Simple Hedonisms

To: All those domestic producers of Grenache, Grenache Rosé, and Grenache Based Blends

From: William Allen; Editor, Simple Hedonisms, Board Member, Rhone Rangers

September 19th, 2011

RE:  Call to Action for #GrenacheDay

Overview: The Grenache Symposium has declared Sept 23rd as Grenache Day. Details and how to list even can be found here. You can also follow the Grenache Symposium on Facebook. The International Grenache Day Google Map is here  and you may find  a help document on how to post your event here.

Based on postings on the official map, domestic support is light, especially in comparison with recent social media #CabernetDay and #Chardonnay day. Yes I know more wineries produce those varietals, but nonetheless some senior players are absent.

It’s possible many wineries do have plans, but haven’t posted them.  Lets change that, I am happy to help. You can also post it on the Grenache Symposium Facebook page, and ask them for help.  I know it’s a busy time – I myself am amid harvest and launching a tiny Rhone label, Two Shepherds.  Nonetheless, anything you can do helps and shows the love. As vintners, writers, consumers and aficionados its time we gave the world’s second most widely planted varietal its due.

Grenache has become my most beloved of red varietals. Wrest it from the hands of New World and Cabernet vintners who want to oak and over ripen it, and it makes a beautiful, feminine wine – elegant like Pinot Noir (minus the Syrah additions) but with a different complexity, nuance, and spice. This was my epiphany Rhone grape, not Syrah. (Which I love and have many cases of.)

Personally I am holding a walk around tasting for 8 wineries and 80 people. Vintners Quivira, Ridge, Mounts, Sheldon, Wind Gap Wines, El Dorado vintner Baiocchi Wine, and R2 Wine Co. It couldn’t be a worse week for me, but if there is ONE social media wine day I WILL support, its this one, and I challenge every single Rhone Ranger member winery, grower, and Sidekick, and of course anyone else who produces Grenache and Grenache based blends, to celebrate in some way. Yes that includes those who fancy themselves Spanish producers of Garnacha as well!

What is Grenache Day (or #GrenacheDay)

It has become increasingly popular for a Varietal to be picked in advance on a predetermined, and then celebrated over Social Media, as well as live events.

While much of the activity and measurement will be based on Twitter, one need not be on Twitter to celebrate.  As a winery, simply spreading the word, holding a tasting, special sales incentives, special bottles, all are valid participation.

On Twitter we use ‘hashtags’ or words that start with a # symbol – this signifies a sorting mechanism, and allows a user in a Twitter platform like Hootsuite or Tweetdeck to see all posts grouped together that use this hashtag.  You can also see basics by clicking: http://twitter.com/#!/search/%23grenacheday

Why have these become popular? The May 26th #Chardonnay day reached over 4 million people, 29 MILLION impressions, and 12,000 related tweets. That’s just ONE medium, add in Facebook, live interactions, and the impact is impressive.    Grenache deserves some love, lets show it.

What Can I Do?

Anything is better than nothing.

If you are a Winery:

• If nothing else, post a simple 8.5 x11 sign in an acrylic stand up on your counter of tasting room and let everyone know its #grenacheday and make sure you pour one.
• Encourage them to check in on FourSquare, Facebook & Twitter, and enter #GrenacheDay when they do – your brand then joins the mix.
• Offer a special price on single bottles, 3 packs, cases.
• Hold a special Grenache vertical or library wine tasting.
• Contact your local restaurant and encourage a pairing, special wine by the glass, or go youself and do a pouring.
• Make sure you post whatever you decide on the Grenache Day Map  here

Encourage participants to mention #grenacheday and your winery bran on Facebook and Twitter.

My blog has  4500 Twitter followers, and 2500 Facebook Fans. The Rhone Rangers, 1500 & 2000. All of these will be used to share your event if I know about it. Also feel free to post it on either or both walls on Facebook and cc both on Twitter.

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/RhoneRangers  and http://www.facebook.com/SimpleHedonisms

Twitter: @RhoneRangers and @SonomaWilliam

You may email me at SimpleHedonisms @ gmail.com  for help. Please note mid week I am out of pocket during the day judging a wine competition, so response maybe after hours.

Bloggers:

Break open a bottle and share your tasting notes with your followers. If you know Grenache producers whom you have a relationship with have sent you samples before, email them tomorrow to get one by Friday.

(Notice I said trusted relationship. This is not an excuse for the sample ho’s to come out of the woodwork, and I will help wineries validate requests if needed. I do PR for several wineries, and some of the correspondence is shameful. Thats terrrific you have a Snooth login -that doesn’t merit you samples because you are too lazy to create a blog, or your last post was 9 months ago about a Cabernet that wasn’t ‘too sweet’. )

Consumers:

Grab a bottle (or three) and some friends and have a great time. Perhaps compare several producers, foreign and domestic. Wine is about exploration, and fun – make it so.

Thanks for your support and Happy #GrenacheDay!

Sincerely

William Allen

• Simple Hedonisms -  Wine Country Lifestyle & Educational Wine Reviews
• Board Member – The Rhone Rangers
  

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