Pyrenees wine label brings in donations to Humane Society

ALTENBURG, Mo. -- Tower Rock Winery in Altenburg began making donations to the Humane Society in 2006 from sales of a wine featuring their dog on the label. Owners Bob and Cheryl Breuer created Pyrenees Blanc, a white Missouri table wine, named for Casper, a Great Pyrenees. The winery donates $1 to the Humane Society for each bottle of the Pyrenees Blanc sold.

"We chose to produce this type of wine because we know that 70 percent of sales are from semi- to sweet wines, which would help the Humane Society in donations," Bob Breuer said.

Production began in July 2005 and by the following year a $200 check was given to the Humane Society. By May of this year a total of $750 in donations from Casper's wine had been made to the Humane Society. Currently the winery is $112 away from another $200 donation.

Casper was adopted from the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri in 2001. "We were looking for a slow, nonjumping, nonlicking big dog to adopt," Bob Breuer said. "Casper was the pet of the week in the Missourian, and it was a match meant to be."

The 153-pound dog was not only helpful in marketing but in a lot of ways the perfect winery dog. He slept a lot and loved to be petted by customers and children. His favorite spot was in front of the tasting room door when it was cooler and in front of the tasting room bar when it was warmer. Casper had a big following of customers who brought him dog cookies and treats whenever they visited.

Chardy, a Great Pyrenees, has become the pet at Tower Rock Winery, replacing Casper, who died earlier this year. (Submitted photo)

There were even customers who got down on the floor to pet and hug him. Bob Breuer said, "We once had three little boys who pushed him over singing 'Who Let the Dogs Out' while he stood there thinking it was a nice petting."

Tower Rock Winery has a garden, lake and vineyard just outside the winery. When Casper wasn't watching over Bob Breuer working in the vineyard, his job was to help Breuer feed the fish.

Casper died early this year at age 11. "It was a long life for a dog of this breed," Bob Breuer said.

But the winery has a replacement pet named Chardy, an 11-week-old Great Pyrenees. "He has big paws to fill," Cheryl Breuer said.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133