Ok. I wasn’t going to post about this, because quite frankly I’m starting to feel like I am treading a very fine line between self-serving, ego-stroking promotion of this blog and giving legitimate props to folks who are helping to make 1WineDude.com successful.
This kind of tears me up because I’ve been blessed with some great shout-outs for the blog. Naturally, one wants to kind of celebrate that but also, and more importantly, give some attention, thanks and promotion to the people who have been kind to you.
But I think it makes for some potentially terrible reading. At best, it comes off as (hopefully short and) heartfelt; at worst… “Weeeeee! Lookatme!” boring. Of course, not acknowledging a shout-out has the potential of leaving the other party feeling scorned.
“Congratulations! The winners of fellowships for the 2010 Symposium for Professional Wine Writers at Meadowood Napa Valley have been selected, and you are among them. I wanted you to know as soon as possible that, yes, you are a winner and that you should proceed accordingly with your travel plans for the Feb. 16-19, 2010 event… The writing samples you sent were judged blind by a panel of accomplished and objective wine writers, and earned you this honor as one of the most talented writers attending the sixth annual Symposium for Professional Wine Writers…”
Holy. Crap. [Editor’s note: the previous statement refers to my reaction upon reading the e-mail; the words “holy” and “crap” do NOT appear in any form / context in the text of Mr. Gordon’s note. ]
It’s funny – I don’t feel like a professional wine writer…
I can only assume that “judged blind” means that the judges were actually blindfolded when they reviewed the fellowship candidates’ writing samples, otherwise I’m at a loss to explain the extreme lack of sound judgment surprising and unexpected choice displayed by awarding me a fellowship.
I’m pleased as spiked sangria punch to be sharing the top 10 list with such talented and esteemed company.
I’m less pleased at how similar we all seem to be.
As you will note from this handy inset graphic, the list is comprised almost entirely of white males (click to embiggen):
To be fair, both Decanter and Lenndevours are blogs with talented staff, not all of whom are white males. Just the vast majority of whom are white males.
The lack of diversity is kind of odd, and sad. I wonder if we represent the majority of wine consumers? I doubt it, considering the studies that point to women being the driving force behind wine consumption (especially in the U.S.).
I’ll stop now as I expect to get flamed for even bringing up the topic (those of you who know me have figured out by now that I can’t help myself) and turn to the somewhat safer discussion of which 2009 1WineDude.com blog posts PostRank measured as being especially engaging. But I’ll warn you, that this list had me scratching my head just as much as I did over the ‘white guy convention syndrone’ of the top 10 list…
There was a poll as well, for those who prefer to have their say without commenting.
The results?
The poll ended up over 60% favoring the addition of ratings (see the previous post for an explanation of how those ratings would work).
The comments had a slight majority in favor, with the remaining roughly comments falling into the following groups (in descending order of responses):
It’s your blog, do whatever you want.
I don’t like ratings but I’ll forgive you if you use them.
Please, please, please do NOT do this.
Despite the fact that the majority of responses to the wine rating question were in favor, the mix of poll results and comments didn’t strike me as the type of majority that implies a Dick-Cheney-style voting “clear mandate of the people.” I’m not sure it feels right.
I’ve got this ugly, nagging feeling of “so much left undone” when it comes to one effort in 2009 that had special meaning for me.
Simply put, the progress on my initiative to Help Kick Alzheimer’s Ass has been really, really disappointing.
Let’s make one thing very clear right off the bat: I did NOT push the Help Kick Alzheimer’s Ass initiative as hard as I should have. And for the most part, 1WineDude.com readers were FANTASTIC at spreading the word on the initiative on Facebook and twitter. And some very, very generous people have donated to the cause.
But the Alzheimer’s Association has been a total FAIL when it comes to helping me promote this fundraiser, and we have a LONG WAY to go before we reach our fundraising goal.
The grade would follow the ‘report card’ format: highest compliment is an “A+” and lowest is an “F” (maybe an “F-“ if the wine really, really, really sucks donkey bong).
What It Ain’t
It is NOT a numerical rating system (we know where I stand on that stuff, right?). For those of you who like to ‘post scan’ and then comment: Please do NOT comment on how I am a sellout because I’m giving a wine a number. Because I’m not giving it a number. Actually, why am I writing that since you post-scanners aren’t reading it. Whatever.
It does NOT mean a change to how I cover wines on the blog. Same approach (detailed coverage, a story about and behind the wine, not just a tasting impression), just add the grade to the end of it.
Why The F— I Am Doing This
I know that there are many wine-lovin’ people out there who probably don’t take a lot of stock in a numerical score, but still want a quick way to take it all in when it comes to a wine’s value for money, it’s overall sensory impressions, it’s raison de’tre (is that raisinde’tre for Amarone? sorry, couldn’t help myself). I’m just not sure if those folks are reading this blog. Hence the poll below.
Feel free to give me your thoughts on this, and comment away if you love it or hate it. I’m a big boy – I can take it.
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