Review
Wagging at the wineries
Mid-Willamette Valley wineries long have been able to boast about their pinot noirs; now they can start bragging about their dogs, too. Published late last fall, Wine Dogs USA Edition: the dogs of North American Wineriesis a compilation of nearly 500 photographs culled from more than 300 wineries across the nation by Australian authors Craig McGill and Susan Elliott. Eleven Marion and Polk county wineries and their dogs are among the 48 Oregon wineries featured in the big purple book. Dozens more are from Dundee, Carlton and Newberg in Yamhill County. Salem's Mystic Wines is among the Salem wineries, and owner Rick Mafit was delighted that his dog Salsa, a chow mix, was included. Salsa's 15 and getting on in years. These days, she's having trouble getting in and out of the truck, so this was a great way to memorialize her. Mafit said. The Salem winery owner said he had been in New Zealand in February and had the opportunity to see the original volume, Wine Dogs Deluxe Edition: the dogs of Australasian wineries; and fell in love with it. The original is an international best seller. I saw the original and thought, 'What a great book,' and then when I returned home, there was an e-mail waiting for me, asking if I'd be interested in being part of the USA edition, Mafit said. I was thrilled. Mafit said the photographers came to his winery well-prepared, bringing doggie treats and dog toys with them. They knew all the tricks of the trade, and they didn't waste any time, Mafit said. They came in, shot the photos, tasted a few of our wines, and were on their way. But even though the photography crew didn't linger over the photo shoot, he's pleased with the photo of Salsa. It's a beautiful picture of her, and they did a great job, Mafit said. --Carol McAlice Currie, Statesman Journal Oregon, January 12, 2007
The Wine Dogs phenomenon continues to gather momentum, with the recent release of Wine Dogs USA Edition and the Wine Dogs of Voyager Estate 2007 Calendar. Sydney publishers Craig McGill and Sue Elliott have created a doggie monster, with their Wine Dogs Deluxe Edition of Australasian wineries in its third printing and a second edition of Australian Wine Dogs due out by mid-2007. Photography is under way for a New Zealand edition and a second USA edition, with South African and Italian editions on the drawing board. --Huon Hooke, Sydney Morning Herald, December 5, 2006
What a princely book. Never has a promise been so effortlessly reached and surpassed as when these authors said 'we'll take a picture of some dogs in American vineyards and it might be fun to look at'. These are 450 right lovely looking creatures. Apparently, there was a forerunner to this project, Cathedral Cats. The words do not exist to express how much better this is than that. Particular favourites of mine are Puck the Australian Shepherd (he can balance a biscuit on his nose, it's not the balancing that impresses, see, it's the iron will) and Henry the Staffordshire Bull Terrier (he reminds me a little of my own pet. Being as how he is the same breed, and the same age, and the same colour). Naturally, you'll want to choose your own favourites over time, and if I were to try and divert you to the short-haired pointer on page 472, that would be just presumptuous of me. In the rare event that you get tired of the endless gazing, the spliced-in short stories are a mixed bag. There's some terrible schlock, some doggerel (sorry) that you'll wince at yourself for enjoying, some rather undisciplined streams of consciousness. But there's some marvellous writing too. Highpoints of which are Ralph Steadman --Zoe Williams, Decanter Magazine, November 29, 2006
About the Author
Originally from Shepparton, Victoria, Craig is a self-taught designer and illustrator who started his own design business in Melbourne at 18 years of age. During that time he was appointed as a design consultant to The Reserve Bank of Australia.
His designs and illustrations have graced banknotes throughout the world, including the Australian bicentenary ten-dollar note. His work appears on the original Australian $100 note, Papua New Guinea Kina, Cook Island Dollars and English Pound traveller's cheques. Craig was also involved in the design and illustration of many countries security documents such as Passports, Bonds and Traveller's Cheques.
At the age of 23 he designed the entire series of the Cook Island banknotes and it is believed that he was the world's youngest designer to design a country's complete currency. In 1991, Craig moved to Sydney where his illustrations were regularly commissioned by agencies and designers both in Australia and around the world.
He is now widely known as Australia's only freelance currency designer. Craig has also designed and illustrated five stamps for Australia Post. Craig has been Creative Director of his own agency, McGill Design Group, for over twenty-three years.
Having grown up with a succession of beagles, Craig is now owned by three Siberian Huskies.
Susan Elliott is a multi-skilled artist with a background in fine art, illustration and printmaking. After completing two years of a psychology degree, Sue changed to a career in art. She graduated from the City Art Institute in 1986, majoring in drawing, printmaking and painting.
After two years living abroad, Sue returned to Australia and exhibited her graphic art and screenprints extensively around Sydney while also working in a number of small design studios. She has developed into an award-winning graphic designer with over 17 years of experience in the industry.
Susan joined McGill Design Group in 1999 as co-owner and creative director. She is also co-founder and principal of the Giant Dog publishing house, which is responsible for producing a number of best-selling books including the Wine Dogs and Footy Dogs titles.
