Invitation Letter

Dear friends and family,

As you know, I have been studying wine making and working in the wine industry in Napa Valley for the last 3 years. I finished my Enology and Viticulture Degree. It has been an incredible experience, and a lot of fun. Besides, learning to make wine, I have learned a tremendous amount about the global wine industry and had amazing experiences at many different wineries, vineyards, conferences, and most of all the varied and diverse characters in the wine industry.

The reason I am writing you now is to tell you about my new project in Israel. I will be making wine this summer in Israel and want you to be involved. A lot of friends have expressed interest in learning more about winemaking, tasting, blending and how it all works. I decided to find a fun and interactive way to do this by creating a virtual winery on Moshav Givat Nili. I will be making wine from the grapes that my Father-In-Law Samy grows. I will be keeping a journal, posting photos, videos and possibly a web-cam so that you can watch the winemaking process every step of the way (http://israelwine.blogspot.com/). Of course, you are invited to come join me and get a more hands on involvement anytime (I highly suggest this). I have figured out how to make a small amount of wine for a very low cost. I will be borrowing a lot of equipment and using expertise that I learned at small wineries in Napa to keep the cost down. It will however, cost money to make the wine, which is why I need your help now. I have done all the math, and my production costs (of the finished bottle) come out to $10 a bottle or 42 shekels each.

As friends and family, I am offering you the opportunity to buy futures of this wine at production cost (usually a bottle of wine is priced 2 or 3 times above this price). Whether you live in Israel or the U.S., I will make sure it gets to you (cost does not include shipping and tax). Besides, drinking a great wine (I will make sure it is good , you will have the opportunity to virtually or physically participate in the wine making process… Although, it will be most intensive during the harvest in August and September, it will continue on for 2 years, when the wine will be bottled and ready to drink. You will receive your wine in June of 2009. Please send a check for the amount of bottles you want X $10. You can either send it to me in the U.S. at: 419 Freeway Dr., Napa, CA 94558 or on the Moshav in Israel at: 37825 Moshav Givat Nili, D.N. Menashe, Israel. The first orders will have first priority for the final product, so send it in fast. After August 17th, the cost will go up to retail, which will be $25 a bottle or 100 shekels.

Also, I am inviting you to a open house harvest party on the moshav on Friday afternoon, August 17th, 2007 from 12pm on…

A quick update about what I have been doing the last 3 years. I have had the opportunity to help make wine at some of the best wineries in the world. My first job, while working in the lab at Clos Du Val Winery www.closduval.com gave me the skills base to do all wine chemistry and analysis. This was a perfect complement to the chemistry and winemaking courses that I was taking in college. My next job at Elizabeth Spencer http://www.elizabethspencerwines.com/ provided a window into the wine ‘negociant’ business. I was involved in wine blending and management. This gave me a much bigger picture. Working at the world famous, cult winery; Colgin Cellars http://www.colgincellars.com/ was my opportunity to learn how to make the most sought after, luxurious and expensive Cabernets and Syrahs in the world. At Colgin, I learned how the vineyards and winemaking come together to make thick, powerful, intense and aromatically beautiful wines. It was during that time that I made my first wine (with a friend), that turned out to be a very fruity and aromatic Rose named appropriately for our babies that were born during harvest (Two Fathers, Harvest Baby Rose)…

Finally, at O’Shaughnessy Winery http://www.oshaughnessywinery.com/ over the last year and a half, I have worked my way up to Assistant Winemaker. I am lucky enough to learn the skills and long-term experience of my mentor and winemaker, Sean Capiaux. Together, we make fantastic, mountain grown Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah and also Pinot Noir from the coast of California. The opportunity to work with Sean, who has 20 years of experience in the wine industry, is my final lesson in winemaking before I return to Israel. During my studies and work in the Napa wine industry, I have discovered that Experience is KING in the wine industry. Learning from those with experience is important, but until you make your own wine and make your own decisions on how to make it (from the vineyard to the bottle), you can’t call yourself a ‘winemaker.’

I have taken this lesson to heart. Besides making our Two Fathers Rose, at the moment, I am making my own barrel of Syrah from the area of Hopland, CA. It is turning out to be an excellent wine and has been a lot of fun. I will be bottling it in February (look out for future announcements about this wine).

Look forward to seeing you at the party and making wine together.

Be in touch,

Ari

P.S. Please pass this on to anyone in your family or friends that you think might be interested.
You can find photos of Liam at: www.aroyo-erle.blogspot.com