Wine enthusiasts often talk about the nose of a glass of wine — how the wine smells in the glass. Castello di Borghese and Canine Companions for Independence are collaborating on a different approach to wine’s nose. In this case, however, the nose belongs to some very special pups: assistance dogs in training.
The vineyard is hosting a fundraiser for the non-profit organization that provides canine assistance dogs at no cost to people with disabilities; the dogs help their new owners lead more independent lives by performing tasks difficult for them. It takes a lot of time and money to train each dog before it is matched to a new owner. According to John Bentzinger of Canine Companions, each dog costs approximately $50,000 to raise and train during its working life. To date, Canine Companions has linked more than 5,000 dogs and people since its founding in 1975.
The event takes place at Castello di Borghese on August 12 from 7 to 10 p.m. The vineyard is located at 17150 Route 48 in Cutchogue.
Tickets are $60 per person and include a glass of wine or beer, a light gourmet dinner, live music and, of course, the chance to meet and greet those pups and see some graduates of the program show off their skills. Click here to purchase tickets.
