January
6
2012
The Cass Crew
Back at the Garagiste Festival we chatted with Jacob Lovejoy, the amazing chef at Cass Winery and Cass Catering. It was a beautiful day at Windfall Farms in Paso Robles for this wine event and to end the day outside eating some of the grub prepared by Jacob and his crew, it was amazing.
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January
4
2012
100% Pinot Noir Rose from Ancient Peaks
There’s a great little tasting room right in downtown Santa Margarita called Ancient Peaks. It’s located right on the quaint (another word for small, rustic, old) little main drag…if you drive too fast, or blink, you’ll miss the main street of this small town; but that’s the great thing about it!
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December
31
2011
It’s New Year’s Eve, that time has come again where we look back on all that has happened in this past year and look forward to what this new year might have in store. We reflect, we ponder, we remember, and we hope. We gather to say good-bye to the old and say hello to the new. Some of us look forward to leaving the old year, some of us are sad to see it go. No matter where you are or what your feelings are on this Dec ember 31, 2011…you own this moment and all the moments around the corner s
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December
28
2011
So, getting back to the discussion about wine marketing and your wine brand; we’ve been unsure how to attack this. Mostly due to the fact that there are numerous ways and opportunities as a winery to market yourself and provide amazing customer service. We weren’t sure whether to put everything into one blog post or to write a book…instead, we are going to break it up and have each blog post contain a couple of points that we think could benefit a winery. In other words, we have a lot to say!
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December
24
2011
Here we are again…that time of the year! Christmas creeps up on us every year…summer comes and goes and then, BAM! It’s Christmas already. They don’t even really let us enjoy Halloween or Thanksgiving before they inundate us with decorations, music, and ads for strange gifts that we just can’t live without.
What’s wrong with society? Why can’t they just let us enjoy the moments? Life is short, but we don’t have to rush it along, do we? We’re working on enjoying what’s happening NOW, not tomorrow or the next day. It’s a difficult thing to do sometimes, because things are flying by us at a mile a minute, but if you can just slow it down and pay attention to THIS moment, I promise you’ll have a different view on life.
There are so many things in life that affect how you look at the world, and Christmas is one of those times that makes you reflect on what’s important. We’re in one of those reflective times and wanted to share some of it with you. As you may have seen in our recent posts here and on Facebook and Twitter, we were pregnant. Unfortunately, we miscarried…which has been quite a learning experience for us. It’s shown us several things; one being that we know how much we’d like to have a child, another is how much we feel love and support from our family and friends. It’s also helped us to refocus and appreciate the things we have right now. We have each other, we have our incredible family and friends, and we have YOU!
So the point of this corny Christmas message is that you don’t get do-overs, but as long as you’re breathing you can make right now matter. It goes back to what we have talked about so much, life is meant to be lived. If you are just filling space, it’s time to step outside and live a life that matters. Even with the miscarriage, we have CHOSEN to take a look at the positive that came out of it, because that is the only aspect of this that we control…how we react to the situation.
How can we be upset when we so much love and support? How can we be upset when we have each other? How can we be upset when we got to experience how much love we felt toward this little nugget of life? Choose to live your life. Choose to enjoy the little moments, because those are the ones that matter. Choose to take the positive road versus the one that ends up eating you alive.
To all of you that read this junk we throw out into the world, to all of you that interact with us, to our friends and family…you truly do mean the world to us. Our world is better because of each one of you and we hope we are able to put a little bit of laughter or positivity into your lives. So please, enjoy this Christmas…but make everyday as special as Christmas is suppose to be. Live in the moments and appreciate those around you.
We wish you the most amazing Christmas…enjoy the people, not the stuff! Cheers!!
December
21
2011
While on one of our recent adventures to the Bay Area, we found ourselves in the well-known downtown Mountain View scene, Castro Street. This drag has tons of great restaurants, shops, and other cool things to look at. As usual, we were on the hunt for food and drink and sniffed out this Spanish Tapas Restaurant called Cascal. Like usual, we perched at the bar and took stock of the goods.
Cascal Restaurant Food and Drink
You might have guessed by the use of the word “Tapas” earlier on, that the menu was chock full of all kinds of interesting small plates. Everything from seafood to meat to veggies and everywhere in between, along with larger plates and an excellent wine list! The interesting thing about the wine list was the selection of complimentary varieties from regions like Spain, Argentina, California, and beyond.
Tapas Menu
Wondering What We Had?
Well, we started off with some Lamb Meatballs on a bed of Cucumber Dill Yogurt Sauce. Good? Ummm…YES!
Grab one and see…..
Lamb Albondigas with Cucumber Sauce
Next came the scallops…that’s Scallops Seared with Shitake Mushrooms
Scallops
Now comes the homemade tortilla chips with crazy-good dip assortment…Guacamole, Mole Black Beans, Queso Fundido with Rajas (like fondue with chili strips melted in).
Homemade Tortilla Chips with Tasty Dips
Another successful food adventure! We want to know about your food adventures…got any?
December
19
2011
In the next in our series of interview clips with Allen Shoup, he discusses the future of wine growth in the United States (specifically California, Oregon, and Washington) and also mentions Turkey, Italy, France, Chile, and so on.
Conversations with Allen Shoup
The time we had with Allen was extremely informative, be sure to check out the other short video clips with him where he covers everything from Gary Vaynerchuk and social media to his mentor Robert Mondavi and his wine project Long Shadows Winery.
One of the most fascinating things this wine blog (although we prefer to think of it as a lifestyle blog) has done is give us the opportunity to talk to so many different people and hear their thoughts and stories on life in the wine world. At the end of the day, the thing we enjoy the most, is the people and the stories. We thank Allen Shoup once again for his time and generosity in sharing a few of his thoughts and stories!
Related articles
- Robert Mondavi and Allen Shoup; Two Wine Greats (hootnannieblog.com)
- Allen Shoup Discussing Social Media and Gary Vaynerchuk (hootnannieblog.com)
- Allen Shoup on Long Shadows Wine, Among Other Things (hootnannieblog.com)
December
16
2011
We ran into another heroic Paso Robles winemaker while at the 2011 Garagiste Festival…Christian Tietje of Cypher Winery told us about what he’s up to these days, along with some of the unique “toys” that winemakers are working with this year. He’s got a big personality that you will see in this video interview as well as taste in his wines.
The Garagiste Festival features small-production winemakers that maybe don’t have a tasting room, or the opportunity to get in front of the public very often. Festival goers can taste some of the most creative and unique wines, as well as those hard-to-find wines from the cutting edge winemakers in the area. Christian is one of these winemakers…while he does have a tasting room on 46 West, he’s making some incredible wines and wanted to tell us all about them.
Who is this Christian Tietje?
Instead of trying to capture Christian in written word, we figure we will let this video and his own words give you a glimpse into his world.
Cheers…and enjoy!!!
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- Garagiste Winemakers Rock Paso at Sold Out Festival (hootnannieblog.com)
- Ranchero Cellars at the Paso Robles Garagiste Festival (hootnannieblog.com)
- Janell Dusi is in the Paso Garagiste House! (hootnannieblog.com)
December
14
2011
We went on the hunt for something a little different; something new and refreshing, that could be enjoyed by anybody at any time! What might this be, you ask (yeah, the title was a give-away)??? Exactly! Non-alcoholic sparkling wine. Now, before you start wondering what we’re up to, we’ve found that there is a time and a place for things like this…for example; you love wine, wine tasting, food and wine, wine and friends, well you get the idea, but you’ve just found out that you’re pregnant and you can’t drink!
Wait! What? Yes, that’s right! I’m pregnant. I’m not all that far along and some might think we’re crazy for telling you so early on, but we’re excited NOW and want to share it! This is our first-ever experience with this kind of thing and we couldn’t be more ecstatic about it all!
So, in light of being healthy and all that, I’ve given up drinking alcohol. I thought this might be a difficult thing for me, since I’ve been enjoying my wine for a VERY (20 years or so, don’t do the math) long time. I’ve heard everything from “I didn’t drink a drop my entire pregnancy” to “It’s fine to have wine when you NEED it” to “I know a mother who drank and smoked all through her pregnancy and her kids were okay!”. All very interesting arguments, but I figure that this is my one shot at bringing a person into this world and I’m going to do everything I can to make it my best shot!
JLohr NA Brut Sparkling
Not to ramble on…but I’m a pretty healthy girl; I rarely get sick, I’m not allergic to anything, I can stomach just about anything, my ancestors lived really long lives (some over 100 years old) and I’m stubborn as a mule. I figure that all these things put together should give the little one a pretty good chance, along with the fact that Hoot’s got strong genes and an even stronger conviction. So here we go! Off on another adventure…and we’re happy that you’re along for the ride with us!On to more important things, shall we? Yes, the Sparkling! J. Lohr Winery makes a whole line of Non-alcoholic wines under the label Ariel. They’ve got everything from Sparkling to Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and more! With the Holidays coming up, I thought the Sparkling would be perfect…and it even tastes good (no, really it does)! Almost like the real thing! I used to wonder why anybody would bother drinking NA wine and now I know one VERY good reason! Pregnancy! A girl just needs a little something fancier than sparkling water in her glass once in a while!
Cheers!
December
11
2011
Our most recent food adventure took us to what’s locally known as “THO” which is short for Thomas Hill Organics. This restaurant is the product of a local farming family that wanted to bring fresh food from farm to table in a unique atmosphere in the downtown Paso Robles district.
So, this wasn’t our first time visiting THO, we’ve been in a handful of times; each of which the food was incredible, the service amazing, and the overall vibe, great! But, we’ve got a confession to make…we haven’t gone back for probably a year or more as a result of our last experience. There’s no need to get into specifics, but it involved sitting at the bar and overhearing two different sets of people that worked there discussing customers, other staff members, complaining about kitchen functions, etc. This is a BIG no-no in customer service, and it was disappointing to say the least.
Now don’t misunderstand, we know that every establishment has their good days and their not so great days. Our point in sharing the story is simple; as a customer service establishment, you never know how your level of service is affecting your clientele. It’s all in the details; maybe customers don’t sit at the bar very often (it was really shallow and not the most comfy bar to sit at) so they didn’t think about not talking shit in front of us, or maybe the management never paid attention or…who knows? But the result was that they missed out on our patronage for a chunk of time. Bummer for us and for them.
The outcome of all of this is that we went back…even after a year, to give it another try. Maybe it was time, maybe the disappointment had worn off, or maybe we just knew it would be okay this time around. It was awesome; back to the great service, incredible food, and wonderful atmosphere! Yay!!! We walked away feeling like we’d had a great time and can’t wait to go back! Good job, THO, and thank you for a great meal.
Now, down to the details; we were in for lunch…it was a cold winter day in Paso Robles, the iPhone said 30 degrees at 11am (brrrrr for us) so we bundled up and headed in. We chose to brave the elements and sit outside on their enclosed courtyard patio. The waiter was kind enough to bring us our own personal heater which was awesome!
We started with the Pork Belly Tacos with Pomegranate and Cilantro Salsa…
These tacos were incredibly tasty…with a rich ancho chile sauce, there was a tiny bit of spice, some sweetness from the salsa, and just an overall exciting group of flavors. The perfect way to start our lunch.
After the tacos, we moved on to the Roasted Turkey Sandwich smothered in Celery and Apple Salad with Currants, Cashews, and Cranberry Relish. This sandwich was like glorious Thanksgiving nestled inside of a pillowy, fresh, roll. Incredible!
This was the perfect lunch for us; light, incredibly tasty, in a cool spot. The flavor combinations were fresh and original and everything just popped! You can definitely taste each ingredient and the farm to table feeling comes through in the brightness of the dish. Again, thank you to Thomas Hill Organics for a great experience! We’ll see you soon!
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December
9
2011
You’ve heard the name Robert Mondavi, right? I mean, what self-proclaimed wine lover/drinker/consumer/beginner/expert hasn’t heard that name? Robert Mondavi was instrumental in changing the way Americans drink wine, starting right here in California. He had a huge influence over the wine world, as well as many people in the wine world.
Allen Shoup on Robert Mondavi
When we got the wonderful opportunity to sit down with Allen Shoup, the father of Washington wine, he told us about some of the things he learned from his mentor; Robert Mondavi. Can you imagine some of the conversations that went on between these two? Oh, to be a fly on the grapes, errr, wall. Allen was in town to receive a lifetime achievement award from Sunset Magazine at our local Savor the Central Coast Event.
We’ll let you hear what Allen has to say about Robert Mondavi…two very admirable men, indeed!
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- Allen Shoup on Long Shadows Wine, Among Other Things (hootnannieblog.com)
- Allen Shoup Discussing Social Media and Gary Vaynerchuk (hootnannieblog.com)
December
7
2011
After much conversation, we will be starting to discuss wine marketing as a whole on this here blog. What that means to us is talking about what we think wineries can do to improve their brand image, customer relationships, and thereby increasing sales. After visiting over 200 wineries, dozens of wine events, countless bars, restaurants, and hotels…we feel we have a voice worth listening to in regards to customer engagement, tasting room etiquette, brand building, overall customer service, and the use of social platforms to build customer communities.
Why Wine Marketing?
Our experiences, combined with our educational backgrounds and life experience of running small businesses, as well as the addiction we have to business in general, customer service, social media, and strategy…has blended into our even bigger love of the area in which we live (Paso Robles) and of the wine community. What all this adds up to is that our main goal is to be helpful, not to bash anyone.
While out and about in our area, and beyond, we’ve come across things that leave us begging for more. We’ve also come across things that leave us wondering what the hell happened. These “things” can be anything from the people to the smells to the products to the overall scene. It can be something really subtle that turns somebody on or off, or it can be something blaring…but the important thing is to be aware of the whole picture and how it affects a business.
So here we go people, join us on this journey to making the wine world even better…and your feedback and thoughts along the way will be expected. As you start seeing posts about the above mentioned stuff, we will want your feedback on good and bad customer service moments and what could have been done better. By providing these tips and information, the hospitality industry (especially in Paso Robles, but not limited to) will be able to see where they can improve their relationships with us…the end consumer!! Cheers!!
December
5
2011
We caught up with Amy Butler of Ranchero Cellars at the first-ever Paso Robles Garagiste Festival. This festival is geared towards those small production wine gigs that maybe don’t have a tasting room or just don’t get the recognition that they deserve. They’re the ones in the garages and warehouses making small-lot wines that will knock your socks off! And they’re all gathered here, at the Garagiste Festival.
Ranchero Cellars and Amy Butler
Amy Butler is the mind behind Ranchero Cellars…she’s been making wine for a long time, even though she’s a young, cutting edge artist in the Paso Robles wine region. Amy likes things like rusty spurs, old tractors and many things Americana…she celebrates the natural style of making wine from interesting varieties, using minimal techniques during the process, and puts out wines that show off what the land can create; great wines from solid fruit.
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December
2
2011
As you may know, we had the chance to interview Allen Shoup of Long Shadows Vintners a while back. He was in our neck of the woods receiving an award from Sunset Magazine at the Savor the Central Coast Event. We got to chat with him about a couple topics that we know pretty well, social media…and Gary Vaynerchuk (@garyvee on Twitter).
Social Media and the Wine Market
Allen had some interesting comments about both social media and Gary V, and we wanted to share them with you. It’s exciting to hear what somebody like Mr. Shoup has to say about the role that social media plays in where the wine market is moving these days. It makes us feel that much better about what we’re doing out here with all of you! We still are very appreciative of Allen and his willingness to sit and chat with us, we respect him immensely and hope to cross paths with him again someday.
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November
30
2011
Hoot actually came across Candoni Wines on Twitter ( @CandoniWines ) during a wine chat. Prior to that, we had not heard of them. They were kind enough to send us a Prosecco Brut and a Moscato D’Italia, and we were thirsty enough to open them!!
Candoni Prosecco Brut
The Prosecco had a light nose, not too much happening; it had a good mouth feel with some lemon flavors. The price point on this one seems to be between $12 and $16. Overall, our thoughts were that this was a light, easy drinking bubbly. A good one to open in a group possibly because we think it would satisfy many palettes.
Candoni's Prosecco Brut
Candoni Moscato D’Italia
The Moscato D’Italia had peaches and apricot on the nose, you could tell it was a sweet wine as well. The palette was fairly sweet as well; this is not typically our type of wine but we thought about scenarios in which we would enjoy this one…it could be good with a bowl of fruit or with some desserts. It could also be fantastic chilled with a splash of cranberry juice on a 100 degree day.
Candoni's Moscato D'Italia
We appreciate Candoni Wines sending these samples! It was interesting for us because we are not wine critics, we think wine critics are lame…generally speaking. We are, however, wine enthusiasts; and one of the things we think is extremely important in the wine world is context. A chilled wine on a winter day doesn’t sound very good…context. A big fruit bomb, heavy red wine does not sound good to us on a 100 degree day…context.
The Candoni Moscato made us stop thinking about how we don’t typically like sweet wines, but think more about those times where we would possibly enjoy a sweet wine. So again, it comes down to the context in which you are drinking. There’s an insane amount of wine out there, so go forth and drink…but remember, a lot of wine drinking is situational, it’s social, and fun! So loosen up that tie and don’t be a wine critic all the time!
November
28
2011
If you haven’t heard of Stillman Brown, well, it’s your loss really. This guy is one of Paso’s more unique wine characters; either he broke the mold or the mold broke him! When we ran into him at the Paso Robles Garagiste Festival, he was behind bars, literally and we got him on film!!!
Who is Stillman Brown?
We know more about him from being his Facebook friend, and he really is a mad scientist…he is truly intelligent but always pushing that pink envelope (you’ll understand why we said pink if you watch the video). His apparent obsessions with Elvis, actual zeppelins, and delicious wine have made for an interesting wine venture called Red Zeppelin Winery. That combination of smarts and antics are reflected in this video, as well as his wines. We’ll be out there soon to taste the wines and show you the scene!
You have to check this out for some true entertainment!!
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- Garagiste Winemakers Rock Paso at Sold Out Festival (hootnannieblog.com)
- Janell Dusi is in the Paso Garagiste House! (hootnannieblog.com)
November
23
2011
Life is not always perfect, nor should it be. We have so many things flying at us these days due to technology and the new 24 hour cycle…bad economy, high unemployment, our politicians in D.C. incapable of agreeing on how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, the Penn State scandal, earthquakes, war, protests, and so on. We’re pretty sure you get the idea.
Even with all this said…we are thankful. We are thankful because we have the choice to focus on the good or the bad. We’re thankful that each day we’re given we can choose to be part of the solution or part of the problem. We’re thankful for each moment with each other, even when we may not be best buddies, because underneath that we know that we actually are. We’re thankful for all the people in our life (from those right here in Paso Robles to the network of people we’ve built around the world via technology), whether they were there for just an instant or they have been around for decades.
To simplify, we are thankful that as long as we are breathing we have a choice. Our choice is to continue to be better…better for each other, for our friends and family, and for our community. We feel that we understand the privilege of life and that we do not want to waste a second of it. We are thankful for every opportunity that has come our way as well as all the “not good” stuff because it has forced us to grow and shown us the importance of each second and helped us to appreciate the good so much more.
We are also thankful for the human spirit, even though all we hear about is how bad people are…there are those of you out there that are helping to feed the hungry, others that are waging the war against bullies, those that are making the ultimate sacrifice by dying for this country, those that are helping disabled children…and all the stuff in between. For each of you, we are thankful.
This Thanksgiving, we are choosing to focus on the good, as is our intention every day; but to still be aware of the not so good. We’re choosing to make the attempt to be present each and every moment and be compassionate toward others since we have not walked in their shoes. We’re choosing to help others when we can and try to motivate those that can hear us as so many have motivated us. We’re choosing to pay it forward when possible…whether it be with dollars or words, a can of food or opening a door. We’re choosing to live…we’re choosing to be thankful…truly thankful. What are you choosing?
November
22
2011
Garagiste Announces: Vines on the Marycrest Wins First Annual “Spirit of Garagiste” Award; Over 40 Artisan Winemakers Pour
Paso Robles, CA (PRWEB) November 21, 2011
Paso Garagiste announced today that Victor Abascal of Vines on the Marycrest has won the first annual “Spirit of Garagiste” Award presented as part of the inaugural Paso Garagiste Festival on November 12th. The award is dedicated to a winemaker who best exemplifies the do-whatever-it-takes spirit of the small-lot winemaker (or garagiste*), while also producing excellent wines. The sold-out festival featured over 40 high-quality, cutting-edge, small production wineries that produce fewer than 1,200 cases a year – all pouring at the Windfall Farms Stallion Barn for over 700 attendees from across the US.
“We are overwhelmed at the reception the festival received – and sorry to have had to turn people away – but pleased that the intimate setting meant that attendees had an opportunity to get to know the winemakers and truly savor their pours,” said Paso Garagiste Co-Founder Stewart McLennan. “Clearly, we have touched a chord: the response to the festival demonstrates that the wine world is on the brink of a truly exciting movement. And, at Paso Garagiste, we are more dedicated than ever to exposing consumers to these passionate, dedicated, hands-on winemakers, who are making some of the most stunning wines anywhere.”
McLennan noted that http://www.pasogaragiste.com will be expanding both in content and scope in the very near future to enable consumers to not only read and blog about garagiste winemakers, but also to purchase their wines online through the Paso Garagiste wine club. In addition, plans are already underway for Paso Garagiste Festival 2012.
“There is no question that the festival included many of the future rock stars of the wine world,” said Paso Garagiste Co-Founder Doug Minnick. “And Victor Abascal of Vines on the Marycrest, our “Spirit of Garagiste” award winner, is a great example of that.”
Abascal, who runs Vines on the Marycrest as essentially a one-man (or one family, including his wife Jennifer and two young children) operation, commutes 600 miles a week between his family and winery in Paso and his ‘day job’ in Los Angeles – and was an early Paso Garagiste advocate, finding the time to support every event and effort leading up to the festival. Running his operation out of a very large garage adjacent to his house and vineyard in Paso, Abascal’s Paso Robles Zinfandel and Rhone blends have won numerous awards.
“Like so many of his fellow garagistes, Victor sacrifices a lot for his wine and his winery, and pursues it with an infectious enthusiasm and the skill of a true craftsman. His wines are excellent, a true reflection of the love and passion he puts into them,” continued Minnick. “Victor spent much of the festival escorting attendees around to taste the wines of his fellow winemakers… epitomizing the collaboration and sharing that makes Paso fertile ground for garagistes.”
Said Abascal: “The Paso Garagiste Festival was a fantastic event run by people I like very much, in a place I like very much, about people I like very much, based on a subject I like very much. I liked it very much! I can’t wait to participate next year, and defend my heavy-weight title.”
Added Minnick, “Victor’s ability to put up with endless winemaking questions from some of the Paso Garagiste crew, even letting them sleep on his floor, was not a factor in the award. No really, it wasn’t…”
The inaugural Garagiste Festival also featured standing room only seminars, including a panel of Paso’s top established winemakers with Justin Smith of Saxum, Terry Culton of Adelaida Cellars, and Neil Collins of Tablas Creek Vineyards and Lone Madrone, moderated by Paso Garagiste co-founder Stewart McLennan; and an oak barrel tasting from Christian Tietje, winemaker and co-owner at Cypher Winery, and Ryan Render from Rendarrio Vineyards and Tonnellerie Saint Martin. The event was capped with a winemaker after party sponsored by Firestone Walker Brewing Company and featuring the rollicking music of country singer Stephen Rowe and his band.
Winemakers who poured at the festival included Aaron Wines, AmByth Estate, Alta Colina, Bodegas M Winery, Brochelle Vineyards, Cayucos Cellars, Caliza Winery, Carlson Wines, Casa Dumetz, Cloak and Dagger Wines, Domaine Degher Wines, Edmond August Wines, Giornata Wines, Grizzly Republic Winery, Ground Effect Wine Co., Hammersky Vineyards, Indigene Cellars, J Dusi Wines, Jacob Toft Wines, Jade Moon, Jalama Wines, JK Wine Company, Kaleidos, Kinero Cellars, La Filice Winery, Les Deux Chats, Nicora Wines, Paso Port Wine Co., Per Cazo Cellars, PiedraSassi, Poalillo Vineyards, Ranchero Cellars, Rangeland Wines, Red Zeppelin Winery, Rendarrio Vineyards, St. Hilaire Vineyard, STANGER Vineyards, Storm Wines, Symbiosis Wines, Tercero Wines, Thomas Alexander Wines, Vin Alegre Winery, Vines on the Marycrest and Westberg Cellars.
Festival sponsors included Windfall Farms, The Krush 92.5 (who live broadcast the event), Glenn Burdette CPAs, Travel Paso Alliance, Paso Press/Vino Magazine, Baker Wine and Grape Analysis, Diablo Valley Packaging, Ethanol Video, 15 Degrees C Wine Bar and Shop, Kirk Consulting, mWEBB Communications, KCOY 12, Vintner’s Vault, La Bellasera Hotel & Suites, Hampton Inn & Suites, Courtyard Marriott, Sempli Glassware, WineWare Software, Debbie Douglas Designs, XpressFill, Clever Concepts, Joebella Coffee Roasters, Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, The Tasting Panel Magazine, Harvey’s Honeyhuts, Western Square Industries, Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Doc’s Cellar, Wine Country Pack and Ship, and Hotel Cheval.
*Garagistes (gar-uh-zhē-stuh) is a term originally used in the Bordeaux region of France to denigrate renegade small-lot wine makers, sometimes working in their “garages” (anything considered not a chateau), who refused to follow the “rules,” and is now a full-fledged movement responsible for making some of the best wine in the world. Click here for more info and proper ‘garagiste’ pronunciation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LrNPQDEcWo&feature=related
To obtain images from the festival, email crystal(at)mwebbcom(dot)com.
About PasoGaragiste.com
PasoGaragiste.com (http://www.pasogaragiste.com) is the first and only multi-media site dedicated to the community of emerging underground winemakers. Committed to fostering the spirit of free exchange of ideas and encouragement that has made Paso Robles one of the friendliest, most successful and innovative wine-making communities in the world, PasoGaragiste is focused on the undiscovered and under-recognized artisan producers who are making some of the best, most exciting, handcrafted small lot production wines in the world.
Founded by Garagistes Stewart McLennan, Doug Minnick and Dan Erland Andersen, PasoGaragiste.com brings together the artisan wine industry – from winemakers to growers, to equipment suppliers, to wine consumers – in a collaborative and passionate online community. In addition to its annual flagship event, The Paso Garagiste Festival, PasoGaragiste.com provides videos, insider info, winemaker forums and access to hard-to-find small production wine.
Media Contact
mWEBB Communications for PasoGaragiste.com
Melanie Webber, melanie(at)mwebbcom(dot)com, (424) 603-4340
Crystal Hartwell, crystal(at)mwebbcom(dot)com, (714) 987-1016
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November
21
2011
As we were scoping out the Garagiste Festival the other weekend, we ran into Janell Dusi of J. Dusi Wines. We chatted with her about the festival as well as an interesting thing we noticed…she had a white wine that she was pouring (a Pinot Gris) and that’s the first white she has made.
What’s J. Dusi Wine all About?
Janell Dusi comes from a family that has strong roots in the wine business in the Paso Robles area. They’re known for producing excellent Zinfandel grapes and until recently, have been mainly focused on growing. Enter Janell…taking the skills taught by her Grandfather, Dante Dusi, and using the creative gene, she produces incredible wines. She focuses on handmade, handcrafted wines that scream quality and also show off the old vine fruit that her family has been known for!
Why Paso Garagiste?
This first-year festival called the “Garagiste” is the perfect venue for a winemaker like J. Dusi. This festival showcases small production winemakers that either don’t have tasting rooms, aren’t overly distributed, or just like to keep things small! Janell tells us why she’s excited to be at the Garagiste Festival, and what she’s up to in the cellar these days…
November
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2011
What are all these things? Maybe you’ve come across Caymus, or even Mer Soleil? Well, if not we’ll tell you…they’re individual wine production labels; each an integral part of the Wagner Family of Wines. Each of their labels represents a different passion and a commitment to bringing you a group of quality wines. We’ve tasted some of these wines at different times in our wine drinking careers, and we’ve even featured some of them right here on HnA!
Who is the Wagner Family?
Well, they’re a family with a rich history in the growing and winemaking industry in Napa, Ca. You can read more about the Wagner’s history here, but let us tell you that they don’t mess around! They are definitely serious about putting out some great wines! From the rich and mineral Mer Soleil Chardonnays (one oaked and one non-oaked) to the delicate and complex Belle Glos Pinot Noir, to the scrumptous Conundrum…and of course, the traditional and delicious Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon.
We got to taste this family of wines in a most unique and efficient way; a tasting kit! Little bottles of each of their wines all in one little organized box!
The "Kit"
Awesome Tasting Package of Great Wagner Family Wines
As far as tasting wine goes, this is the optimal way to do it! You get just enough of each wine to figure out which wines you like the most. You can get your very own Tasting Kit right here….So, pull up a chair, grab a glass and get busy!
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