The Unlikely Sommelier: How Golden Retrievers are Revolutionizing Wine Selection (and Bringing Joy)

Published in Food and Wine on Friday, August 22nd 2025 at 12:35 GMT by PawNation
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Forget stuffy wine critics and complex tasting notes. A new trend is emerging in the world of fine wines, and it involves wagging tails, wet noses, and a whole lot of canine enthusiasm. Across the United States, vineyards are employing golden retrievers – specifically trained to select the best bottles based on their scent preferences – and the results are surprisingly impressive, and undeniably heartwarming.

The phenomenon began with Rory Bounds, a wine distributor in California who noticed his golden retriever, Indigo, consistently gravitated towards certain wines while ignoring others. Intrigued, Bounds started experimenting, allowing Indigo to choose between different selections. He quickly realized that the dog’s preferences correlated remarkably well with those of professional tasters and even awards received by the chosen wines. This sparked the creation of Wine Dogs, a company dedicated to using golden retrievers as “wine selectors.”

The process is surprisingly sophisticated. Each dog undergoes rigorous training, starting with scent recognition exercises involving various fruits, herbs, and spices commonly found in wine. They are then introduced to diluted wine samples, gradually increasing the concentration until they can reliably identify preferred aromas and flavors. The dogs aren’t simply picking at random; they're responding to specific chemical compounds that contribute to a wine’s overall quality and appeal.

"They're not just sniffing for 'good smells,'" explains Bounds in the Yahoo article. "They're actually detecting volatile organic compounds – things like esters, terpenes, and lactones – which are key indicators of quality and complexity." These compounds, often subtle to human palates, are amplified for a dog’s incredibly sensitive sense of smell, estimated to be 10,000 to 100,000 times better than ours.

The Wine Dogs team currently works with five golden retrievers: Indigo, Pepper, Riley, Remi, and Finn. Each dog has their own distinct preferences, leading to a diverse range of selections that cater to different palates. Their choices are then compiled into "Wine Dog Approved" lists, which are gaining popularity among wine enthusiasts seeking unique recommendations.

The appeal isn't just about the quality of the wines selected; it’s also about the sheer joy and entertainment these furry sommeliers bring. Watching a golden retriever enthusiastically sniff and paw at a bottle before declaring its approval is undeniably charming. Vineyards hosting Wine Dogs events draw crowds eager to witness this unusual process firsthand, creating a festive atmosphere that blends wine appreciation with canine adoration.

Beyond the novelty factor, there's a growing scientific interest in understanding how these dogs are making their selections. Researchers at UC Davis are collaborating with Wine Dogs to analyze the chemical compounds the dogs respond to and how those correlate with human preferences and expert evaluations. This research could potentially lead to a better understanding of wine quality and even inform new winemaking techniques.

The success of Wine Dogs has inspired similar initiatives elsewhere. In New York, another company called "Doggy Do Wines" utilizes golden retrievers for wine selection, further demonstrating the growing popularity of this unconventional approach. The concept is also expanding beyond just selecting wines; some vineyards are using dogs to identify potential disease in vines or even locate truffles.

The rise of canine sommeliers highlights a fascinating intersection of science, entertainment, and our enduring love for animals. While it may seem whimsical at first glance, the Wine Dogs phenomenon offers a fresh perspective on wine appreciation, reminding us that sometimes, the best recommendations come from the most unexpected sources – especially when those sources have wagging tails and an exceptional sense of smell. It’s not just about finding good wine; it's about creating memorable experiences and celebrating the unique bond between humans and their canine companions. And who could resist a recommendation endorsed by a happy, tail-wagging golden retriever?

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The Unlikely Sommelier: How Golden Retrievers are Revolutionizing Wine Selection (and Bringing Joy)