I can’t – but am tempted to, never the less – apologize for yesterday’s blog posting, because it was all female bloggers.
The reason for the apology would be that I never warned anyone, nor should I; but I’ve yammered about things that end up being all male in the past, and now there I go… all female.
So, to keep anyone from freaking out on me, I went to another Wine Blogger Facebook page, and asked the same question. I wrote:
I’m going to write a story about what motivated you to start blogging. Care to share? If so, please also help me out by providing your Web address (it will save me lots of time, and give you added publicity). Thanks.
I found a few things along the way, thinking the guys in the group would just jump all over this:
- They didn’t, but the reactions are worth sharing, because some of them did have heads up.
- Niklas Jörgensen Hi Jo! If you run a site solely concentrating on a single topic, quite narrow as well, you got to be a little bit nuts! I’m Mad about Madeira (madaboutmadeira.org) and it is my greatest wine passion in life! I love the wines, the island but just as much all the great personalities on the island. Without these, wine is not much. You know that your site will never be the most read when going this detailed but it has put me in contact with people all over the world, and that was my main hope when starting to write about Madeira.
- Robert McIntosh I initially began wineconversation.com because I was working from home, with no colleagues to share stories and ideas with anymore, and needing an outlet. It became a regular habit, and through it I joined THIS group, then met Ryan Opaz and Gabriella Reynes Opaz (Catavino)to discuss the idea of planning a way for wine bloggers to get together to share nice wines in person … and then the rest is history 🙂 Vrazon is completely a product of bloggers who met through social media 🙂
- I was told by one of my female friends that this Facebook page has lost its momentum; however, here are a couple of great guys who responded ASAP, just not with why, but with interest.
- Jeff Lawson What is your email address? Will send you some insight on my story.
- I did. Here’s his blog site: Midwest Wine Guy
- In response to your query on the wine bloggers Facebook page……..I don’t claim to have a unique story necessarily, but before I launched www.midwestwineguy.com in December 2010 I had been writing numerous one-liner reviews for several years. Frankly, I was tired of seeing blogs from people bashing wines and telling people to avoid certain varietals. My approach was simply “honest wine reviews for people who enjoy all styles of wine”. From the neophyte to the seasoned wine pro, I feel like I offer something for everyone. There isn’t one wine on my site I wouldn’t personally recommend. While some are better than others, they each have their own qualities and merit. This venture has provided me the opportunity to try scores of wine that I may not have found otherwise, and the response from the wine industry overall has been positive and welcoming. I am a firefighter by trade (20 years) and work at my family’s business as a web developer on my ‘off’ days (what are those?) but try to stay as current with my reviews as much as possible. While I’d like to write every day it just isn’t possible with my duties as a husband and father to four. Some day when I retire I will devote all of my time to wine writing as I absolutely love it. I make no money from this or my web site – keeping it pure if you will. ?? There’s a bit ‘about me’ on my web site as well. Thanks for letting me provide a little insight!
- William Allen you know well where to find me if want 🙂
- Okay, here are his URLs, so you can get the long of it ~ Two Shepherds Vineyards & Simple Hedonisms (blog)
- He’s obviously got his hands full, so he’s allowed…
- The Wine Blogger page also had interesting women responding, so I’m adding them, too.
- Elisabetta Tosi Jo, I write in Italian in my blog Vinopigro.it (in English in Palate Press); my main motivation for starting a blog was the lack of room in main stream newspapers and magazines for some “small” news about people and wine in the wine world. I wanted to write about what I love and think… Nowdays, I write less frequently, but still I write mainly for me. My blog is my gymnasium of ideas and words!
- Caroline Henry Jo, I initially started my blog to share my experience in wine marketing as I realized lots of wineries could benefit… Then I started writing more about my wine adventures and lately it is becoming quite Champagne focused:-) my blog is Miss in Wine 🙂 Thanks Jo for another great sharing initiative 😉
- Happy woman, I love happy women and men.
More wine writers for you to check out. There are more than a few of us, no doubt
Related articles
- The 10 Most Important Wine Bloggers in the US, Paul Mabray Inspired (wine-blog.org)
- Who are those Top 10 Most Important Wine Bloggers in the US, Paul Mabray Inspired? + Mike Dunn (wine-blog.org)
- The State of Blogging in America, as seen by the French (steveheimoff.com)
Hi Jo
Sorry I didn’t reply. On top of the blog, as you are aware I have a new wine brand, doing well (too well sometimes) AND to pay for it all, I have a new full time, traveling, software sales job, and its our end of quarter. Since the new job enables everything else, the blog and social media distractions goes in spurts right now. With 14+ hour 6 day work weeks, bottling around the corner, and also amidst, late at night, a big rose’ series working on…..I didn’t get back to you. 🙂
People had said for years I should start a wine blog, so when I moved to Sonoma County 3 years ago, took 4 months off, jumped into harvest and the region both feet, started up on Twitter and Facebook, I launched Simple Hedonisms. 8-10,000 readers & followers a month, somehow its still going strong.
The blog originally was never intended to do wine reviews, but ironically thats its main focus these days. I don’t have bandwidth for journalistic stories, and I noticed years ago my Cellartacker notes were getting 100s of views, I enjoyed doing them, so voila.
When I launch the Two Shepherds NEW website, hopefully next month, a blog will be an integrated part, and I intend more true writing there, but from the industry perspective as a new Vintner, (and grower, yes planted a Grenache vineyard as well :o) and my perspectives on wine making, styles etc. It will be a different voice, and focus.
If you decide to do another piece on bloggers, we can use this info. 🙂
Love this Jo. It’s fascinating to read these “behind the blog” stories. There also seems to be a synergy here — we are all in the same boat. No blogger is better than anyone else, we’re all wine lovers with our own wish to write about this fascinating subject. A little gem about Madeira is going to be more valuable to many readers than a navel-gazing industry blog. I hope all the wine lovers out there who are blogging keep at it, it creates a richer blogosphere.
William, as I noted… You’re a BUSY guy. You deserve an entire blog story, honestly, and I’ve thought about it for a long time. This pushes me closer to it. Hang in there. I’ll be in touch.
Also, thanks for giving us the *long* of it. I didn’t want to push you to do it, because I do know how busy you are. I also didn’t want to leave you out of the story, because you showed interest.
Alana, so well said… Navel-gazing industry blog… very funny!
Jo,
VinTank is probably one of the outliers in wine blogging since we almost uniquely write about the intersection of digital and wine. It is our passion for helping wineries (and more) understand the nuances of this new, and incredibly important, sales and marketing channel that inspires us. It is also our way to celebrate the legacy of Robert Mondavi who created a culture of sharing in the wine industry. By putting out thoughtful research, provocative content, and emotional post about our part of the industry we felt that we could help people succeed in a nascent part of the business. I am not sure that we have accomplished our goal but we work very, very hard to help. Wine online, we believe.
Paul Mabray
Chief Strategy Officer
VinTank.com
Paul, thanks for sharing. I’ve long been a fan of yours, and realize that you’re documenting the digital history of the wine industry with your blog. (Sometimes, this can be very dry and not personally revealing, but it’s professionally revealing and very necessary for posterity.)
I’m going to predict that this year, when the Wine Blog Awards are announced, Vintank will be the cream that rises to the top in the Wine Business Writing category. (Shhhh, secret.)
Jo,
For me starting a blog was all about the fame and fortune. As you must know by now, great heaps of cash and coin rain down upon wine bloggers of value.
I figured you already knew my story. I started blogging more than 4 years ago because I wanted another outlet for my writing beyond what magazine writing gave me. I never thought my blog would be important, I just wanted to explore a more personal expression of wine writing.
Tom, we both started for the same reasons, it seems. (Wine, wink)
Yes, Steve, I do know your story pretty well.
Not everyone who reads my blog does, though, so thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the post.
For me, for wine, I started blogging to remember what I tasted. A community followed and the approach broadened and lightened.
For tech, I blog because consulting is my business and my blog and community drives a large part of my new business. I think and blog. Conversations and engagement happens.
You might be interested in what I”m starting to do with a new wine community, called LocalSip. If so, grab an invited and when we start to open it up, I”ll make sure you are in the early group. http://www.thelocalsip.com
Thanks, Arnold. I’ve noticed how active you are in the Wine Blogger list. Kudos!