I've just been told about a fantastic site in cyberspace that is as passionate about wine as I am. It's run by a guy called Gary Vaynerchuck or GaryVee on twitter. He runs these really fantastic (and fun) TV programmes that are free to watch on his website http://tv.winelibrary.com/ . Not only are they very informative (okay a bit US biased) but he does a great job at getting people excited about wine.
He has a staggering 91,592 followers on twitter and basically talks a lot of sense. Its the best thing I've seen in ages so do take a look and join in the fun.
Friday 20 March 2009
Saturday 14 March 2009
Should the Wine House only serve American Wine?
Should the Wine House only serve American wine?
I read an interesting article in Decanter this month that referenced an online debate on the Slate about the US Presidents policy of only serving American wines at the White House. Apparently this has been their stance since Lyndon Johnson decided this course of action in the 1960’s. Perhaps Barack Obama should listen to his own rhetoric and follow his own lead for change?
Allowing foreign wines into the White House will not be damming the American wine industry and I am sure that it is quite right to keep the majority of their cellar to some of their fantastic wines. However, a small selection of the very best from around the rest of the world will not only support this President’s foreign policy of being more open and inclusive of the world outside of their shores but it will also give his guests a real treat and open up their minds to what the rest of the world is capable of.
I’m not going to start a debate about US wines verses the rest of the world but I am sure it would be nice touch to treat senior American officials with some of the excellent wines from Bordeaux, Burgundy, Spain, Italy, Australia or New Zealand. Equally make sure the French Ambassador continues to experience the very best from Napa, Sonoma or St. Helena.
What a great way to show the world that the Americans are not myopic in their views over everything and in this time of credit crunch what a great treat for all visitors to this fine institution.
I read an interesting article in Decanter this month that referenced an online debate on the Slate about the US Presidents policy of only serving American wines at the White House. Apparently this has been their stance since Lyndon Johnson decided this course of action in the 1960’s. Perhaps Barack Obama should listen to his own rhetoric and follow his own lead for change?
Allowing foreign wines into the White House will not be damming the American wine industry and I am sure that it is quite right to keep the majority of their cellar to some of their fantastic wines. However, a small selection of the very best from around the rest of the world will not only support this President’s foreign policy of being more open and inclusive of the world outside of their shores but it will also give his guests a real treat and open up their minds to what the rest of the world is capable of.
I’m not going to start a debate about US wines verses the rest of the world but I am sure it would be nice touch to treat senior American officials with some of the excellent wines from Bordeaux, Burgundy, Spain, Italy, Australia or New Zealand. Equally make sure the French Ambassador continues to experience the very best from Napa, Sonoma or St. Helena.
What a great way to show the world that the Americans are not myopic in their views over everything and in this time of credit crunch what a great treat for all visitors to this fine institution.
Sunday 8 March 2009
"By Appointment Only" and surviving a recession
Does the sign ‘By appointment only’ mean bad customer service? It is certainly off putting and a clear indication that the winery or vineyard believes itself to be a cut above the rest. For a few it means that it has only provided limited resources to deal with any customer that turns up on spec to taste its wines. In my experience it tends to be found amongst the more expensive wines of Champagne, Bordeaux and Burgundy. Does this mean that these producers are not interested in the casual passerby that would like to taste its wines, even if they are prepared to pay to sample its delights?
The Australians think that this is all far too pretentious and that any vineyard with the effrontery to put up such a sign is far too up itself and has delusions of grandeur and deserves to fail. Perhaps this is just a new world attitude to wine, it’s there for the masses to enjoy and taste and any such practices are against the spirit of the instant gratification and the new world style and attitudes to wine drinking. You could certainly never accuse the Australians of snobbery and maybe their modern attitudes to customer service and marketing are exactly what winemakers need to survive a recession. You certainly don’t have to look far beyond the websites of Australia, America and New Zealand to notice what a big difference there is compared to the clumsy and slightly ‘old fashioned’ efforts that have been made by European wine makers to promote themselves and their wines on the net.
Whatever the rights and wrongs, the economic slow down will affect wine sales all over the world irrespective of how good this year or last year’s vintage was. Access to customers and the markets could make all the difference in the next 12-18 months to a lot of producers and I for one have to agree with the Australians, anyone prepared to put up a sign telling its customers to come back later may find itself closed before they bother to return.
The Australians think that this is all far too pretentious and that any vineyard with the effrontery to put up such a sign is far too up itself and has delusions of grandeur and deserves to fail. Perhaps this is just a new world attitude to wine, it’s there for the masses to enjoy and taste and any such practices are against the spirit of the instant gratification and the new world style and attitudes to wine drinking. You could certainly never accuse the Australians of snobbery and maybe their modern attitudes to customer service and marketing are exactly what winemakers need to survive a recession. You certainly don’t have to look far beyond the websites of Australia, America and New Zealand to notice what a big difference there is compared to the clumsy and slightly ‘old fashioned’ efforts that have been made by European wine makers to promote themselves and their wines on the net.
Whatever the rights and wrongs, the economic slow down will affect wine sales all over the world irrespective of how good this year or last year’s vintage was. Access to customers and the markets could make all the difference in the next 12-18 months to a lot of producers and I for one have to agree with the Australians, anyone prepared to put up a sign telling its customers to come back later may find itself closed before they bother to return.
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