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| The Bulldog Pup
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Don gave up a position working with exotic
metals in the space industry for the country life when he and Gwen
moved to San Luis Obispo in 1975. Back then there wasn’t much demand
for his technical skills locally so he spent the next few years working
out of town. After their first child was born in 1979, they decided to
put Don’s expertise with stainless steel to use locally and founded
Bulldog Welding and Manufacturing. The fledging wineries in Santa
Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties were their focus.
Don’s reputation for quality craftsmanship and
innovation grew while working with local winemakers. He specialized in
custom design or redesigning existing equipment and processing systems
so winemakers could handle grapes or wine as they desired. The Othmans
most significant contribution to the wine world is Don’s 1986 invention
of The Bulldog Pup, a
gas pressure racking wand. The Pup is used instead of a pump when
moving wine in or out of barrels or other vessels, achieving
exceptional clean yet gentle rackings.
The quality of California Pinot Noir has risen significantly since
the late eighties. Improved farming practices have been key in
producing much higher quality grapes. The Bulldog Pup has been key in
retaining wine quality when taking the wine to the bottle. Winemakers
discovered when using a pump to move Pinot Noir out of barrels, oxygen
and agitation were beating up the wine, destroying delicate nuances and
complexity. Don addressed the issue by designing a racking wand that
utilized an inert gas to pressurize the barrel and gently push the wine
without oxygen or agitation. Originally designed for gentle handling of
wine, the ultra clean rackings that are achieved with the Pup have made
it an indispensable cellar tool. In the past 16 years, thousands have
been sold throughout the world. | 
