Drink

A Boutique Red Wine Dedicated to Vail Mountain's First Ski Patrol Dog

Local avalanche search dog (and Vail Mountain legend) Henry dips his paws into the wine making business.

By Mary Grace Arndt June 12, 2017 Published in the Summer/Fall 2017 issue of Vail-Beaver Creek Magazine

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Henry with his human (and handler) Chris "Mongo" Reeder.

They call him ‘The dogfather.’ As the first canine member of Vail Ski Patrol, Henry the avy dog already was something of a celebrity in the Vail Valley. There’s a deck near PHQ named after him. And now, Henry even has his own wine label. After retiring Henry from active avy dog duty at nine this season, handler Chris “Mongo” Reeder decided to honor his four-legged patrol partner by launching Henry Red Table Wine with business partner Mike Kang. Bottled at a Michigan winery using California grapes, the bold cab/syrah/tempranillo blend has been a hot seller at local wine shops and online (at henrywines.co), where it fetches $28 a bottle and benefits Vail Avalanche Rescue Dogs, helping train the avy pups who will fill Henry’s outsize pawprints.

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