August 2009

On the Milanesi estate, high atop the hills overlooking the hamlet of Santa Giuletta near Castello Village in the Oltrepò Pavese area of the Pavia region of Lombardia, Italy, lives a sweet puppy named Barrik. Born on March 30, 2009, Barrik is a Deutsch–Drahthaar dog (not the same as the Deutsch-Kurzhaar or German Wirehaired Pointer). How did he get the name “Barrik”? It’s a play on the word “barrique”, which is the 225 liter French wine barrel. Well, when Barrik was only 50 days old, Milanesi was bottling the 2003 vintage of their wonderful “Elisa” Barbera and Barrik managed to turn one of the bottles upside down and he drank almost the entire bottle! After that, he slept for two days. That makes Barrik an honorary Wine Imbiber!

From his vantage point at 200 meters above sea level, Barrik looks out across the Padana plain of the Pavese Apennine mountains, all the way to the majestic setting of the Alps. He also oversees the vineyard to make sure that Milanesi wines are biodynamically produced. He loves to eat grapes directly from the grapevines! Barrik is also a very smart hunting dog, which is characteristic of his breed. Yet, in spite of his large size, he is a very sweet and good puppy, spending his days playing with the other animals of the courtyard (such as cats, hens and roosters). He enjoys the love and companionship of his master, Stefano Milanesi, and Stefano’s wife, Simona, and children, Alessandro and Elisa. Truly, it’s a dog’s life!
 

Many thanks to the Milanesi family for sending us some photos of Barrik.

 
 
 
 
 
 
Barrik tests the grapes.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Barrik enjoys the snow.
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Barrik rests at home.
 
 
 
 

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Filed Under: Wine Dog of the Month