The term garagiste was coined to describe small Bordeaux wineries that chose to make wine by their own rules. It calls to mind the entrepreneurial efforts of the technology wizards that ushered in a new era of computing and printing in the 1980s that led to the enormous successes of companies like Apple and Hewlett-Packard.
Who are the garagistes?
Today’s innovative small-production winemakers don’t always work out of their garages as the name may suggest. But in order to qualify for admission to the Garagiste Movement, their production cannot exceed 1,200 cases annually. And unlike the plethora of boutique wineries that flourish throughout wine country everywhere, the garagistes are committed to producing super-premium award-winning products for a limited clientèle. Since few of them have tasting rooms or distribution channels, they market their wines through their websites and by email.
The Paso Garagistes Premiere Event
Garagistes have sprouted from Washington State to Healdsburg, CA, to Central California, mostly offering their products in small venues such as shared tasting rooms. The biggest splash of this movement opened November 12, 2011 at Windfall Farms east of Paso Robles, CA. The event, open to trade and public, offered a peek at what more than 40 small producers are offering. Their wines are the very definition of hands-on winemaking and many represent a quality level far above what may be found on supermarket shelves. There are bargains, to be sure, but these are labor and material-intensive products that trim no edges in the quest for the finest possible results.
Proceeds from this event support Cal Poly University’s Wine & Viticulture Program.
The Paso event was quickly sold out with over 700 attendees from all over the U.S. and will occur on an annual basis each fall. For future events, do a Google search under “paso garagiste festival” or visit PasoGaragiste.com.
The Garagiste Wineries
Almost all the presenting wineries are from the greater Paso Robles area. Outstanding products were offered by J. Dusi, Jade Moon, JK Wine Co., La Filice, Nicora, Stanger Vineyards, Paso Port Wine Co., and Vines on the Marycrest. A Google search on any of these wineries will produce websites and contact information.
From the mouth of a garagiste:
Michelle Waterman/Brochelle: “Start small, keep it simple, and make sure you’re completely, unequivocally, fervently consumed with intense passion for this industry. Without a doubt, you will need said passion to fuel the bumpy ride ahead.”
This statement defines the garagiste movement everywhere, from Paso Robles to Bordeaux.
Alan Boehmer - Alan Boehmer has conducted regular wine seminars and wine tours since 1967. Originally based in Los Angeles, he served as a consultant for ...
Join the Conversation