
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 24, 1995                   TAG: 9503240075
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: NANCY GLEINER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

BARKING UP THE RIGHT GRAPE VINE

Image is everything in advertising. If attractive women can help to sell cars, why can't faithful dogs help to sell wine?

When Chateau Morrisette, a vineyard in Meadows of Dan, marketed its special blend of three wines under the name Trilogy, its sales were at the bottom of the barrel. Three years ago, owner David Morrisette anglicized Le Chien Noir, the name of the brewery's restaurant, and the Trilogy label became Black Dog, complete with a sketch of his beloved labrador retriever, Hans.

Man's best friend had become a business partner, of sorts.

Tasters and toasters have responded to the fetching image of this bowser, and now everything's coming up roses. Black Dog is the winery's leading seller.

Vanessa Bean, a tasting-room assistant manager, described the wine as having a bite at first taste, and a smoky aftertaste.

According to Bean, there are a lot of dog owners out there who imbibe the bubbly. ``A lot of people buy it because they own black dogs.''

Nicholas, another black lab, has replaced Hans, who went to that big doghouse in the sky after a long and fruitful life. But Hans' likeness lives on in the T-shirts, hats, coasters and other items available at the winery.

To sample the grapes of woof, visit the Chateau Morrisette, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway between sniffing posts 171 and 172.

by CNB