Betsy Hendershot is a busy entrepreneur, wife, mother, local philanthropist, and Tulsa Ballet board member. She is also the proud founder of Oklahoma’s fastest growing boxed wine brand, Downward Dog Wine.
She says, “I wanted to create wines for people like me who are active, ecologically conscious, and enjoy a good glass of wine without spending a fortune.”
Hendershot spent a year searching for the right vineyard to make her wines. She found her match in Washington state’s award-winning Columbia Valley. The wines are made with single-vineyard grapes that are hand-harvested.
“Handpicked grapes cost more to harvest but it is important to me to use workers with the skill and knowledge to pick only ripe, healthy grapes to ensure the quality of the wines,” says Hendershot.
Eco-Friendly Wine
Downward Dog Wine is packaged in boxes rather than bottles. Although glass is recyclable, it is energy-intensive to produce. Switching to plastic and cardboard is much less energy-intensive to produce and the cardboard (and in some cases the plastic) can also be recycled. It also keeps the cost down.
And unlike bottled wine, boxed wine stays fresh for weeks after being opened. Downward Dog Wine customers can enjoy a single glass of wine once a week and not worry about wasting money on unused wine. Each box holds the equivalent of four regular bottles of wine and typically costs $17 to $19.
Giving Back
Hendershot says one of the goals of the product was to give to women’s charities and to broaden her reach in giving. She donates 5% of all sales of Downward Dog Wine directly towards improving the lives of children around the world.
The Downward Dog
After finding the ideal vineyard and eco-friendly packaging, Hendershot needed a name for the wines. The name came out of the blue one morning with the help of her faithful sidekick, Lincoln, a 4-year old Cock-a-poo.
She says, “One morning I was headed to a yoga class and Lincoln did his usual morning stretch. You know, just like the downward dog yoga move with his front legs down and hind legs up with his tail sticking up in the air. And just like that, Downward Dog Wine was born.”
To learn more about Downward Dog Wine and where it may be purchased, visit DownwardDogWine.com.
The Drinks
The wine list:
Light + Focused
Downward Dog White Wine is a lovely blend of meadow flowers, honeysuckle, and bright lemon.
Fun + Flexible
Downward Dog Rosé is abundant with fresh, juicy strawberries and bright watermelon notes.
Toasty + Toned
Downward Dog Chardonnay is a real crowd pleaser; lightly toasted with subtle vanilla and zippy acidity.
Sweet + Sensible
Downward Dog Riesling is perfectly sweet with refreshing acidity and floral notes with a touch of honey
Balanced + Playful
Downward Dog Red Blend is brimming with ripe blackberry and plum. It's complex with loads of texture and a medium to full body.
Smooth + Centered
Downward Dog Merlot has blueberry jam velvety texture, with medium body and lovely balance.
Full + Fearless
Downward Dog Cabernet Sauvignon is full-bodied and rich, with broad shoulders and bold brambly fruit.
The Spread
Wood-fired pizza, crisp salads, sliders, or a simple charcuterie board of cheeses, cured meats, and olives serves as a tasty backdrop for these wine-inspired cocktails.
Frosé
Ingredients:
25 ounces Downward Dog Rosé
¼ cup Coppermuse Strawberry Vodka
8 ounces strawberries trimmed, hulled, and quartered
½ cup simple syrup
5 tablespoons lemon juice
Directions:
- Pour rosé into a shallow pan and freeze for at least 6 hours until almost solid.
- Add the frozen rosé to a blender with the vodka, lemon juice, strawberries, and simple syrup.
- Blend all ingredients together and serve! You can use mint for a garnish.
- Makes 4-6 servings
Spring Fling
Ingredients:
3 ounces Downward Dog Rosé
1 ounce pink lemonade
1 ounce lemon-lime soda
Directions:
Combine and serve over ice. Garnish with fresh blueberries, if desired.