We’ve all known it would happen some time. Thirty years hence is as good a time as any, I suppose. Yet, I can’t help but think it’s being undertaken as a form of vengeance, rather than what it’s being called: "A Celebration". Decanter Magazine reports that the famed Paris Tasting of 1976 will be recreated, this time simultaneously on two continents and hooked together via video link. The original tasting, when French tasters choose California wines over French wines in…
The Arizona wineries have made a real game out of their battle with that state’s wine distributors who hope to shut off any growth opportunity for that state’s wineries. The state’s wineries have made headway in the legislative battle even though they face a huge disadvantage when it comes to resources. Their response, in part, has been to take it to the digital streets. Todd bostock is the winemaker at Arizona’s Dos Cabezas Winery, a 3000 case winery that produces…
If anyone in the wine community wants a reason why Alder Yarrow’s Vinography won BEST WINE BLOG OF THE YEAR two years running, they need only look to the letters section of today’s San Francisco Chronicle.Alder’s take on the "Zinfandel as CA Official Grape" controversy is, well, unique. If Alder’s own cheek weren’t already quite busy accommodating his tongue, I might give it a big kiss for provoking me to laugh out loud.
How Not To Practice Wine Public Relations: Rule #33 and #34Rule #33: DO YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE CONTACTING A WRITERJamie Goode relates a hilarious, but sad, example of a PR Person for a large UK Grocery chain who contacted wine writer Tim Atkin of the Observer in London asking if Mr. Atkin would be interested in occasionally quoting a Master of Wine in his columns. The PR person offered all the strong arguments for including the thoughts of a Master of…
There some people in the wine business who can only be described as Legends, pure and simple. They’ve pioneered some part of the business or succeeded so profoundly on an individual level that their work has led to many others trodding a similar path after having been inspired. Kermit Lynch is one such legend. The importer of small, boutique French producers has introduced thousands of people to the joy and intimacy that comes with sipping something authentic. Lynch introduced the…
