The Chinese New Year starts February 16th. It's the year of the dog. Great news for most of Broad Ripple as we are truly a canine loving community. Brian Wheat who owns Village Recording Studio (www.villagerecording.com) recently talked with me on his podcast about the popularity of dogs in the village. With the Monon Trail, the bark park, pet focused businesses and dog friendly eateries, it's good to be Rover in the Ripple.

I met most of my neighbors who are now dear friends while walking my own two dogs in the hood. My boys were named for beer. Guinness and Harp. They were black and tan mutts adopted from the Humane Society on St Patricks Day 1998. Their true "boof day" was in February so had they not crossed the rainbow bridge (Guinness in 2006, Harp in 2013) they would now be 20 in human years and 140 in dog time.

Guinness and Harp had their own column in the Gazette, called "Better Than a Biscuit" in which they highlighted things that were tastier than treats. I think they would include Dark Horse Double Down Wine if they were still clicking the keyboards with their nose worthy notes. Like an unconditional love giving mutt, it's a blend of familiar and unfamiliar wine grapes that come together and bring satisfying smooth flavors of spicy red fruit. Dark Horse wines give more than they take when it comes to price too. Double Down Red tastes like a purebred but costs less than ten bucks. Guinness and Harp would give that TWO PAWS UP too. They knew their doggy mama loved a good value and that meant more tail wagging time for everyone. Dark Horse Double Down Red blend could be a man or woman's new best friend.