Jun 19, 2009
This week the U.S. Open, America's most important golf tournament, will have the attention of sports writers, Tiger-watchers and golf lovers the world over. It's a big tournament and it always has been. Despite the existence of the Fed Ex cup, which is suppose to produce something like the final results for best golfer of the year, I think it's safe to say that winning the U.S. Open produces the greatest prestige for a golfer. Folks will be glued to…
Jun 10, 2009
I think there is a connection between the degradation in the quality of classic candy and the rise of simply, flabby low priced wines. First, let's admit that wines in the lower price categories that are made for American consumption do tend to be flabby, sweet, simply wines with little character. They are, in my opinion, delivery vehicles for alcohol disguised as sweet fruitiness that is slippery on the tongue. The California Central Valley and Australia has been pumping out…
Jun 8, 2009
So, Murphy-Goode Winery is going to pay someone $60K over 6 months to be their Social Media Director. That sounds about right. By my estimation, if you hired someone to work full time in such a position and if they had significant social media, sales, PR and tech experience that kind of salary might be at the high end of the spectrum but not outside it. Of course the way Murphy-Goode has gone about screening candidates with video's being posted…
Jun 4, 2009
For nearly 20 years, when I tell people "I work in wine PR", I often get the same response: "So what exactly do you do?" Sometimes this questions sets me back on my heels because from day-to-day my responsibilities to my clients change, the things I'm asked to do change, and I'm not always sure, on any given day, exactly what I'll be doing. In other words, while there are some vague boundaries to the realm of "PR", it's not…
Jun 3, 2009
In case anyone is wondering, THIS IS HOW IT'S DONE. The topic of journalists and reporters issuing corrections isn't often discussed. Generally, these kinds of discussions take place via email or on page 20. So, it was with great pleasure that I saw one of America's best wine reporters come out with a straight up correction and make it nice and visible too. In This Story, Lew Perdue of Wine Industry Insight made his correction regarding a story he posted…