Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Johnson.
Hi Sarah, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Around 2016, Sarah had what was initially thought of as a retirement dream: someday owning a wine company. After a good laugh and some time for the idea to settle in, Tracy eventually asked, “Why are we waiting?” That simple question became the beginning of what would eventually grow into Blue Dog Wine Co.
Over the next three years, we immersed ourselves in research, planning, construction, and navigating the process of obtaining permits. In 2019, Blue Dog Wine Co officially began taking shape. Like many small business owners, we spent evenings and weekends building the winery while balancing full-time jobs and family life.
Then March 2020 changed everything. During the COVID shutdown, Sarah and Tracy suddenly found themselves with unexpected time at home and decided there was no better moment to take a chance and fully pursue the dream they had spent years building toward. They opened the winery and never looked back.
What started with six wines and a reservation-only model has grown into a business producing more than 15 wines and meads, with a new location in Mound City, Kansas: The Coyote Tasting Room. Looking back, it’s incredible to see how a retirement idea turned into something much bigger — a family business and a community gathering place.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it definitely has not been a smooth road. Starting and growing a small business comes with challenges at every stage. We began with permits, construction, and building the winery from the ground up, and every step since has brought new obstacles and a lot of learning along the way. As a small family business, there are always multiple hats to wear — owner, marketer, production team, event planner, accountant, wife, and mom.
Balancing the demands of entrepreneurship with family life can be difficult and overwhelming at times. There are long hours, hard decisions, and moments where the to-do list feels endless. But being a family-run business also means our family has grown alongside the business. While the road hasn’t always been easy, seeing people gather in our tasting room, return with friends, and become part of our Blue Dog community makes the challenges worth it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Blue Dog Wine Co began in 2019 with a dream, a lot of paperwork, and the construction of our winery from the ground up. In just six years, we’ve grown from producing six wines to crafting more than fifteen wines and meads, while staying true to our small-batch roots.
What sets us apart is our hands-on approach. Every bottle is hand-filled, hand-corked, and hand-labeled, allowing us to maintain quality and create products that feel personal. We are a winery rather than a vineyard, which gives us the flexibility to source fruit locally whenever possible and from around the world when it allows us to create the best possible product. This approach lets us focus on crafting exceptional wines and meads rather than being limited by what can be grown in our area.
As a family-run business, everyone plays a role. More than simply making wine, our goal has always been creating a place where people want to return because it feels welcoming, comfortable, and familiar — a place that feels like home.
We offer a wide range of wines and meads from dry to sweet, making sure there’s something for every palate. Blue Dog Wine Co can be found in select retail locations throughout Kansas and at community events across the region. Guests can also visit our tasting room, The Coyote, open Fridays and Saturdays, where we offer tastings, wines by the glass, cocktails, beer, non-alcoholic beverages, and food options including gluten-free offerings.
Brand-wise, what we’re most proud of is that people don’t just come for the wine — they come for the experience, the atmosphere, and the sense of community we’ve built.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Finding a mentor doesn’t necessarily mean finding someone in the exact same industry. For me, it means finding another business owner you trust — someone you feel comfortable bouncing ideas off of and sharing both the struggles and successes that come with running a small business. Sometimes an outside perspective can actually be more valuable because they see things differently.
Making time for networking can be challenging, especially living in rural Kansas where opportunities can feel more limited. However, some of the most meaningful connections I’ve made have come from simply showing up and participating in vendor events and community activities. Through those experiences, I’ve met some incredible female business owners who started as networking contacts and eventually became friends and mentors. My advice would be: put yourself out there, even when it feels uncomfortable. You never know which conversation may turn into a friendship, mentorship, or opportunity.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bluedogwineco.com
- Instagram: @bluedogwineco
- Facebook: @bluedogwineco
- Yelp: Blue Dog Wine Co
