The Kickoff Garagiste Event!!!!

Today was the kickoff to the Paso Garagiste Event that will be held this Saturday at Windfall Farms. If you don't know what the event is, you're lame. I don't mean to be mean, but yes, you'd be lame.

The Paso Garagiste Festival is the first festival of it's kind, highlighting Garagiste Winemakers from the Paso Wine Region. Garagiste is a French term meaning "Garage Winemakers" and the festival highlights winemakers who make 1,500 cases or less. Most don't have tasting rooms so this is a FABULOUS opportunity for them to show the world what they are all about.

The event will be held this Saturday at Windfall Farms from 2-5pm for the Grand Tasting of over 40 wineries - OMG! This is going to be TOO much fun.

So to get back on message: Tonight was the "launch off" event of the Garagiste Festival featuring the Women of Paso Garagiste: Maggie from Alta Colina, Stephanie from Giornata, and Amy from Ranchero Cellars. All three ladies poured two of their fabulous wine at 15C - many locals and industry folks were out to support the event.

I walked in to meet Amy from Ranchero Cellars who poured me her Viognier - what a yummy Viogier! In fact, I don't really love Viogniers but Amy's was great!!!  Here's Amy & I - we tried to get her bottle/label in the photo but didn't quite succeed:

Then I got to see Ms. Stephanie of Giornata (as well as Broadside & Il Campo.) The Giornata Vermentino is one of my favorite wines of all time! But tonight, she was pouring two reds - and I got to try the Barbera. FABULOUS! Really bright fruit, yet light like a Pinot. Great job, Giornata!

And then....tah da!! Here's Maggie from Alta Colina - the Rhone King (or Queen, shall I say.) Look, I admit, I'm a HUGE fan of Alta Colina and I'll be doing a full blog on them soon. But for now, check out Maggie balancing three bottles of wine along with Maggie from Windward Vineyard:

Ok. On to Stew. One of the founders of the Paso Garagiste Festival. He created a trophy for the winery who supported the Garagiste Festival the most. It has a wood base that is 120 years old, representing Paso Robles. Then it has granite over the top of that representing the Earth. Then it has a metal valve that represents industry - and all of the hard work it takes to be a winemaker. Someone will win this award on Saturday - and I will of course let you know who wins :)

Here's Stew with the award he created:

And here's the main crew partying out back at 15C during the event - people were calling it the "afterparty" within the party! Lisa Dinsmore is there - she's been a fabulous help in putting the whole festival together.

So Sarah will be @ the Paso Garagiste Festival blogging away. But what else will Sarah be doing? She'll be the assistant to the winemakers for the day!! We're talking Christian from Cypher Winery, Neil from Tablas Creek & Lone Madrone, Terry from Adelaida and ...wait for it.....Justin from Saxum Wines!!!!! I'm super excited and have been practicing my best "get out of here paparazzi!!!" moves to protect the winemakers :)

Can't wait to see you all for the Paso Garagiste Event - hooray!!!!!