The Puppy Years

Yakima River

The 1980′s were eventful:  Larry moved to the West Coast, studied environmental  law in Oregon, discovered the burgeoning Northwest wine industry, and met an intriguing young woman named Joyce.  In 1987, Larry and Joyce celebrated their engagement by sharing a 1970 Chateau Pomerol – the last remainder from his undergraduate booty.  They married and relocated to Northern Virginia for a few years, but the Northwest kept calling. By the early ’90′s they had established their home in the Yakima Valley, heart of Washington State wine country.

Larry & Kevin

Ever the opportunist, Larry began to practice the vintner’s art using grapes gleaned from a neighbor’s vineyard.  The fall of 1992, armed with bartered, borrowed, and cobbled together equipment, found Larry and brother Kevin with a half-ton of neighbor Bob Buoy’s select Merlot grapes. A handful of friends were called to join the fledgling vintners, and, reveling in their winemaking fantasies, they produced the first vintage of what would evolve into Sleeping Dog Wines.

1999 Merlot

Larry continued to hone his skills over the next decade. His 1999 Merlot/Malbec, a powerful, well-balanced blend, won several awards at the Benton County Fair and was properly declared “Best of Show.”  This perceived endorsement of Larry’s talent serendipitously joined with his vision (fantasy?) and Sleeping Dog Wines was launched.