image: Fix.com

1WD is no stranger to the geeky details of alternative wine closures (see previous thoughts on touring the Nomacorc synthetic cork plant, my write-up about screwcap closures for Publix Grape, and an introduction to cork alternatives penned for Answers.com). Some of us find shizz like that to be fascinating… potentially unhealthy, argue-about-it-vehemently-over-many-drinks levels of fascinating (that’s why they call us “geeks).

The other 99.99% of wine drinkers probably (ok, definitely) don’t spend anywhere near as much time pondering the developments in the alternative closure scene; it is for them (the normal people) that my latest Fix.com article has been penned.

In this info-graphic-laden entry, we take a look at traditional cork, “technical” cork, glass stoppers, synthetic cork, and screwcaps, the Pros and Cons of which are all brought to colorful life by the Fix.com crew. Full embeddable graphic below after the jump, for your viewing pleasure.

Cheers!

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image: fix.com

Last week, my latest for Fix.com was published, entitled Wines at Chilly Extremes. Just in time for Winter, which in my neck of the woods has been mild enough in general to make me want to instantly slap global warning deniers.

The article is an alternate take on the “cool climate wines” theme, in which we highlight not grape varieties grown for fine wine in cooler regions, but the wine world’s more extreme cooler regions themselves.

The result is some trivia-worthy tidbits on areas such as the Nahe, the Niagara Peninsula, and Norway, all brought to life in super-accessible Technicolor graphic style by the Fix.com design wizards. This time, some specific (and Pinot-centric) wine selections are also mentioned as examples from the highlighted regions: Kim Crawford Pinot Noir, Bodega Chacra ‘Barda’ Pinot Noir, Inniskillin Vidal Icewine, Nelles Spätburgunder, and the Lerkekåsa Solaris (and no, I’ve not had it or visited… yet…).

You can head on over to Fix.com for the full-monty, and/or give your eyes an infographic feast via the embedded goodness below (more of my Fix.com work can be found here).

Cheers!…

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1WD reader Robert has written in to yours truly, with an interesting double-barreled challenge. I think that we need the collective wisdom of the insanely-intelligent, hyper-attractive, overly-inebriated, and mega-hyphenated 1WD readership to help this guy. Also, I’m in Champagne this week collecting vinous memories that will make you all jealous, so I could use a little help here as I can’t effectively type with one hand while the other is busy raising glasses of amazing bubbly to my face.

Here’s Robert’s request:

I am brand new to the world of wine, sure I drank my share but now want to get serious in the industry of selling, sampling and the tastings of all types of wine.  I just took on a sales rep position with a small fine wine importer/distributor and want to learn on best ways to succeed. Any advice on what baby steps to take or where to begin as a sales rep would be very much appreciated.

Notice that Robert has a dual challenge here, in that he simultaneously needs to learn the fine wine ropes (primarily, I’m guessing, through tasting, which – lucky for him – has already been touched on in Reader Mailbag form here), and in learning the fine wine sales rep ropes.

Now, I know that there is no shortage of the wine sales rep populace reading 1WD, so I’m asking you folks to help brother Robert!

Shout it out loud in the comments, people: what advice would you give to a newly-minted wine sales rep?

Cheers!

image: wine.answers.com

“This is the end… beautiful friend… the end…”

As we wrap up the June 2015 Wine.Answers.com articles, it’s with bittersweet emotion that I tell you that we’re also wrapping up my stint at Answers.com, a gig that kicked off over two years ago and that resulted in nearly two hundred (!) articles. Answers is winding down the entire expert article program (just FYI, in case you’re following any of the other expert areas there).

I find it interesting that, when I tell people that a gig like this is ending, I invariably get a “oh that sucks” response, which is the polar opposite of my “I’m grateful to have had the opportunity” response. I mean, I made some money talking about wine on a very high-profile online presence, and did it for longer than I’d ever expected it to have lasted. The only sucky part is the reduction of income, which I don’t see as permanent. But maybe I’m weird?

Anyway, here are the final four:

Three Reasons Why 2015 Is The Most Competitive Wine Market Ever

I couldn’t resist this one, since it’s the crux of my opening point from the speaking gigs I did recently with Full Circle Wine Solutions. Seriously, if you’re in the biz, get all of your excuses out now, because they all suck and sound pathetic: we are in the midst of the most competitive wine market in the history of planet Earth.

Wine Book Review: “Ancient Wine” by Patrick E. McGovern

McGovern is a Philly guy. So maybe I am biased. But… he writes a hell of an interesting book when it comes to wine history. This one is a bit academic and at times difficult to follow, but it’s so packed with excellent information that I’d encourage you to pick it up.

Sicily did NOT suck

Five Wine Producers to Watch from Sicily

Obviously a result of my recent jaunt there. There is much, much, much more to come from that, but I need to get my act together on a bunch of things first. But trust me, you will want to stick around for that, because it includes a never-before-attempted Ben Ryé vertical… just sayin’…

Wine Product Review: Peugeot Clef du Vin Travel Wine Tool

I couldn’t let this one go, I had to review this sample of the Clef du Vin before the Answers gig ended. And… well… I just don’t know… I mean, yeah, it affects the taste of the wine… BUT… Just read the review, and you’ll see what I mean.

Cheers!