November 12 & 13, 2021 - Paso Robles, CA
*Garagistes (garage-east) 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. The Garagiste Festivals were the first to shine a light on the American garagiste winemaker in 2011.
The Garagiste Wine Festival, named the ‘Best Wine Festival in the US in 2018 in USA Today’s 10 Best Readers Choice Awards, is the first and only wine festival dedicated to the undiscovered and under-recognized American artisan ‘garagiste’ producers who are making some of the best, most exciting, handcrafted small-lot production wines in the world.
Founded by fellow garagistes Stewart McLennan and Douglas Minnick, the Garagiste Festivals are committed to discovering the best and most innovative limited-production winemakers and promoting and showcasing them to a broad audience of discerning wine consumers. Taste over 200 ultra-premium wines from over 60 hard-to-find micro-wineries from the Paso Robles region and all-around California.
The Garagiste Festival is the first and only organization that gathers these undiscovered artisan ‘garagiste’ winemakers who are making some of the best, most exciting, handcrafted small-lot wines in the world. You'll never find these wines in supermarkets - and you'll never find them all in one place like this. Discover the biggest "small" thing happening in the world of wine.
VIP All-Day Pass - $130 | November 13th, 11:00am-8:30pm | Paso Fairgrounds
Please note earlier start time. Check-In will begin at 11:00am, so the Seminar can start at 11:30am. Please be on time, as there is a lot of ground to cover, and you will need to be there from the beginning to get the most out of this event.
Get access to all Saturday events, including morning seminar (11:30am start - Description Below), Wine Country Box Lunch, (1) hour Early Access tasting, (3) hours at the Grand Tasting, and entry to the After Party (from 5:30-8:30pm) with live music and unlimited beer.
Early Access - $85 | November 13th, 1:00-5:00pm | Paso Fairgrounds
Please note earlier start time. Get an extra hour from 1-2pm with a limited crowd. Find your favorites amongst our lineup of over 60+ winemakers who will be pouring over 200 different wines from 1-5pm. Includes unlimited tastes, complimentary cheese & charcuterie, food samples and a souvenir Stolzle crystal wine glass.
Grand Tasting - $65 | November 13th, 2:00-5:00pm | Paso Fairgrounds
Find your favorites amongst our lineup of 60+ winemakers who will be pouring over 200 different wines from 2-5pm. Includes unlimited tastes, complimentary cheese & charcuterie, food samples and a souvenir Stolzle crystal wine glass.
After Party - $30 | November 13h, 5:30-8:30pm | Paso Fairgrounds
Keep the good times going! Mingle with the winemakers, grab a cold brew and rock out with live music.
Designated Driver Admission - $10 | November 9, 1-5pm | Paso Fairgrounds
Sometimes you have to take one for the team. Please enjoy visiting with our other food and artisan vendors. Entry is allowed for Tasting Sessions ONLY (1-5pm). No VIP Seminar Entry allowed.
ADDITIONAL EVENTS / WEEKEND PASS INFO
Friday Rare & Reserve Paella Party - $65 | November 8th | American Legion Hall, Templeton,
Kick off the weekend with a mouthwatering bang! Guests will get to experience over 40 of the best wines our garagistes have to offer - Only available at this event! No Repeats! - along with a buffet of amazing Paella and other delicious bites from local Chef John Carson (JC Catering). An intimate party to energize and impress your palate.
Weekend Passes - $155 per person | November 8 & 9th - Includes all Festival Events
Get full access to ALL of the wine and fun the Festival has to offer, as well as the best pricing deal - over 20% off Friday Night’s Rare & Reserve Party and Saturday VIP All Day Access - including the Saturday Seminar, Gourmet Box Lunch, Early Access to the Grand Tasting and Rockin' After Party! - Passes No Longer Available
SATURDAY SEMINAR: 11:30am-1:00pm
Only Available with VIP Ticket or Weekend Pass
How to Taste Wine Like a Pro: An Interactive Tasting Experience!
Ever wonder what winemakers mean when they talk about tannin, acidity or sweetness? Or why there's even a debate about alcohol levels? All of these components affect a wines flavor and body and, in the end, it's the balance of these aspects that influence the quality of what ends up in the bottle.
This hands-on seminar will lead attendees through a systematic tasting to learn how to identify these core wine principles in the glass; how to assess wine quality apart from personal likes and dislikes and be able to more clearly recognize and put into context the important components of any wine.
Whether you already know a lot about wine or are just beginning your wine journey, you will come away from this fun, guided tasting seminar with a deeper understanding of the nuances of wine. Use your newfound "powers" to enhance your festival experience by digging deeper into grapes and styles and discover how winemaker influence and terroir can affect the outcome in the glass.
This seminar is led by Melanie Webber, who runs and teaches the Paso Robles Wine House WSET Satellite program and holds the WSET Diploma in wine and spirits and the French Wine Society ‘French Wine Scholar’ certification.
Includes a tasting components exercise, a take-home tasting grid, tasting/assessment of six wines and a collaborative blind tasting. A fun and active tasting refresher for those in the know, and a great primer and confidence builder for those who are just starting to explore the wide world of wine.
PARTICIPATING WINERIES
13th & Third Wines, Alta Colina Winery, Arndt Cellars*, Ascension Cellars, Autry Cellars*, Bolt To Wines*, Bon Niche Cellars, Brophy Clark Cellars, Burning Bench Cellars, Bushong Vintage Company, Caliza Winery, Carpenter Wines*, Cloak & Dagger Wines, Concur Wines*, Copia Vineyards, Cutruzzola Vineyards, Cypher Winery, Decroux Wines, DENO Wines, Detente Wines*, DeWitt Vineyard, Dubost Winery, Dusty Nabor Wines, Elevage Wines*, Enrique Torres Cellars*, Etnyre Wines*, Ferguson Family Winery, Frisco Cellars, Gary Kramer Guitar Cellars, Greyscale Wines, Hayseed & Housdon*, Hoyt Vineyards, Hubba Wines, Jardesca, Kaleidos Winery, Klender Estate Cabernet*, Lasorda Family Wines*, Leverage Wines, Lions Peak Vineyards, Lost Blues, Marin's Vineyard, Mastro Scheidt, MCV Wines, Monochrome Wines, Montage Vineyards*, Montagne Russe, Nenow Family Wines*, Nexo Wines*, Pelletiere Estate, Powell Mountain Cellars, Powicana Farms Winery, Quench & Temper*, Rails Nap*, Ranchero Cellars, Ranchita Canyon Vineyards, RF Fine Wines, Rhondonnee Wines*, Saint K Wines, San Rucci Winery*, Sea Shell Cellars, Seven Angels Cellars, Sharpei Moon@, Stolo Family Vineyards, T. Berkley Wines, Torch Cellars, TW Ferm Co., Two Moons Cellars, Two Papas Wines, Ultima Tulie, Vinemark Cellars, Vino Vargas, Volatus Wines, and Wildeye Winery*.
*Wineries new to Paso Event
SPONSOR HOTELS
If you are looking for a place to stay during the Festival, please consider one of these fine establishments. Contact them directly for special "Garagiste" weekend deals.
Venue Information
Paso Robles Event Center
2198 Riverside Avenue Paso Robles, CA 93446 (805) 239-0655
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