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Wine storage concierge service opens in Dripping Springs
Gardien, a wine storage concierge business owned by Eric and Kris LaBrie opened its new business off Fitzhugh Rd earlier this summer.
Last week, ambassadors from the Dripping Springs Chamber of Commerce, made their opening in Dripping Springs official with a ribbon cutting ceremony inside Gardiens new lounge.
The business is located in a steel building business park at 4510 Fitzhugh Rd. There is ample parking outside the modern steel building business park, which is a nicer development than most officewarehouse business parks we are familiar with.
Once inside Gardien, you are greeted with an intimate space that invites conversation and is the perfect place to host a small gathering with friends over a glass of wine. A guitar featuring the Gardien logo hangs on the wall, and a long tall table in the center of the room.
At the back of the room is a door to the storage vault, where member clients can store their small or large collection of wine in a climate controlled environment.
Dripping Springs is at the start of the 290 wine country corridor. The Texas Hill country leading west is the second largest wine region in the United States. It attracts wine enthusiasts by the thousands and supports a large wine production industry.
Eric and Kris LaBrie, 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.'
Indeed, the lounge is a great spot to host a quick gathering to share a bottle or two. Away from the bustle of a public wine bar, members can host business clients in a quiet setting. There is also a smaller upstairs lounge area for more intimate conversation.
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.
Gardien is located at 14510 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.
