Vineyard dogs in spotlight

Photo: Aliki Salmas

"Who wouldn't want to shoot in the Okanagan?"

That's what Vancouver-based photographer Aliki Salmas thought to herself when she was planning her latest coffee table book. It's called Vineyard Dogs of the Okanagan, and it features photos of the resident pups at vineyards throughout Penticton, Summerland and Kelowna.

Salmas was inspired by a book on vineyard dogs that she saw while visiting California's Napa Valley. She kept the idea in the back of her mind for years.

The process of shooting her own book took four years and multiple visits to around 25 separate wineries, but she said it was worth it. 

"I'm a dog lover, and I just thought that it was such a fantastic idea," Salmas said. "I wanted to capture the dogs that are involved in the wine making process, whether that's in the office, in the greeting room or out in the fields."

The photos capture dogs of all shapes and sizes against the backdrop of Okanagan summertime. Salmas said she had people from the area reach out to her in the hope of having their dogs involved in the shoots, but she drew a strict line: Only dogs who actually live on vineyards.

One of her favourite dogs to shoot was a tiny dachshund, named Buddy, who hangs out in the office at Painted Rock winery in Penticton. 

"This dog was the smallest dog in the book by far, and it was so adorable," Salmas said. "And so funny to see such a small dog as a vineyard dog! That, to me, was fun and unexpected."

The experience overall was one Salmas treasures.

"You never know what you're gonna get when you're shooting kids and dogs, but you know when you've got it," Salmas said. "We met some of the warmest, kindest people. You can really tell how much they love their animals."

The book is available for purchase online here.