Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  2/9/2011 (link)

  (GARAGISTE SuGaSy Syrah) SuGaSy Dear Friends, I would be remiss if I didn’t thank everyone for the valiant response to our 2010 charity wine, the SuGaSy – the offer had one of the largest response rates of the last several years and we quickly sold out of the entire retail parcel (which made me smile considering so many of you were on vacation the last week of December and never had a chance to respond). In an attempt to offset continued demand for this wine (who knew?) I’ve secured the last 100 cases that were sequestered for charity functions and for top-end restaurants in the Seattle area (local chefs have been keen to participate in this as well) - if you would like an allocation (please order in quantities of 3, 6 or 12 – one case maximum this time), I ask that you let Niki know at your earliest convenience, preferably this afternoon. I need to re-allocate whatever remains early tomorrow for local distribution to eateries, etc. For reference, the original offer is below – the tax deduction would now be for 2011. Thank you again – I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to present this to you and I welcome your support - 2008 Garagiste (Ga) SuGaSy Reserve Syrah (Substance) - (compare at $35+) MAXIMUM one case/person (12 bottles) - please order in quantities of 3, 6 or 12. To order: niki@garagistewine.com - Jon Rimmerman ************************* (original offer: 12/2010) Wine of the Year Dear Friends, Reducing the entire year of experience, tasting, learning and growing to a single wine is never easy but the choice was clear for me all year. My Wine of the Year for 2010 was selected for a number of feel-good reasons not the least of which is that we will derive $0 income from it. Explained in a more literal fashion, this wine was produced from the get-go with the intention of donating 100% of the proceeds to a group of worthy charities that deserve far more support than I could ever muster on my own. With your help, we’ll make a more significant dent toward their goals of giving back, curing or simply giving. For me, the charity of one’s ambition (or lack thereof) is best understood when few expect it. For one day, allow me the latitude to give up the chase, the need to outdo others or push any agenda forward other than the spirit of giving with no strings attached. While it may be unorthodox to select a wine in this fashion, it’s forced me to forgo any semblance of ambition, greed or other with our most important offer of the year – today, it’s about those in need and those that deserve better – not about monetary gain or anything that would cloud the purest sense of charity. Oh yes, we have a wine to discuss. The charity wine is called “SuGaSy” - it is a reserve bottling from some of the best fruit in Washington State (Loess, Minnick, Old Stones, et al) - it is a low-oak, low extract, low-alcohol (only 13.5%) high acid, soil-infused bottling of a Garagiste fan-favorite (Substance Syrah). Produced by one of the hottest teams in Washington State (Jamie Brown and Greg Harrington of Waters/Gramercy Cellars/21 Grams/Substance fame), the wine was intended to sell for approximately the same as the Waters single vineyard line but, considering the charity, everyone pitched in to offer the price. To do this, both Jamie and Greg gave up significant revenue and some of their best grapes – that deserves a thank you. In this case, “reserve” does not mean most extracted, it means the best grapes and barrels produced in a decidedly old-world meets Walla Walla incarnation with tinges of earth, berries, brightness and substance (couldn’t help the pun). The 2008 SuGaSy is medium weight and decidedly lean – an intentional take on varietal fruit that bears absolutely no resemblance to what many have come to expect from domestic Syrah laced with caramelized brown sugar and massive oak. This is a food wine and you can thank Jamie and Greg for that – they are quite proud of the SuGaSy and hope you are as well. Is this the best wine I’ve tasted this year? Of course not, but the charitable result and the community effort required to make it happen makes it the most important (and easiest) wine I can recommend in 2010. I’ll try not to guilt you into supporting this, but take a break from Gilt for a few moments and consider a donation instead...I'm asking everyone on the Email List, even the thousands of retailers, distributors, wholesalers, lurkers etc on the list to purchase at least one bottle of the SuGaSy – it’s for a litany of great causes and it’s 100% tax deductable. I hope that’s not too much to ask? Your money will be donated to the following charities: 2010 Garagiste Customer-Requested Charities Operation Santa Claus Compassion International Beyond Borders The Conservation Fund Scholarship America MAP International American Red Cross American Cancer Society We will also sponsor a number of woman-owned, impoverished business owners via Kiva There you have it – a wine you can feel good about pairing with your evening meal or giving as a gift that has something to say. There are 500 cases of this cool-climate reserve wine and I hope we find a home for all of them within the next few hours... Let’s make it happen. 2008 Garagiste (Ga) SuGaSy Reserve Syrah (Substance) - SOLD OUT (compare at $35+) To order: niki@garagistewine.com This parcel is set to arrive in a week or so (please check OARS for local pick up after Feb 15th). It will ship during the Spring shipping season and should be drinking quite well come this summer (it was just bottled so it will be better with 4-6 months in bottle and last through 2018+). Out of state orders will be held for free under ideal storage conditions (56 degrees/70%humidity) until shipping is possible. Locals may pick up at their leisure. For current local pick up and arrival/ship information, please see your OARS link below (at the bottom of this offer) - don’t know how to access your OARS? Simply click the link and see your account. You can also paste the link into your browser. If you are having trouble with your link or your account, please contact: support@garagistewine.com NO SALES TO RETAILERS OR WHOLESALERS Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Click here to view the status of your orders in O.A.R.S.

• By Jon Rimmerman
  12/23/2010 (link)

  (GARAGISTE SuGaSy Syrah) Wine of the Year Dear Friends, Reducing the entire year of experience, tasting, learning and growing to a single wine is never easy but the choice was clear for me all year. My Wine of the Year for 2010 was selected for a number of feel-good reasons not the least of which is that we will derive $0 income from it. Explained in a more literal fashion, this wine was produced from the get-go with the intention of donating 100% of the proceeds to a group of worthy charities that deserve far more support than I could ever muster on my own. With your help, we’ll make a more significant dent toward their goals of giving back, curing or simply giving. For me, the charity of one’s ambition (or lack thereof) is best understood when few expect it. For one day, allow me the latitude to give up the chase, the need to outdo others or push any agenda forward other than the spirit of giving with no strings attached. While it may be unorthodox to select a wine in this fashion, it’s forced me to forgo any semblance of ambition, greed or other with our most important offer of the year – today, it’s about those in need and those that deserve better – not about monetary gain or anything that would cloud the purest sense of charity. Oh yes, we have a wine to discuss. The charity wine is called “SuGaSy” - it is a reserve bottling from some of the best fruit in Washington State (Loess, Minnick, Old Stones, et al) - it is a low-oak, low extract, low-alcohol (only 13.5%) high acid, soil-infused bottling of a Garagiste fan-favorite (Substance Syrah). Produced by one of the hottest teams in Washington State (Jamie Brown and Greg Harrington of Waters/Gramercy Cellars/21 Grams/Substance fame), the wine was intended to sell for approximately the same as the Waters single vineyard line ($40) but, considering the charity, everyone pitched in to offer the price. To do this, both Jamie and Greg gave up significant revenue and some of their best grapes – that deserves a thank you. In this case, “reserve” does not mean most extracted, it means the best grapes and barrels produced in a decidedly old-world meets Walla Walla incarnation with tinges of earth, berries, brightness and substance (couldn’t help the pun). The 2008 SuGaSy is medium weight and decidedly lean – an intentional take on varietal fruit that bears absolutely no resemblance to what many have come to expect from domestic Syrah laced with caramelized brown sugar and massive oak. This is a food wine and you can thank Jamie and Greg for that – they are quite proud of the SuGaSy and hope you are as well. Is this the best wine I’ve tasted this year? Of course not, but the charitable result and the community effort required to make it happen makes it the most important (and easiest) wine I can recommend in 2010. I’ll try not to guilt you into supporting this, but take a break from Gilt for a few moments and consider a donation instead...I'm asking everyone on the Email List, even the thousands of retailers, distributors, wholesalers, lurkers etc on the list to purchase at least one bottle of the SuGaSy – it’s for a litany of great causes and it’s 100% tax deductable. I hope that’s not too much to ask? Your money will be donated to the following charities: 2010 Garagiste Customer-Requested Charities Operation Santa Claus Compassion International Beyond Borders The Conservation Fund Scholarship America MAP International American Red Cross American Cancer Society We will also sponsor a number of woman-owned, impoverished business owners via Kiva There you have it – a wine you can feel good about pairing with your evening meal or giving as a gift that has something to say. There are 500 cases of this cool-climate reserve wine and I hope we find a home for all of them within the next few hours... Let’s make it happen. Please limit orders to 120/person (10 cases) - wine may be picked up the week of January 15th. 2008 Garagiste (Ga) SuGaSy Reserve Syrah (Substance) - (compare at $35+) To order: niki@garagistewine.com This parcel is set to arrive in a few weeks (please check OARS for local pick up after Jan 15th). It will ship during the Spring shipping season and should be drinking quite well come this summer (it was just bottled so it will be better with 4-6 months in bottle and last through 2018+). Out of state orders will be held for free under ideal storage conditions (56 degrees/70%humidity) until shipping is possible. Locals may pick up at their leisure. For current local pick up and arrival/ship information, please see your OARS link below (at the bottom of this offer) - don’t know how to access your OARS? Simply click the link and see your account. You can also paste the link into your browser. If you are having trouble with your link or your account, please contact: support@garagistewine.com NO SALES TO RETAILERS OR WHOLESALERS Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA WA6555 Click here to view the status of your orders in O.A.R.S.