Feb 14, 2011
Former wine critics don't go away, they just blog. And this is a good thing. For many years, Daniel Sogg worked on the West Coast for The Wine Spectator. He reviewed wines, wrote features and wrote news reports. He understands as well as anyone the world from inside the confines of a key wine review publications. However, now he is a consultant. And now he's also a wine blogger: The Sogg Blog: Speaking Truth About Wine. To-date, Daniel has only…
Feb 11, 2011
With Robert Parker, Jr.'s announcement that he is turning over reviewing responsibilities for California wines to Antonio Galloni, there has been one major question on the minds of California wineries, wine retailers across the country and collectors: Will Galloni appreciate the same wines as Mr. Parker has appreciated? The reasons this question arises should be clear: 1. Mr. Parker's reviews of California wines have been very influential with collectors and retailers who have used the reviews to help aid them…
Feb 11, 2011
This particular irony will have gone unnoticed by most people: Publicists aren't particularly good at promoting themselves, their businesses, their capabilities and their success. Today, I spoke with a fellow publicists who was wondering, essentially, "what's the best way to let people know or promote the fact that our firm was particularly successful in getting multiple clients featured on an important wine show?" For a publicists to get word out about their successes in helping clients promote their goods is…
Jan 18, 2011
"The largest selection of Italian wines under one roof anywhere in America." The "Roof" is the Waldorf-Astoria, the "anywhere" is New York City and the "selection" is VINO 2011: ITALIAN WINE WEEK. When I was called and asked to moderate a seminar panel for the Italian producers and wine marketers attending Vino 2011 next week, I jumped at the chance. Having been invited to attend this event before and sit on a seminar panel, I became well aware that the…
Jan 11, 2011
Yes, the 100 Point rating scale is not perfect. OK, with that out of the way, I find the 100 point rating system fascinating on a number of levels. Most fascinating of all is the degree to which it effects those wines that receive very high scores. Even more fascinating is the degree to which a wine that receives the elusive 100 Point rating is helped. Much more fascinating is the degree to which a 100 Point Robert Parker rating…