From Alex's Desk
These are the personal musings of Alex Guarachi, President of TGIC Importers.
Thank You: TGIC Initiative Raises $100,000 For Chile
Just after the earth shook in Chile, leaving hundreds dead and millions homeless, I asked for help for the people of my native country. Today, my cup is overflowing with gratitude for all who purchased Montes and Santa Ema wines between March and May of 2010. In doing so, you helped TGIC reach its goal of donating a total of $100,000 to help rebuild homes and rebuild the lives of the people affected by this tragedy.
One hundred percent of the money we raised was donated to Music For Relief, a non-profit organization founded by the band, Linkin’ Park, to help victims of natural disasters. They passed every cent along to rebuild homes and community centers.
Thankfully, the dollar goes much further in Chile than it does in the U.S. A home can be constructed for about three thousand dollars. And so, rising out of the rubble, new homes now stand with many more under construction. Families who were sleeping in their cars and makeshift tents now have solid, new roofs over their heads and a place to call home.
From the bottom of my heart, I thank you. You opened your hearts, you opened your wallets and you opened up bottles of Montes and Santa Ema wines. In doing so, you made a difference.
Though the aftermath of the earthquake no longer tops or even appears on the daily news, the need for help has not disappeared.
Rebuilding Chile will require those of us outside the country to support its businesses and industry. Remember to buy Chilean, whether it’s wine or fruit for your table. Everything you do counts.
And, please continue to support Music for Relief in its unrelenting efforts to rebuild this wonderful country.
– Alex Guarachi
Chile Earthquake Relief
As you may have already learned through the mainstream media, Chile has sustained an earthquake that was a magnitude of 8.8. This past weekend, I was inundated with personal messages of concern. As I continue to receive emails and phone calls, I wish to thank you for your support and warm wishes. My family in Chile is safe and accounted for at this time. There are many who are less fortunate than I am today.
As can be expected from an earthquake of this size, damage has been considerable. Near the epicenter, the basic essentials— such as water, power, phone communications, housing, and food— are still not available to those who have survived the quake. The country is in a state of emergency and recovery.
With respect to the wine industry, I spoke to James Molesworth from the Wine Spectator this morning. He has been keeping an up-to-date account through his Twitter feed and his blog of damages to the local wineries. As I told James, the good news from our winery friends in Chile is that all of our teammates and partners are safe.
I heard from Carlos Serrano from Montes a mere few hours after the quake hit. He reassured me that Viña Montes will “be back on duty as soon as possible… working hard with the help of Angels.” This is the spirit of the Chilean people as they recover in this difficult time. This independent resilience will take them far, but I believe that it is our duty to speed up this rebuilding process.
TGIC Importers is prepared to donate a significant amount to nonprofit relief and medical organizations. Since a bulk of our international wine imports are from Chile, we are currently organizing a program with our distributors to aid the earthquake victims directly. We will have more details for you soon.
If you feel the immediate need to help the causes for Chile, the following organizations are accepting text donations through the major cell phone carriers:
Text “CHILE” to 90999 to donate $10 on behalf of the American Red Cross.
Text “CHILE” to 25383 to donate $10 on behalf of the Habitat for Humanity.
Text “CHILE” to 20222 to donate $10 on behalf of World Vision.
Text “CHILE” to 52000 to donate $10 on behalf of the Salvation Army
Text “CHILE” to 85944 to donate $10 on behalf of International Medical Corp.
Text “4CHILE” to 50555 to donate $10 on behalf of Convoy of Hope
Text “CHILE” to 50555 to donate $10 on behalf of Friends of the World Program
Text “REBUILD” to 50555 to donate $10 on behalf of Friends of the Operation USA
Introducing the New TGICImporters.com
I am happy to introduce this website as a part of the new experience of TGIC Importers. Our designers created this site to make the information that the insiders of TGIC already know about our wine available to the public. This website is not only geared towards our wholesale wine buyers and members of the trade, but towards the individual who is intrigued by our products and wants to learn more.
Wine is a great, social beverage. We want to make TGICImporters.com your tool to experiencing our wine socially online and beyond the web. This design has grown to support popular social media sources like Facebook, Twitter, Digg, and Delicious. In addition to these social media sources, we will be showcasing wine events in our “Events” page. These events— ranging from dinners to charity fundraisers— can provide you with an exclusive opportunity to experience TGIC wines in your hometown. Dates are available on Facebook, but you can also join our mailing list to be reminded of events through your email inbox.
Lastly, one will notice that this blog is a new addition to our website. “From Alex’s Desk” will include postings straight from my office. I hope to share my ideas and experience in the wine industry with posts that will be insightful and entertaining. I want this weblog to open up lines of communication and help create a forum for TGIC fans and industry professionals. Whether you are a wine novice or an experienced collector, I invite you to comment. I will be reading. And, I look forward to sharing TGIC Importers with you.
