The Garagiste Festivals
The American garagiste movement received its first exposure in 2011 at the inaugural Garagiste Festival in Paso Robles, CA. Paso Robles represents the core of the garagiste movement, according to WinesVinesDATA. It lists some 127 wineries with annual production of 1,000 or fewer cases in Paso’s home county, San Luis Obispo (SLO). Every year dozens of artisan winemakers pour at the non-profit festival. In addition to sold out festivals every November in Paso Robles, the Garagiste Festival has expanded to Santa Ynez Valley with The Garagiste Festival: Southern Exposure.
The Garagiste Festivals are the first and only wine festivals dedicated to the undiscovered and under-recognized 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. Named one of the “Top Nine Incredible Epicurean Vacations” by ABC News. Garagiste Festivals are produced by Garagiste Events, a non-profit dedicated to furthering the education of future winemakers and those training for employment within the wine industry. Proceeds from the festivals are donated to the Cal Poly Wine and Viticulture Program.