aaron has guided us through every step of the revitalization of the Acampo property and shares our vision for a sustainable vineyard that yields exceptional grapes for exceptional wine.
We cleared the then-abandoned vineyard, preserving the oak trees and as much native habitat as possible, and planted baby vines in 2020. Using a vertical shoot position (VSP) trellis system, we started with three grape varieties: Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre, and Sangiovese. The upcoming 2022 harvest will be the first harvest at our Acampo vineyard. With the grapes now at veraison, the stage at which the berries begin to soften and change color, we are eagerly awaiting the results of our collective efforts.
Lodi Rules
Vineyard owners, farmers, and winemakers in Lodi have been at the forefront of sustainable winemaking practices for decades. In the 1990s, the Lodi Winegrape Commission implemented programs to educate area farmers and reduce their reliance on pesticides through integrated pest management. This program ultimately grew into the Lodi Rules certification, which is respected internationally for pioneering sustainable farming practices in the industry. There are over 1,200 Lodi Rules–certified vineyards now, from California, to Washington, to Israel.
Round Valley Ranches introduced us to Lodi Rules, knowing the certification program was in line with our goals for sustainability and quality. We are proud to say that our Acampo vineyard is now Lodi Rules–certified.
Our Certified Sustainable Wines
It’s an honor for Rescue Dog Wines to currently offer two wines that are certified green by Lodi Rules: our 2021 Chardonnay and 2021 Sauvignon Blanc.
Beyond the environmental benefits of sustainable farming, it’s clear that the care and craftsmanship that goes into sustainable winemaking sets our wines apart. Both of our current certified green offerings, the 2021 Chardonnay and 2021 Sauvignon, have received excellent scores and reviews. The 2021 Chardonnay was recently awarded Double Gold and Best in Class with a score of 99 at the California State Fair and received Gold and scored 92 at the Sunset International Wine Competition. Our 2021 Sauvignon Blanc took Gold and Best in Class with a 96 at the California State Fair and was honored with Gold and a 90 score at the Sunset International Wine Competition.
We are delighted to see our sustainable wines recognized for their outstanding quality. And with our Lodi Rules–certified Acampo vineyard now producing grapes, we look forward to releasing more wines that meet these industry-leading standards in the future.
-Cheers, Blair & Laura
