Personal Wine Label Design Contest

Date: Tue, May 17, 2011 Winery Blogs

ABOUT THIS CONTEST

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This Month's Testimonials

Date: Thu, Mar 24, 2011 Winery Blogs

Over the ten years we've dominated the custom-label and engraved wine industry, we've had great feedback from our customers and we want to take a moment every month to not only thank these customers for their business, but publish what they have to say about us. We appreciate and welcome any feedback you can give us.


"Personal Wine is a great way to give a high quality personalized gift! Their selection of wine and champagne is fantastic and their service combines the recognition of a premium wine with a personalized, unique touch. Everyone at Personal Wine was extremely helpful throughout the process and all elements of my order were executed seamlessly. Most importantly, the gifts were a huge hit!"

" I just wanted to write you a quick note to say, “THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!” the boxes I had personalized were AMAZING! People are still talking about my party favors! Your expertise and advice were a huge help to me! Thanks Again."

- J.M.

"Our son’s wedding took place this past weekend. The wine bottles that you created for us were the hit of the weekend. Our family and friends loved having a unique and personal way in which to remember the occasion. Thanks for making the process so easy and being so helpful. "

- Bridget

"We received our wine yesterday, and just like last time, we were very impressed. Our guests are going to love them. Well, at least the ones we choose to grave with one. I think we're going to hoard them 'cuz they're so cute."

-Spring Hill Suites

"The wines arrived safe and sound and look great!!! It was great working with you and I appreciate your great customer service not to mention your patience!! Look forward to working with you again in the future."

- Signature Homes

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Greetings from SXSW Wine Interactive

Date: Wed, Mar 9, 2011 Winery Blogs

Dear Friends & Customers,

I would like to thank you for your support and your business. As the CEO, Founder I am a very hands on person with each customer so I would like to prelude this month's newsletter by saying that Personal Wine is a custom, luxury business and we aim to ensure 100% customer satisfaction.

We bring trusted premium brands to you which you can personalize using a custom label or engraving. Wineries like Tenuta Oreno, Gargiulo, Vilafonte, Constant, Flora Springs and Trocard have been critically acclaimed, award-winning vineyards having scored 90+ points by Robert Parker and Wine Spectator. Tenuta Sette Ponti Oreno even scored in the Top 100 by Wine Spectator of 2008.

This week we celebrate another great event. After many years, we have opened our first wine tasting room in Austin, TX with future plans to open in NYC, Los Angeles and abroad. Our Red Room is located approximately 30 yards from the Austin Convention Center. The purpose of the Red Room is to educate people about wine in hopes that people further develop their palates.

This week we will try three excercises which we will demonstrate at the South by Southwest Convention in Austin. It starts on the 11th and runs thru the 15th. At the booth we will direct traffic to our Red Room location for the following schedule of events:

1. March 11th - WineNot? - Blind tasting 1PM to 5PM. VIP Social Hour 5Pm till 7PM
   
2. March 12th - California vs. France - Tasting from 1-7PM
   
3. March 13th - California vs. France II - Tasting 1-5PM
4. March 13th - SXSW Blogger Meet Up, Tasting6-8:30PM
   
5. March 14th - Do you Know Wine? - Blind tasting. Contest 1PM to 5PM.
   
6. March 14th - Wine Down - 5:30 Sold out event by Wines.com, Jackson Family Wines, and Bakas Media
   
7. March 15th - Do You Know Wine? - Blind tasting. Contest 1PM to 7PM
8. March 16th - - Do You Know Wine? - Blind tasting. Contest 1PM to 4PM
9. March 16th - Texas Wine & Food Foundation - 5:30Pm - 7:30Pm Presenting Dan Gatlin, proprietor and winemaker of Inwood Estates. Texas' boutique producer, using Texas grapes to blend wines which rival the top producers of Alta Rioja, Spain and other parts of the world.
   
10. March 17th - Personal Wine Taste Testing Allowing our best customers and SXSW Participants to come in and preview new, upcoming wines that we have selected from Rioja, Diamond Mountain, and others.

Please call us at (512) 476-9463 for questions regarding any of these events, we look forward to visiting with you. We also encourage you to visit our sister site WINES.com if you are just now getting into wine and need some guidance or if you are searching for a specific wine.

Best Wishes in Life and Wine!

Alex Andrawes
CEO, Founder

photo credit by Rodolpho Gonzalez, Austin American Statesman

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Holiday Gift Ideas (featured on the Today Show)

Date: Thu, Sep 23, 2010 Winery Blogs

Shopping for the upcoming holiday season? Need a gift that’s elegant, personal and decently priced? Don’t we all! Then consider Personal Wine your gift idea savior this holiday season.

Personal Wine website offers high-end, quality wines going for as little as $15 per gift can be ordered with the click of a button. Personal Wine offers wines from Australia, Argentina, California, Chile, and France. Our user-friendly website gives customers the ability to select a template or upload one of their own and attach it to a bottle of any wine from our vast selection. Customers also have the option to customize bottle engravings for only $5.

Thank you again for 10 years of business at Personal Wine and we look forward to serving you this holiday season! Cheers, Alex Andrawes - CEO and Founder

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The PersonalWine.com Holiday Label Design Contest

Date: Mon, Sep 13, 2010 Winery Blogs

I'll start with the good stuff.

PersonalWine.com is hosting a Holiday Label Design Contest. Its incredibly simple, takes no time at all, and provides a nice distraction during your busy day. There are going to be 4 giveaways this holiday season!!! (Two bottle sets valued at $75 each) That means if you didn't win the first time, create a new label the next time and you could WIN too!(PLZ RT w/ #LabelDesign)

The Winner willreceive:
A Two Bottle set valued at $75
Your Label Will be the Featured Label for sale on PersonalWine.com
Your Label will be featured on WineCrushBlog (Wines.com's Blog)
Your Label will be featured on the PersonalWine Blog
Not to mention massive Twitter & Facebook exposure!!

-------------------------------------------------CALENDAR----------------------------------------------

General Holiday Theme
Post Blog: Monday Sept. 13th
Winner Chosen: Monday Sept. 20th
Label up on PersonalWine.com:Wen. Sept. 22nd
Halloween Theme
Label up on PersonalWine.com:Wen. Oct. 13th

Thanksgiving Theme

Post Blog:Monday Nov. 8th

Winner Chosen:Monday Nov. 15th

Label up on PersonalWine.com:Wen. Nov. 17th

Winter Theme

Post Blog:Monday Dec. 6th

Winner Chosen:Monday Dec. 13th

Label up on PersonalWine.com:Wen. Nov. 15th

------------------------------------------------HOW TO ENTER-----------------------------------------


I. Go to PersonalWine.com and create an account. Its fast, easy, and needed to start the designing process.

II. Then you can start the designing your Holiday Label. There is a in-house design program HERE where you can choose from templates, or you can start from scratch, or even upload images via the "Upload a Design" Button.

III. Once you have created a label Save It! (remember what you name it)

IV. Lastly email us at: garrett.bircher@wines.com
In the Subject Line write "PersonalWine Holiday Label Contest"
In the email include your:
a) Name
b) Email Address
c) Name of the Label Design you saved



Good Luck & Have Fun!

Read Full Wine Blog Post

The PersonalWine.com Holiday Label Design Contest

Date: Mon, Sep 13, 2010 Winery Blogs

I'll start with the good stuff.

PersonalWine.com is hosting a Holiday Label Design Contest. Its incredibly simple, takes no time at all, and provides a nice distraction during your busy day. There are going to be 4 giveaways this holiday season!!! (Two bottle sets valued at $75 each) That means if you didn't win the first time, create a new label the next time and you could WIN too!(PLZ RT w/ #LabelDesign)

The Winner willreceive:
A Two Bottle set valued at $75
Your Label Will be the Featured Label for sale on PersonalWine.com
Your Label will be featured on WineCrushBlog (Wines.com's Blog)
Your Label will be featured on the PersonalWine Blog
Not to mention massive Twitter & Facebook exposure!!

-------------------------------------------------CALENDAR----------------------------------------------

General Holiday Theme
Post Blog: Monday Sept. 13th
Winner Chosen: Monday Sept. 20th
Label up on PersonalWine.com:Wen. Sept. 22nd
Halloween Theme
Label up on PersonalWine.com:Wen. Oct. 13th

Thanksgiving Theme

Post Blog:Monday Nov. 8th

Winner Chosen:Monday Nov. 15th

Label up on PersonalWine.com:Wen. Nov. 17th

Winter Theme

Post Blog:Monday Dec. 6th

Winner Chosen:Monday Dec. 13th

Label up on PersonalWine.com:Wen. Nov. 15th

------------------------------------------------HOW TO ENTER-----------------------------------------


I. Go to PersonalWine.com and create an account. Its fast, easy, and needed to start the designing process.

II. Then you can start the designing your Holiday Label. There is a in-house design program HERE where you can choose from templates, or you can start from scratch, or even upload images via the "Upload a Design" Button.

III. Once you have created a label Save It! (remember what you name it)

IV. Lastly email us at: garrett.bircher@wines.com
In the Subject Line write "PersonalWine Holiday Label Contest"
In the email include your:
a) Name
b) Email Address
c) Name of the Label Design you saved



Good Luck & Have Fun!

Read Full Wine Blog Post

Countdown to the Holidays!

Date: Wed, Sep 8, 2010 Winery Blogs

One of my favorite things about the Fall, other than the weather and falling leaves, is the festive holiday season. Holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah just to name a few have a certain energy associated with them that is very much an ascending stairway to a climax that ends with fireworks, laughter, kisses and promises that we intend to keep.

I feel as if October, November and December are three months where you'll find the essence of the human spirit. My personal favorite other than Christmas is Halloween which to some is kind of absurd. Absurdity is the reason for my love of Halloween. Its the one day where we all dress up like something or someone else and play the part of the fool without having to worry about the consequences. At our office here in Austin, TX last year, we had a hermaphroditic gladiator, roman warrior, Pee Wee Herman all under the same roof. While some chose not to participate in dressing up, they certainly enjoyed the scenery. October is a good time to enjoy the last cold beer or chilled Sauvignon Blanc before you dive right into the warmth of red wine and champagne.

November and December are a time for family, friends and sharing. I love these two months not just because I love food (well that may be the big thing) but because I love to be with family and friends. Memories are everlasting and the joy of being with loved ones cannot be matched with material goods. Thanksgiving is so much fun because we eat five times in one day and pass out six times, only to be left with a week's worth of left overs. December is the climax. You have the gift giving of Christmas and Hanukkah, followed by New Years parties. This month is definitely wine month. Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot or perhaps a nice French Bordeaux to liven up the soul followed by some bubbly champagne to toast off the evening's itinerary.

Whatever you choose to do this Holiday Season, whether its with family or friends, we wish you the very best in life, health and happiness. We wish you good fortune. We are very fortunate to mark our 10th Anniversary Holiday Season at Personal Wine and we appreciate our followers, customers, vendors, and friends with much love and affection.

Best wishes,

Alex Andrawes
CEO, Founder
Personal Wine
alex @ personalwine d-o-t com
follow me on twitter @personalwine

Read Full Wine Blog Post

Countdown to the Holidays!

Date: Wed, Sep 8, 2010 Winery Blogs

One of my favorite things about the Fall, other than the weather and falling leaves, is the festive holiday season. Holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah just to name a few have a certain energy associated with them that is very much an ascending stairway to a climax that ends with fireworks, laughter, kisses and promises that we intend to keep.

I feel as if October, November and December are three months where you'll find the essence of the human spirit. My personal favorite other than Christmas is Halloween which to some is kind of absurd. Absurdity is the reason for my love of Halloween. Its the one day where we all dress up like something or someone else and play the part of the fool without having to worry about the consequences. At our office here in Austin, TX last year, we had a hermaphroditic gladiator, roman warrior, Pee Wee Herman all under the same roof. While some chose not to participate in dressing up, they certainly enjoyed the scenery. October is a good time to enjoy the last cold beer or chilled Sauvignon Blanc before you dive right into the warmth of red wine and champagne.

November and December are a time for family, friends and sharing. I love these two months not just because I love food (well that may be the big thing) but because I love to be with family and friends. Memories are everlasting and the joy of being with loved ones cannot be matched with material goods. Thanksgiving is so much fun because we eat five times in one day and pass out six times, only to be left with a week's worth of left overs. December is the climax. You have the gift giving of Christmas and Hanukkah, followed by New Years parties. This month is definitely wine month. Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot or perhaps a nice French Bordeaux to liven up the soul followed by some bubbly champagne to toast off the evening's itinerary.

Whatever you choose to do this Holiday Season, whether its with family or friends, we wish you the very best in life, health and happiness. We wish you good fortune. We are very fortunate to mark our 10th Anniversary Holiday Season at Personal Wine and we appreciate our followers, customers, vendors, and friends with much love and affection.

Best wishes,

Alex Andrawes
CEO, Founder
Personal Wine
alex @ personalwine d-o-t com
follow me on twitter @personalwine

Read Full Wine Blog Post

In Wine We Trust...

Date: Mon, Aug 16, 2010 Winery Blogs

Every so often we get a chance to participate in a momentous occasion. Two weeks ago I got a call from a prospective customer who I'll call Sasha (Out of respect and privacy I changed her name). She crafted a nice email to me which was such an honor I asked her if I could use it on this blog. Sasha emailed explaining that me she had never in her life (she's 28 years old) tasted any alcoholic beverage, not even beer! She had managed to abstain from alcohol from college and through her 20's ... how she did so, I have no idea! Sasha must have been a angel to her parents and her husband-to-be is no doubt even luckier!

Sasha recently got engaged to the love of her life who is an avid wine drinker. As a wine lover, he has never asked her to share in a glass, nor has she been pressured to do so. Sasha explained that she really wanted to surprise her husband on their wedding day with her first taste of wine and she wants Personal Wine to recommend the suggestion, personalized engraving for the special event. In addition she wants a bottle to keep and cellar for 10 years so they can again re-live the experience. We selected a nice bottle of 2005 Remoissenet Bienvenue Batard Montrachet, not on the wine menu, which we picked up from an importer specially for the occasion. Since we can engrave any bottle out there, it opened up the selection to a much wider group of wines. Few white wines can cellar well past 5 years, but this wine can last as long as 15-20 if cellared properly.

Its always an honor to participate in such an occasion but this one really stood out as I want this to be as perfect for Sasha as she has entrusted Personal Wine with her first taste of wine (or any alcoholic beverage of any kind). So to Sasha I say this, thank you for the opportunity with all my heart and this is such an honor!

Best Wishes in Life!

Alex Andrawes
CEO, Founder
Follow me on Twitter @personalwine

Read Full Wine Blog Post

In Wine We Trust...

Date: Mon, Aug 16, 2010 Winery Blogs

Every so often we get a chance to participate in a momentous occasion. Two weeks ago I got a call from a prospective customer who I'll call Sasha (Out of respect and privacy I changed her name). She crafted a nice email to me which was such an honor I asked her if I could use it on this blog. Sasha emailed explaining that me she had never in her life (she's 28 years old) tasted any alcoholic beverage, not even beer! She had managed to abstain from alcohol from college and through her 20's ... how she did so, I have no idea! Sasha must have been a angel to her parents and her husband-to-be is no doubt even luckier!

Sasha recently got engaged to the love of her life who is an avid wine drinker. As a wine lover, he has never asked her to share in a glass, nor has she been pressured to do so. Sasha explained that she really wanted to surprise her husband on their wedding day with her first taste of wine and she wants Personal Wine to recommend the suggestion, personalized engraving for the special event. In addition she wants a bottle to keep and cellar for 10 years so they can again re-live the experience. We selected a nice bottle of 2005 Remoissenet Bienvenue Batard Montrachet, not on the wine menu, which we picked up from an importer specially for the occasion. Since we can engrave any bottle out there, it opened up the selection to a much wider group of wines. Few white wines can cellar well past 5 years, but this wine can last as long as 15-20 if cellared properly.

Its always an honor to participate in such an occasion but this one really stood out as I want this to be as perfect for Sasha as she has entrusted Personal Wine with her first taste of wine (or any alcoholic beverage of any kind). So to Sasha I say this, thank you for the opportunity with all my heart and this is such an honor!

Best Wishes in Life!

Alex Andrawes
CEO, Founder
Follow me on Twitter @personalwine

Read Full Wine Blog Post

Summer Ends and Fall Begins...

Date: Tue, Aug 10, 2010 Winery Blogs

Perhaps its too early to hope for Fall, but the Holidays are right around the corner. I spent the past several weeks sourcing new wines for Wines.com for the 2010 Holidays and we've managed to pick up several incredible new wines from the US, Chile and France. This coming Christmas and New Years, think about the special people in your life. Perhaps a friend is looking to retire from their career or maybe your sister just bought her first home. Do you have a friend getting married? Do you send out Holiday gifts to your clients?

I founded Personal Wine back in 2000 completely by mistake. I wanted to give gifts to my top customers for the holidays so I bought some wines from a store, soaked off the labels and re-labeled them with my design. The idea was so well received by my peers at the office, they asked me to do their Holiday gifts and my boss actually gave me a week off to do the whole Company's Holiday gifts. It was the most fortunate holiday I ever had because simple creativity went a long way and the response we got from our clients was enormous. I still speak with some of my clients today as our client relationship gravitated towards friendship. If your best customers support you, why are they not your friends? They should be!

The past two years have been extremely challenging for most people across the globe. People are watching their pocketbooks ever so closely. While I encourage you to save, please don't forget about the special people, even if you get them a card that tells them "Thank You." It will go a long way to keep you in your friends' thoughts! Let them know you care and they are on your mind.

I wish all of you the best in life and tremendous happiness. Feel free to reach out to me personally with any questions about our wine selections, label designs and don't forget I'm all over Twitter and Facebook too!

Peace, love and happiness!


Alex Andrawes
CEO and Founder
Personal Wine
(512) 476-9463 ext 304
Find me on Twitter @personalwine

Read Full Wine Blog Post

Summer Ends and Fall Begins...

Date: Tue, Aug 10, 2010 Winery Blogs

Perhaps its too early to hope for Fall, but the Holidays are right around the corner. I spent the past several weeks sourcing new wines for Wines.com for the 2010 Holidays and we've managed to pick up several incredible new wines from the US, Chile and France. This coming Christmas and New Years, think about the special people in your life. Perhaps a friend is looking to retire from their career or maybe your sister just bought her first home. Do you have a friend getting married? Do you send out Holiday gifts to your clients?

I founded Personal Wine back in 2000 completely by mistake. I wanted to give gifts to my top customers for the holidays so I bought some wines from a store, soaked off the labels and re-labeled them with my design. The idea was so well received by my peers at the office, they asked me to do their Holiday gifts and my boss actually gave me a week off to do the whole Company's Holiday gifts. It was the most fortunate holiday I ever had because simple creativity went a long way and the response we got from our clients was enormous. I still speak with some of my clients today as our client relationship gravitated towards friendship. If your best customers support you, why are they not your friends? They should be!

The past two years have been extremely challenging for most people across the globe. People are watching their pocketbooks ever so closely. While I encourage you to save, please don't forget about the special people, even if you get them a card that tells them "Thank You." It will go a long way to keep you in your friends' thoughts! Let them know you care and they are on your mind.

I wish all of you the best in life and tremendous happiness. Feel free to reach out to me personally with any questions about our wine selections, label designs and don't forget I'm all over Twitter and Facebook too!

Peace, love and happiness!


Alex Andrawes
CEO and Founder
Personal Wine
(512) 476-9463 ext 304
Find me on Twitter @personalwine

Read Full Wine Blog Post

Weddings on the Bottle...

Date: Wed, May 26, 2010 Winery Blogs

Last year in September, I married the gal of my dreams. I must admit that I was leery of having a traditional wedding, but we decided it would be fun to get everyone we knew into one room and throw it down big. We secured a beautiful location nestled within a valley with a sunset facing view which we felt would add to the ambiance of the DJ playing our favorite tunes.

Being a bit of a wine guy, I was compelled not to disappoint our guests with substandard food or wine. Our menu included an excellent garden salad with tuna carpaccio or sauteed portobello mushrooms in a balsamic reduction sauce. We paired these wines with Remoissenet Puligny Montrachet, a lovely chardonnay from the Burgundy region in France and Kenwood Sauvignon Blanc which went well with the table cheese plate (brie, blue, and truffled goat cheese).

Entrees included halibut seared in a raspberry walnut sauce with green beans or NY medallions tenderized in a molasses Worcester sauce combination served with grilled potatoes and veggies. Dinner was paired with 2004 Nadia (a Bordeaux blend from the Santa Barbara Highlands) and 2007 Laetitia Pinot Noir, a delicious red that displays notes of both Burgundy and California.

Food and wine are married to each other, if one part doesn't match with the other, there's going to be some friction. It makes dancing even more fun and really sets the tone for the evening. I really can't stress enough how important it is to make sure that your friends and family have some kind of reward for the distance they've traveled to send you off. Its the recipe for the total feel-good wedding!

If you or someone you know is getting married and they need a food pairing, then email me at alex at personalwine dot com and I will be happy to suggest a harmonious pairing.

And... don't forget to give them the gift of personalized wine! I can help with that too...

Best in life,

Alex Andrawes
Founder of Personal Wine

Read Full Wine Blog Post

Weddings on the Bottle...

Date: Wed, May 26, 2010 Winery Blogs

Last year in September, I married the gal of my dreams. I must admit that I was leery of having a traditional wedding, but we decided it would be fun to get everyone we knew into one room and throw it down big. We secured a beautiful location nestled within a valley with a sunset facing view which we felt would add to the ambiance of the DJ playing our favorite tunes.

Being a bit of a wine guy, I was compelled not to disappoint our guests with substandard food or wine. Our menu included an excellent garden salad with tuna carpaccio or sauteed portobello mushrooms in a balsamic reduction sauce. We paired these wines with Remoissenet Puligny Montrachet, a lovely chardonnay from the Burgundy region in France and Kenwood Sauvignon Blanc which went well with the table cheese plate (brie, blue, and truffled goat cheese).

Entrees included halibut seared in a raspberry walnut sauce with green beans or NY medallions tenderized in a molasses Worcester sauce combination served with grilled potatoes and veggies. Dinner was paired with 2004 Nadia (a Bordeaux blend from the Santa Barbara Highlands) and 2007 Laetitia Pinot Noir, a delicious red that displays notes of both Burgundy and California.

Food and wine are married to each other, if one part doesn't match with the other, there's going to be some friction. It makes dancing even more fun and really sets the tone for the evening. I really can't stress enough how important it is to make sure that your friends and family have some kind of reward for the distance they've traveled to send you off. Its the recipe for the total feel-good wedding!

If you or someone you know is getting married and they need a food pairing, then email me at alex at personalwine dot com and I will be happy to suggest a harmonious pairing.

And... don't forget to give them the gift of personalized wine! I can help with that too...

Best in life,

Alex Andrawes
Founder of Personal Wine

Read Full Wine Blog Post