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!

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….
[...] 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. [...]
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 …
[...] Pinotblogger: the Capozzi Winery blog « Free Shirt, Free Pinot - Courtesy of Pinotblogger. Label Update and Design Costs [...]
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!
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
What a great marketing and PR idea to energize support for your winery. Look forward for the opportunity to taste your wines…..
Fantastic idea. I’m in.
Great Idea, and I am more than happy to participate in spreading the word and eventualy tasting your wine.
Wonderful idea , great way of advertising. My husband will be thrilled.
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
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
Tres cool! Looking forward to the free tee as well as sampling the vino.
Excellent idea. Will help to spread the word around!
thank you so much for letting me get one of your great shirts
Thank you so much. Wonderful and unique idea. Thank you for the offer!
Thanks for the wonderful gift. My husband is going to love it.
THANKS CANT WAIT, WILL WEAR IT AT THE BAR I TEND!!
That is a great idea. Will definately help you spread the word.!
Thanks I know it will be my favorite tee.
How Cool. Thanks
Thanks for the offer. It’s a great promotion!
Sounds great to me, I looooove t-shirts.
Very Cool! Id love one. Thanks!
Thank!! I will be sure to spread the word.
I am definately in this website and receiving a free tshirt. Thanks.
Edit: Removed personal information for safety and privacy reasons.
What a great promotion, really cool. Thanks!
I want a free shirt
Me Too!! I would love a tee!!
i would love a t -shirt. please keep me in mind.
Word of mouth works for me and my friends-count me in!
This looks like a lot of fun. Count me in!
Edited for safety and privacy.
Would love a shirt!
Edited for safety and privacy.
Great promotional idea! I would love a t-shirt, so please count me in. Thanks!
Edited for safety and privacy.
I would love a shirt!!
great.
I would like a free tshirt pls!!!
Edited for safety and privacy.
Thanks a bunch!!
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
Please send a t-shirt.
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!
im from and i would really luv a tee .
Edited for safety and privacy.
please send me a large t-shirt
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.
I would like a tshirt XXL
Please send free xl t-shirt and I’ll send back a picture sounds like a fun deal
please send me a free lg t-shirt. Thanks!
Live wine, breathe wine
Please send me a t-shirt.
Have a nice day !
Thank you
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
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!
Great promotion, i like it. Thank you
Francine Charlebois
736 Ave Desmarchais
Vaudreuil-Dorion,Qc, Canada
J7V 9A7
I would love one of those sexy t-shirts:) thanx.
i would love a free t shirt also. thanks! i would wear it proudly for you! xxl or xl please. thanks.
I will wear it proud!
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.
7520 cook road
apt1301
houston,tx77072
please send me a xlarge t- shirt
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!
oh sorry, I forgot to say that I’m a size small, please. gracias
I love to represent and give cliental look forward to your products
You have come up with an innovative way to market your product. Is the wine as good?
Hey I would love the cool shirt thanxs
273 Captain Nurse Cir
Navato, CA 94949
looks good to me
>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!).
I’ll try anything for a good bottle of wine
I’d like a free t-shirt please
i would love to get a tee shirt
thanks a lot
anna
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
I would love to wear your T-shirt!!!
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
Cool T shirt, I would wear it proudly!!!
thank you for t shirt on wealfair everything healps
Can you send a 2x free tshirt to Laura Garmon 1318 n 1st Wichita Falls Tx 76306 Thanks!
To bad these “sold” out so quickly would have been nice to “advertise” what we buy when we can…
thanks for the T-shirt
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.
Any t-shirts still available?
Please send me a free tshirt, I love what you are doing!!
Claudia Bolinger
PO Box 1427
Taalent, Or 97540
THANKS!!!
Please send me a free tshirt
james ivey
432 cook ave
paulsboro,new jersy 08066
usa
I would LOVE to have 1 of your t-shirts. Thanks so much
405 Northfield Ct.
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
I would like a t-shirt too please!
michelle combs
590 el dorado rd
Pearl, MS 39208
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!
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
Loooking forward to getting my super looking my t-Shirt!!!! Thank You
could I have a free shirt?
can i have one..how did you get one?
Cool website.
Would like a free T-shirt:
would like a free t-shirt
hoping to get a free shirt in exchange for word of mouth advertising for you
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
I live in T-shirts and wear them out.. (have a holy one on now…!)
Would like free shirt for wine connoisseur in family.Thanks
Looks like it really nice shirt. Hope to get one
Yes, it is a nice T-Shirt, as others have said,I hope I get mine.
Where do you want us to send the picture once we receive the t-shirt?
Thanks for the offer, I will definately help you spread the word.
Oh yeah, I’ll pass it one. I would be honored to sport this…thanks!!
2741 S. Macon Circle
Aurora, CO 80014
I’d like a shirt too please in a large..thanks
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
BORN IN IT[WINE MAKING] …HARD JOB , GOT MY SUPPORT
please send me a tee shirt
Hey…Please send me one of those cool T’s!!! XL if you have it. Thanks!!!
PLEASE SEND ME ONE OF YOUR KEWL FREE TSHIRTS….
Hi may I ask for a T-shirt too?
Hi! Could I please have a free t-shirt?? Thanks! I’d love one that is brown, please.
please send me a free XL shirt!! I’ll be sure to wear it!
I, also would love to have a shirt M to L please. Thanks.
[...] 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. [...]
[...] 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. [...]
[...] 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. [...]