Free Shirt, Free Pinot - SOLD OUT

Posted on Sunday 6 August 2006

I love schwag. Who doesn’t? Tee-shirts especially. So I’ve been looking around for a good supplier of shirts and working on a spiffy design. I wanted to make a shirt people would actually want to wear, otherwise why go through the effort and expense? What I finally came up with is pictured over there on the right. Click on it to enlarge it and see other pictures.

Want one? It’s Yours!

You can get one for free by emailing me using the form at the end of this post.

Best of all, if you send me a picture of yourself wearing the shirt out and about, hopefully having a great time, I’ll add you to our review samples mailing list and you’ll get a free bottle of Capozzi Pinot Noir sent to you for review when our inaugural vintage is released (a couple conditions apply).

The Shirt

Just like everything we strive to do at Capozzi, the shirt is high quality and, perhaps just as importantly, it has an interesting story. This is not just your standard Cafe Press rag with a crappy silk screen. Our shirt is one of the softest, smoothest, best-looking organic cotton T-shirts available. I sense you doubting me. You shouldn’t. Here are some details:

  • The shirt is made from 100% USDA Certified Organic Cotton, which means that no pesticides were used in farming it. This was very important to us, and hopefully you, considering the extreme amounts used in the conventional production of cotton.
  • The company that produces the shirt, American Apparel based in LA, is the antithesis of a sweatshop. AA pays its employees the highest wages in the garment industry.
  • In addition AA has 5 massage therapists on staff available to workers for free, a bike lending program, paid days off, and natural light in its factory.
  • They are able to afford to pay for all of this in the hyper competitive garment industry by being vertically integrated and selling direct to customers through their retail shops. Increasing margins by cutting out the middle man…sounds remarkably familiar!
  • Though they’re now the largest American garment maker, AA is still very agile. In an interview with Charlie Rose, the founder of AA, Dov Charney, says that it can take as little as a week for a clothing concept to go from the drawing board to retail in Tokyo due to their nimbleness.
  • They were the first real bricks and mortar retailer to set up a virtual shop in Second Life, which I think is pretty cool.

All of which = excellent tee shirt. No company or man is perfect however, and there is a dark side to AA. Dov seems to have a thing with sleeping with his staffers, and this has lead to a number of sexual harassment lawsuits. Two suits were dropped but a third is still pending.

If Dov were found guilty of harassment I’d think twice about dealing with AA, but right now they are just allegations. Benefit of the doubt and all that. It might help though, and I’m just spit-balling here, if he didn’t hold company meetings in his underwear (see picture). A quote from the Inc. article pretty much says it all:

…the 36-year-old proprietor of one of the hottest brands in fashion bears a strong resemblance to a young Gabe Kotter with a whiff of Vincent Gallo. He is also commonly said to look like a 1970s pornographer, and that is the sort of comparison that makes him very, very happy.

And there we are.

Good product, good quality. Good taste? Debatable. Good story? Uncontestable.

The Wine

As I mentioned, if you take a photo of yourself out having a good time in the shirt and send it back to me, I’ll not only post your pic on the blog and write about you, I’ll also send you a bottle of our Pinot Noir upon release for you to review. There are three conditions:

  • You must be 21 or over.
  • At some point you will need to have a blog. The law doesn’t permit me to give wine away to strangers, but I can send out review samples. Therefore you’ll need a platform to conduct your review for all this to be completely above board and kosher. If you don’t have a blog and want to start one, I highly recommend creating a Wordpress hosted account (its free).
  • Space is limited. We’ll be selling our wine for around $45 a bottle so the costs are non trivial. Depending on the response I will probably not be able to accommodate everyone, so get your picture in to me ASAP.

UPDATE: We’re all sold out! Thanks for the great response!


  1.  
    August 7, 2006 | 8:37 am
     

    Innovative Wine Marketing Campaign…

    Josh at Pinotblogger has taken a page from the Stormhoek playbook and embellished it with a bit of Apple-esque T-shirt marketing. A great idea to build brand and buzz for his wines….

  2.  
    August 7, 2006 | 6:01 pm
     

    [...] I just took a look at Pinotblogger and saw this post.  Terrific idea!  I look forward to getting my T-shirt, wearing it to work (where a bunch of other wine enthusiasts also happen to work), and getting a photo of myself wearing the shirt so I can get that review bottle of wine. [...]

  3.  
    August 8, 2006 | 11:44 am
     

    Classic idea. I love it. Can’t wait for the tee …

    Don’t you think that a baby tee might be appropriate, too in an AA kind of way? As a grown man I’m not sure if I’m supposed to look away or be engaged at some of their print advertising. Oh, who am I kidding …

  4.  
    August 8, 2006 | 5:23 pm
     

    [...] Pinotblogger: the Capozzi Winery blog « Free Shirt, Free Pinot - Courtesy of Pinotblogger. Label Update and Design Costs [...]

  5.  
    August 8, 2006 | 6:33 pm
     

    Found out about your on “WineSmith” and decided to check you out. Love your marketing idea. My partner and I write a wine blog about Virginia wines but also review other wines from time to time. We’d love to check out your Pinot Noir. I submitted my info for the t-shirt and once I get it, I’ll be glad to send a photo wearing the t-shirt. Thanks!

  6.  
    August 8, 2006 | 7:59 pm
     

    Jeff and Winer,

    Right on. I’ll be letting everyone know when we put the order in when to expect the shirts to ship. Looking forward to see the photos (not the AA ones…)!

    Josh

  7.  
    August 9, 2006 | 6:15 am
     

    What a great marketing and PR idea to energize support for your winery. Look forward for the opportunity to taste your wines…..

  8.  
    Stratton
    August 9, 2006 | 6:51 am
     

    Fantastic idea. I’m in.

  9.  
    David Cerny
    August 9, 2006 | 2:55 pm
     

    Great Idea, and I am more than happy to participate in spreading the word and eventualy tasting your wine.

  10.  
    Parra
    August 10, 2006 | 12:05 pm
     

    Wonderful idea , great way of advertising. My husband will be thrilled.

  11.  
    Theodore Ruggiero
    August 10, 2006 | 12:25 pm
     

    Great Idea my friends!!! I look foward to the shirt and all the comments at my wine meetups in Pittsburgh…and can just about taste that bottle of fine vino already!!!

    The OenophileDude

  12.  
    August 10, 2006 | 12:59 pm
     

    This is a fabulous idea!

    I could not get the form to submit, there is a problem with resources or some such. I would love to do a wine review (well my sister in law would review it for me since I’m currently pregnant) so please do contact me through my email or blog whenever the isses with your submission form are fixed

  13.  
    Heather
    August 10, 2006 | 2:33 pm
     

    Tres cool! Looking forward to the free tee as well as sampling the vino.

  14.  
    Greta Greene
    August 10, 2006 | 2:58 pm
     

    Excellent idea. Will help to spread the word around!

  15.  
    robert roundtree
    August 10, 2006 | 3:07 pm
     

    thank you so much for letting me get one of your great shirts

  16.  
    Megan Smith
    August 10, 2006 | 3:22 pm
     

    Thank you so much. Wonderful and unique idea. Thank you for the offer!

  17.  
    Kim DeFranzo
    August 10, 2006 | 4:12 pm
     

    Thanks for the wonderful gift. My husband is going to love it.

  18.  
    ROBIN
    August 10, 2006 | 4:16 pm
     

    THANKS CANT WAIT, WILL WEAR IT AT THE BAR I TEND!!

  19.  
    Daren Chambers
    August 10, 2006 | 4:21 pm
     

    That is a great idea. Will definately help you spread the word.!

  20.  
    CAROLYN
    August 10, 2006 | 4:21 pm
     

    Thanks I know it will be my favorite tee.

  21.  
    carol flournoy
    August 10, 2006 | 4:23 pm
     

    How Cool. Thanks

  22.  
    Greg Hartz
    August 10, 2006 | 4:25 pm
     

    Thanks for the offer. It’s a great promotion!

  23.  
    Tiffers
    August 10, 2006 | 4:31 pm
     

    Sounds great to me, I looooove t-shirts.

  24.  
    Linda Craft
    August 10, 2006 | 4:36 pm
     

    Very Cool! Id love one. Thanks!

  25.  
    Katrina
    August 10, 2006 | 4:40 pm
     

    Thank!! I will be sure to spread the word.

  26.  
    Steffamie Malcolm
    August 10, 2006 | 4:40 pm
     

    I am definately in this website and receiving a free tshirt. Thanks.

    Edit: Removed personal information for safety and privacy reasons.

  27.  
    Sandy Myers
    August 10, 2006 | 4:41 pm
     

    What a great promotion, really cool. Thanks!

  28.  
    kirsten schubick
    August 10, 2006 | 4:43 pm
     

    I want a free shirt

  29.  
    Becky Price
    August 10, 2006 | 4:46 pm
     

    Me Too!! I would love a tee!!

  30.  
    pam parnell
    August 10, 2006 | 4:48 pm
     

    i would love a t -shirt. please keep me in mind.

  31.  
    KC Barry
    August 10, 2006 | 4:54 pm
     

    Word of mouth works for me and my friends-count me in!

  32.  
    B. Stedley
    August 10, 2006 | 5:08 pm
     

    This looks like a lot of fun. Count me in!

  33.  
    joel rowlison
    August 10, 2006 | 5:13 pm
     

    Edited for safety and privacy.

  34.  
    Amy Conces
    August 10, 2006 | 5:13 pm
     

    Would love a shirt!

    Edited for safety and privacy.

  35.  
    L. Ng
    August 10, 2006 | 5:24 pm
     

    Great promotional idea! I would love a t-shirt, so please count me in. Thanks!

    Edited for safety and privacy.

  36.  
    michelle draveski
    August 10, 2006 | 5:25 pm
     

    I would love a shirt!!

  37.  
    Leila Kayser
    August 10, 2006 | 5:26 pm
     

    great.

  38.  
    maria buneta
    August 10, 2006 | 5:34 pm
     

    I would like a free tshirt pls!!!

    Edited for safety and privacy.

    Thanks a bunch!!

  39.  
    nathalie Pleau
    August 10, 2006 | 5:39 pm
     

    Hé! will wear your t-shirt any day…. will even send ya a pic of me in it with a big smile.
    Hope sending it in canada isnt a problem and if so well i understand .
    Thanks
    Nath

  40.  
    Emily Carroll
    August 10, 2006 | 5:46 pm
     

    Please send a t-shirt.

  41.  
    August 10, 2006 | 5:55 pm
     

    Hey guys,

    We’re all sold out! Since we’re small we can only afford 500 of these bad boys.

    Also, it’s probably not a good idea to put your addresses on the interweb like this. It’s a series of tubes, you know, so you never know who might be sliding down one!

  42.  
    dm fortier
    August 10, 2006 | 5:55 pm
     

    im from and i would really luv a tee .

    Edited for safety and privacy.

  43.  
    cammie frizzell
    August 10, 2006 | 5:56 pm
     

    please send me a large t-shirt

  44.  
    Joseph Futrell
    August 10, 2006 | 5:59 pm
     

    I am happy to wear your shirt just in case you haven’t run out of T-shirts to give away or someones info doesn’t pan out to send it to them.

  45.  
    Shawna Sanderson
    August 10, 2006 | 6:17 pm
     

    I would like a tshirt XXL

  46.  
    cathy miller
    August 10, 2006 | 6:28 pm
     

    Please send free xl t-shirt and I’ll send back a picture sounds like a fun deal

  47.  
    marty guyer
    August 10, 2006 | 6:46 pm
     

    please send me a free lg t-shirt. Thanks!

  48.  
    Sandra Bryan
    August 10, 2006 | 6:47 pm
     

    Live wine, breathe wine

  49.  
    Lori Jobin
    August 10, 2006 | 6:48 pm
     

    Please send me a t-shirt.
    Have a nice day !
    Thank you :)

  50.  
    Eileen Rusk
    August 10, 2006 | 7:28 pm
     

    I’d love a shirt if they become available. I love wine!

    Mrs. Eileen Rusk
    18332 63A Ave.
    Surrey, BC
    Canada
    V3S 8A8
    604 574-0978
    rdr574@telus.net
    Age 55

  51.  
    DJ CONNORS
    August 10, 2006 | 7:43 pm
     

    REQUEST FOR YOUR FREET-SHIRT.THANKYOU SO VERY MUCH! I KNOW EXACTLY WHO I WANT TO GIVE IT TO, BUT I NEED YOUR BIGGEST MALE VERSION, AVAILABLE,PLEASE. 3XL? 2XL? XL? —– LAST CHOICE,LG.AGAIN,THANKYOU!

  52.  
    Francine Charlebois
    August 10, 2006 | 7:45 pm
     

    Great promotion, i like it. Thank you

    Francine Charlebois
    736 Ave Desmarchais
    Vaudreuil-Dorion,Qc, Canada
    J7V 9A7

  53.  
    Kristina
    August 10, 2006 | 8:16 pm
     

    I would love one of those sexy t-shirts:) thanx.

  54.  
    crystal allen
    August 10, 2006 | 8:17 pm
     

    i would love a free t shirt also. thanks! i would wear it proudly for you! xxl or xl please. thanks.

  55.  
    Kim Findlay
    August 10, 2006 | 8:27 pm
     

    I will wear it proud!

  56.  
    Donald Reek
    August 10, 2006 | 8:41 pm
     

    A free shirt would be so kewl all my college buddies at Miami University would admire me an xl would be great if you happen to have one.

  57.  
    nadine bryan
    August 10, 2006 | 8:49 pm
     

    7520 cook road
    apt1301
    houston,tx77072
    please send me a xlarge t- shirt

  58.  
    Dawn Cheng
    August 10, 2006 | 8:50 pm
     

    I would love a pinotblogger t-shirt, if the promotion isn’t over already. Please send to:
    Dawn Cheng
    1514 maple St.
    South Pasadena, CA 91030

    Thank you so much!

  59.  
    Dawn Cheng
    August 10, 2006 | 8:50 pm
     

    oh sorry, I forgot to say that I’m a size small, please. gracias :)

  60.  
    christy
    August 10, 2006 | 8:56 pm
     

    I love to represent and give cliental look forward to your products

  61.  
    Mark Kozubowski
    August 10, 2006 | 9:24 pm
     

    You have come up with an innovative way to market your product. Is the wine as good?

  62.  
    Dana
    August 10, 2006 | 10:16 pm
     

    Hey I would love the cool shirt thanxs

    273 Captain Nurse Cir
    Navato, CA 94949

  63.  
    denise
    August 10, 2006 | 10:35 pm
     

    looks good to me

  64.  
    August 10, 2006 | 10:49 pm
     

    >You have come up with an innovative way to market your product. Is the wine as good?

    Mark,

    Now that is a good question. In fact I’d go so far as to say it is THE question.

    I invite you to continue to tune into the blog to find out (even I’m not 100% sure!).

  65.  
    leigh
    August 10, 2006 | 11:16 pm
     

    I’ll try anything for a good bottle of wine

  66.  
    Sonia Rumpler
    August 11, 2006 | 12:39 am
     

    I’d like a free t-shirt please

  67.  
    anna petr
    August 11, 2006 | 6:11 am
     

    i would love to get a tee shirt
    thanks a lot
    anna

  68.  
    Silvia Mathews
    August 11, 2006 | 6:12 am
     

    I would be happy to taste your wine and be wearing your t shirt and show everybody they need to taste the wine and see what they miss and they need taste your wine.If you have a XL that will work for me and I be glad to send you a pic of me in you t shirt

  69.  
    Beverly Priester
    August 11, 2006 | 6:21 am
     

    I would love to wear your T-shirt!!!

  70.  
    Patty Scherich
    August 11, 2006 | 6:44 am
     

    I would love to have one of your free t-shirts. If you still have some. Size Large please.
    Patty Scherich
    PO Box 1017
    Henrietta, NC 28076

  71.  
    VICKI DOMINGUEZ
    August 11, 2006 | 7:31 am
     

    Cool T shirt, I would wear it proudly!!!

  72.  
    linner hamman
    August 11, 2006 | 7:53 am
     

    thank you for t shirt on wealfair everything healps

  73.  
    Lauralee Garmon
    August 11, 2006 | 8:21 am
     

    Can you send a 2x free tshirt to Laura Garmon 1318 n 1st Wichita Falls Tx 76306 Thanks!

  74.  
    Doris
    August 11, 2006 | 9:24 am
     

    To bad these “sold” out so quickly would have been nice to “advertise” what we buy when we can…

  75.  
    Isabelle Brodeur
    August 11, 2006 | 9:42 am
     

    thanks for the T-shirt

  76.  
    Judy Herscovitch
    August 11, 2006 | 9:50 am
     

    I like the look of thi t-shirt and if they are still available, it would be great to get one free. I would wear it at the gym. Thanks.

  77.  
    Adam Horn
    August 11, 2006 | 9:54 am
     

    Any t-shirts still available?

  78.  
    claudia bolinger
    August 11, 2006 | 12:30 pm
     

    Please send me a free tshirt, I love what you are doing!!
    Claudia Bolinger
    PO Box 1427
    Taalent, Or 97540

    THANKS!!!

  79.  
    james ivey
    August 11, 2006 | 1:05 pm
     

    Please send me a free tshirt

    james ivey
    432 cook ave
    paulsboro,new jersy 08066
    usa

  80.  
    Donna Amaya
    August 11, 2006 | 3:03 pm
     

    I would LOVE to have 1 of your t-shirts. Thanks so much :)

    405 Northfield Ct.
    Harrisonburg, VA 22802

  81.  
    michelle combs
    August 11, 2006 | 3:30 pm
     

    I would like a t-shirt too please!

    michelle combs
    590 el dorado rd
    Pearl, MS 39208

  82.  
    W. Sharpe
    August 11, 2006 | 6:57 pm
     

    please mail me a free t-shirt to W. Sharpe 7403 CR 141 Salida, CO 81201.

    Thank you very much. We are avid wine-lovers!

  83.  
    sabrina adkins
    August 11, 2006 | 7:02 pm
     

    ya send me a free t-shirt and i will be sure to wear it out and show it off to friends and family……….
    sabrina adkins
    5614 highway 587
    beattyville,ky 41131

    when i get it and wear it out i will be sure to send a opic of me amd friends with me with it on

  84.  
    Gloria Ervay
    August 11, 2006 | 7:11 pm
     

    Loooking forward to getting my super looking my t-Shirt!!!! Thank You

  85.  
    Emily
    August 11, 2006 | 7:43 pm
     

    could I have a free shirt?

  86.  
    wk
    August 11, 2006 | 8:19 pm
     

    can i have one..how did you get one?

  87.  
    Mari
    August 11, 2006 | 9:21 pm
     

    Cool website.
    Would like a free T-shirt:

  88.  
    Mari
    August 11, 2006 | 9:23 pm
     

    would like a free t-shirt

  89.  
    Tracy Gaudry
    August 11, 2006 | 11:09 pm
     

    hoping to get a free shirt in exchange for word of mouth advertising for you

  90.  
    Karen Holloway
    August 11, 2006 | 11:16 pm
     

    T shirts and wine two things I love. Hope to get one in the mail soon so I can send you a some great pics of it being worn to all my favorite places. Thanks
    Karen Holloway
    1028 Church
    Alma AR 72921

  91.  
    Ghislaine Meilleur
    August 12, 2006 | 9:05 pm
     

    I live in T-shirts and wear them out.. (have a holy one on now…!)

  92.  
    John Szawara
    August 13, 2006 | 6:59 am
     

    Would like free shirt for wine connoisseur in family.Thanks

  93.  
    Roxanne
    August 13, 2006 | 5:47 pm
     

    Looks like it really nice shirt. Hope to get one

  94.  
    Rick Eanes
    August 18, 2006 | 8:53 pm
     

    Yes, it is a nice T-Shirt, as others have said,I hope I get mine.

  95.  
    sammy gumer
    August 22, 2006 | 11:27 am
     

    Where do you want us to send the picture once we receive the t-shirt?

  96.  
    Martha
    August 22, 2006 | 12:18 pm
     

    Thanks for the offer, I will definately help you spread the word.

  97.  
    Tammi Sparks
    August 22, 2006 | 1:10 pm
     

    Oh yeah, I’ll pass it one. I would be honored to sport this…thanks!!

    2741 S. Macon Circle
    Aurora, CO 80014

  98.  
    Diane Reppert
    August 22, 2006 | 1:19 pm
     

    I’d like a shirt too please in a large..thanks :)

  99.  
    Roberta Williams
    August 22, 2006 | 1:55 pm
     

    I would like a t-shirt please. I also love California wines and would like to try yours.Used to live in Napa. Thank You.

    1041F S Newton
    Springfield, Mo 65807

  100.  
    rosie
    August 22, 2006 | 3:07 pm
     

    BORN IN IT[WINE MAKING] …HARD JOB , GOT MY SUPPORT

  101.  
    catherine mon
    August 22, 2006 | 7:11 pm
     

    please send me a tee shirt

  102.  
    Denise Melone
    August 23, 2006 | 1:07 pm
     

    Hey…Please send me one of those cool T’s!!! XL if you have it. Thanks!!!

  103.  
    debi
    August 25, 2006 | 6:44 pm
     

    PLEASE SEND ME ONE OF YOUR KEWL FREE TSHIRTS….

  104.  
    THUY
    August 25, 2006 | 9:42 pm
     

    Hi may I ask for a T-shirt too?

  105.  
    Caleb Hall
    August 31, 2006 | 3:14 pm
     

    Hi! Could I please have a free t-shirt?? Thanks! I’d love one that is brown, please.

  106.  
    karatebob
    September 14, 2006 | 3:29 pm
     

    please send me a free XL shirt!! I’ll be sure to wear it!

  107.  
    Angela Paine
    September 20, 2006 | 9:38 am
     

    I, also would love to have a shirt M to L please. Thanks.

  108.  
    November 29, 2006 | 7:40 pm
     

    [...] Josh at PinotBlogger.com has a “t-shirt for wine” promotion going on and I’m making a shameless pitch for a free bottle of Pinot Noir. Here’s a photo of me in the shirt, which just arrived today. I know that it doesn’t technically qualify because I’m wearing the shirt in my kitchen and not out on the town but there are several wine fools with me who now know about PinotBlogger.com who didn’t before so maybe that will work. To hedge my bets, though, I’l try to wear it out in public soon. [...]

  109.  
    January 10, 2007 | 3:05 pm
     

    [...] Some months ago, Josh from Pinotblogger offered free t-shirts. I was among the first to sign up for one but didn’t receive it until about 6 weeks ago. Since then I’ve been trying to set-up a worthy shot of me with it on in public to qualify for Josh’s samples list once his winery gets going. It’s not really t-shirt weather here in Minnesota right now so I haven’t had the chance to get just the right shot. [...]

  110.  
    January 12, 2007 | 4:29 pm
     

    [...] I’ve written in the past about how Stormhoek pioneered the open source, hacker ethic in the wine trade via blogging and smart marketing. Another winery has been doing much the same thing, but in a slightly different way for the past 14 months: the Capozzi Family Winery. [...]

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