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The Texas Highway 290 corridor, particularly the stretch between Austin and Fredericksburg, is known as the '290 Wine Trail' and is a significant part of the Texas Hill Country experience.
The region is the second-most-visited wine destination in the United States, according to “Texas Monthly” magazine. The route features more than 60 wineries and tasting rooms, making it a popular spot for wine enthusiasts.
That fact isn't lost on Eric and Kris LaBrie, who founded their wine storage concierge business, Gardien, to support the growing wine community. The LaBries, avid wine lovers themselves, created Gardien after consulting local experts to identify a missing niche in the market. The name Gardien means 'guard' or 'concierge' in French.
Gardien, which refers to its customers as members, offers climate-controlled storage for small to medium-sized wine collections. The business also provides members with access to a private tasting lounge, where they can enjoy their wine on-site or share it with guests.
'Our goal is to create a welcoming space where members can store their private collections with confidence,' said Kris LaBrie. 'We also wanted a space where our members can enjoy educational events, private tastings with handpicked wineries, and food pairings.'
In addition to wine storage and the tasting lounge, Gardien offers online access for members to track their collection inventory, both on-site and in their own cellars. The program includes access to an extensive wine database with information on tens of thousands of wines worldwide.
When members want their wine ready for their arrival, they simply notify Eric or Kris with a bit of notice. 'If, for some reason, we can't meet you here, we have lockers inside the open area where you are given a code to access,' Eric LaBrie said.
He added that members will find the lounge an attractive and easy option when they want to entertain guests 'without having to worry about cleaning your house.'
Members can also have their wines delivered. Gardien offers transportation within a 20-mile radius of the facility.
The couple moved to the Dripping Springs area from Washington state, where they are investors in Brian Carter Cellars, which was named 2023 Pacific NW Winery of the Year by Great Northwest Wine magazine.
Gardien is located at 4510 Fitzhugh Road, #600, and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eric and Kris are typically there Monday through Friday during the day, but members can access the lounge even when the LaBries are not present.
For more information, visit winegardien. com.
