winegirlblogs

The University of Washington Foster School of Business had their annual Challenge for Charity Auction this past weekend at the Chateau Ste Michelle winery. The auction raised net proceeds over $100,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of King County and the Special Olympics of Washington. What’s even more exciting is that the Foster School of Business has now contributed over $1,000,000 to our amazing charities.

As WineGirl, it has always been my dream to lead my passion in way a that gives back to my community. As owner of WineGirl Wines, I can now proudly say that I have been able to realize this dream. In January of 2009, WineGirl Wines donated a case of 2007 Red Mountain Firá Merlot to the C4C Auction, which was followed by our August of 2009 Release Party sponsorship of The Treehouse for foster children. Then a donation to the Wine for Haiti Fundraiser followed by this year’s donation to Challenge for Charity of 2007 Wahluke Slope My Derby Wife Merlot made it our third and fourth official donations to build community.

This is small in comparison to the amazing ways others have given back to our community, but it is a committed start to a lifelong dream. It would be such a blessing if I could continue to help, so that the children of these charities may lead their passions and realize their dreams. Thanks to all of you for helping make this dream come true for me and helping to grow this small act of charity with WineGirl Wines!

Ciao,

WineGirl

As Back-to-School commercials have indicated the impending return of students to school, so does October harken the appropriate nature of this Label of the Month weblog entry.

I’ve chosen a wine label in the portfolio of the British owned Alchemy Wines, Ltd. Alchemy Wines, from what I have gleaned off their website is a wine branding company that works in the post-production stage of wine to create wine identities, then deliver them to the market place. They are essentially distributors of branded wine portfolios.

It was quite a struggle to find anything about this wine or the label, other than bad reviews of its quality, which again harks back to what Professor Stearns of the Foster MBA marketing department oft repeated in class “nothing kills a bad product quicker than great advertising.” Nonetheless, its clever label is supremely appropriate to the welcome month of the return to school.

HELLO my name is _____.

I’ve found reviews of two HELLO my name is Syrah wines, a 2004 and a 2005 vintage. Review snippets range from the acerbic “Extremely acidic, but it tasted really nice in a mushroom ragout.” to the sickly sweet “Smells skunky and tastes like drinkable grape-flavored children’s Tylenol.”

Even the four Wine Apps I have for my iPhone failed to deliver more juicy information on this wine, with the exception of its “meaty”-ness. This wine has pairing recommendations that blow Prof Tanlu’s love of meat out of the water! Bring him a fatty slice of the reddest meat and you’re sure to get an FDA Choice Grade A!

You know the most interesting part of this whole research on this curio of a wine, with the exception of the fun label, is that now I am so intrigued I have to find it somewhere just to see for myself how awful it could be. Or at least find out about who the original producer was. I wish I had time to be Nancy Drew. But alas, I must finish the “15% of my grade assignment due on the first day of class” for the infamous Prof Stearns. (You can call me a masochist .)

Welcome to all you newbie and oldie Foster classmates. It’s going to be a great year!

Cheers,
WineGirl