Being involved in lifestyle marketing really has its perks. When GrapeThinking was in its infancy, and the only client was Tastevine.com, it was really easy to mix business and pleasure. As a group of Millennials passionate about promoting things that bring people together, we didn’t find it too demanding to travel to major cities and throw parties promoting particular wines, and of course, the Tastevine wine community.

As the “tech” guy, my traveling is not quite as adventurous as say Ruarri’s travels to Morroco, or Meghan’s trip Paris, but I do get a chance here and there, and I always try to make the best of it. Apparently, I’m starting a tradition of going to a concert/music festival to complement my business trips.

Late last year, while traveling in Chicago for a meeting with the Dead Grapes Society (an awesome group of wine-lovers), I discovered Lalapalooza was the same night/weekend. After talking with a few of the locals, I found my way to Grant Park, and was just in time to see The Black Keyes, and the last show of the night, Ben Harper, where Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam made a guest appearance.

I’ve always wanted to see Radiohead. They are a band reveled as the modern-day Beatles, and they are currently making their way around the globe on their World Tour… Atlanta being the stop this past Thursday night. Being in town for several business meetings, I called on some friends to see what they were doing, and as would be expected, all of my friends were on their way to the show. After a quick call to Ticketmaster, I was relieved in knowing I could buy a ticket at the gate as there were plenty, and join my friends for what I was sure would be an awesome experience.

This is where it gets interesting. I make it to HiFi Buys (Lakewood) Amphitheater, and am informed the tickets are sold out… WHAT? After a moment shock, the guy behind the counter tells me he does have just one more. I quickly pay for the ticket and rush to the gate where I’m informed that my freshly purchased ticket has already been used… WHAT? Back to the counter I go, where the guy who sold me the ticket takes a highlighter and writes OK on it. Back to the gate, and without hesitation, they let me in.

Once inside, I navigate to where my friends are sitting, and they “sneak” me into the seats of the Amphitheater with them. After catching up, I proceed to tell them the story about my ticket being OK, at which point I pull out the ticket and show them. A few seconds later, we discover that the ticket I am holding is not the Lawn Ticket I assumed, but rather a front row ticket… WHAT?

Needless to say, I ended up not only getting to see Radiohead, but I was able to live the experience from the front row with a $66 ticket.

If you read this post, and you are wondering who Radiohead is, you can listen check out some of their music on the Amazon API widget to the left. Amazon just released the ability to embed a widget that plays mp3 clips, and what a great opp to try it out. (sorry, the tech geek has to come out somewhere)

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A MÉNAGE À TROIS WITH JOSH ROUSE AT CARNEGIE HALL
NEW YORK-November 28, 2007- Fresh from Spain, Josh Rouse comes back to delight fans and make some new ones with his latest release, Country Mouse, City House. His seventh proper full-length album on his imprint label Bedroom Classics (through Nettwerk Music Group) was released this past summer.

Following the release, Josh has partnered with Ménage à Trois wines in a new marketing venture. The promotion, which starts November 1st, will display a hang tag or tear pad with Josh Rouse information (tag line, URL, and code for downloads) on over 2 million bottles of Ménage à Trois wines, inviting them to download samplings of Josh’s music. Fans can also enter to win a trip to see Josh perform live at New York’s Carnegie Hall. The winning fan will receive all expenses paid trip to New York for two to see Josh’s concert on April 18, 2008 – plus receive $1,000 in spending money. Fans can find bottles of wine to purchase in major supermarkets. In addition to the sweepstakes, a free song preview off the new album is available at menageatroiswines.com.

Recorded over a six-day session in Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain with rhythm section (Marc Pisapia, James “Hags” Haggerty) and super engineer/producer Paco Loco, Joe Pisapia (Marc’s brother) added some overdubs and helped Josh mix the album Nashville. “The songs were written mostly during the summer of ’06. After doing a “summer” record (Subtitulo), I thought it would be fit to do something with more of a “wintry” feel,” said Josh.

The title was conceived during a 70-mile walk through the north of Spain in October. “I thought it was a funny name and it’s similar to Aesop’s tale by the name of “Country Mouse and the City Mouse”. People tell me I sometimes resemble a mouse in photos. It also rhymes with my name. My sound is still 70′s singer/songwriter. That’s my favorite style of music, so that’s what I do. I, and many of the people I work with, am obsessed with the sound and production of the 60′s and 70′s. Put simply, it just has something that a lot of modern records don’t have. Perhaps it’s being in the moment, and Country Mouse, City House is just that, a really great moment,” said Josh.

Ménage à Trois
The phrase-a French term for blending of three-refers to the selection of varietals that comprises this whimsical approachable trio of wines. The exotic, flowery and silky White Blend explores the promising relationship between Moscato, Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc. The Red Blend, with its rich, forward profile, shows what happens when you introduce Zinfandel to Merlot and Cabernet. Rounding out the trio (because there just has to be three) is the Rosé Blend. There’s no pretension and no pretense in this blend of Merlot, Syrah and Gewurztraminer-just a fruit-laden roller coaster ride. These three wines are the result of bottling some passion, fun and a little excitement-all without breaking the bank.

For more information, contact:

Nettwerk Music Group-

Nell Cochrane -nell@nettwerk.com

Karina Paje – karina@nettwerk.com

Trinchero Family Estates- Ménage à Trois wines- Colleen LeMasters
clemasters@tfewines.com 707.963.3104 ext. 2610

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