Comments on: Enough With the Haters: An STBNY Mini-Screed http://www.spinthebottleny.com/spin-the-blog/enough-with-the-haters-an-stbny-mini-screed Wine classes and blog featuring tips, reviews, and outspoken advice to help you understand your own palate and find wines you love. Sat, 07 Jan 2012 16:19:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Steve http://www.spinthebottleny.com/spin-the-blog/enough-with-the-haters-an-stbny-mini-screed/comment-page-1#comment-488 Steve Fri, 28 May 2010 02:58:04 +0000 http://www.spinthebottleny.com/?p=1332#comment-488 Smart editor! I do think that kind of "why does the consumer care?" discipline is the biggest thing we as wine bloggers (myself included) lack. We lose out, the consumer loses out, and so does the wine business overall. While we're underdeveloped as far as wine drinking/culture goes, Americans are great, and often very smart, consumers. Parker, love him or hate him, understands this, and has been very smart about talking to wine consumers on their own terms. People are willing to try new stuff. We just need to make a compelling case for why they should. Smart editor! I do think that kind of “why does the consumer care?” discipline is the biggest thing we as wine bloggers (myself included) lack. We lose out, the consumer loses out, and so does the wine business overall. While we’re underdeveloped as far as wine drinking/culture goes, Americans are great, and often very smart, consumers. Parker, love him or hate him, understands this, and has been very smart about talking to wine consumers on their own terms. People are willing to try new stuff. We just need to make a compelling case for why they should.

]]> By: sasha http://www.spinthebottleny.com/spin-the-blog/enough-with-the-haters-an-stbny-mini-screed/comment-page-1#comment-479 sasha Mon, 24 May 2010 04:37:39 +0000 http://www.spinthebottleny.com/?p=1332#comment-479 Thanks so much. And yes, definitely feels like an echo chamber sometimes. If I ever go into painful detail about biodynamic preparations on this blog, let me have it, OK?! Thanks for reading! Thanks so much. And yes, definitely feels like an echo chamber sometimes. If I ever go into painful detail about biodynamic preparations on this blog, let me have it, OK?! Thanks for reading!

]]> By: Matthew mmWine Horbund http://www.spinthebottleny.com/spin-the-blog/enough-with-the-haters-an-stbny-mini-screed/comment-page-1#comment-477 Matthew mmWine Horbund Mon, 24 May 2010 01:43:30 +0000 http://www.spinthebottleny.com/?p=1332#comment-477 Great post. I think all too often we talk to ourselves when we talk about wine. I went from a mission of making wine approachable in every blog post, tweet, and tv segment, to talking about Biodynamic preparation 500 and not understanding why people gave me blank stares. It's great to get back on track, and I started that a few months ago. Posts like yours keep me on track! Thanks Matt Great post. I think all too often we talk to ourselves when we talk about wine. I went from a mission of making wine approachable in every blog post, tweet, and tv segment, to talking about Biodynamic preparation 500 and not understanding why people gave me blank stares.

It’s great to get back on track, and I started that a few months ago. Posts like yours keep me on track!

Thanks

Matt

]]> By: Richard http://www.spinthebottleny.com/spin-the-blog/enough-with-the-haters-an-stbny-mini-screed/comment-page-1#comment-442 Richard Wed, 19 May 2010 02:53:14 +0000 http://www.spinthebottleny.com/?p=1332#comment-442 Sasha, Thanks for saying you have read my blog and actually liked it! Kinda made me blush. I hope to never come across as a hater, but I have pet peeves like everyone, and I have done my share of "Oh, I just had a great bottle of wine that you may or may not be able to find or afford, but let me tell you about it anyway." My intention is not to rub it in, but to share my thoughts, and I generally only want to share these thoughts when I am excited about the wine or experience. I'm not sure if people reading me, or anyone else, get that. I honestly, don't read many blogs. I wish you had listed a few of these haters so I could get a better understanding of their approach. I am, however, probably not missing anything. I completely agree with you; "An unsophisticated wine consumer isn’t an insult — it’s an opportunity." Help the curious yet cautious wine drinker expand their minds and palates. I never worry about the consequences, after suggesting a wine to a friend or customer that they have never tried. I have recommended some really esoteric juice. After talking to them, feeling them out, you get a sense of what they might be comfortable with. You have to listen to what they are saying. They will give you hints as to what they like and don't like. It is about listening and not letting your ego overrule sensitivity. And finally, I have a running list of wine-customerisms and I will share one with you. "I had a wine last night at a restaurant. It began with the letter A. Do you have that one?" ....and on that note... Cheers! Sasha,

Thanks for saying you have read my blog and actually liked it! Kinda made me blush. I hope to never come across as a hater, but I have pet peeves like everyone, and I have done my share of “Oh, I just had a great bottle of wine that you may or may not be able to find or afford, but let me tell you about it anyway.” My intention is not to rub it in, but to share my thoughts, and I generally only want to share these thoughts when I am excited about the wine or experience. I’m not sure if people reading me, or anyone else, get that.

I honestly, don’t read many blogs. I wish you had listed a few of these haters so I could get a better understanding of their approach. I am, however, probably not missing anything.

I completely agree with you; “An unsophisticated wine consumer isn’t an insult — it’s an opportunity.” Help the curious yet cautious wine drinker expand their minds and palates. I never worry about the consequences, after suggesting a wine to a friend or customer that they have never tried. I have recommended some really esoteric juice. After talking to them, feeling them out, you get a sense of what they might be comfortable with. You have to listen to what they are saying. They will give you hints as to what they like and don’t like. It is about listening and not letting your ego overrule sensitivity.

And finally, I have a running list of wine-customerisms and I will share one with you. “I had a wine last night at a restaurant. It began with the letter A. Do you have that one?” ….and on that note… Cheers!

]]> By: sasha http://www.spinthebottleny.com/spin-the-blog/enough-with-the-haters-an-stbny-mini-screed/comment-page-1#comment-421 sasha Mon, 17 May 2010 13:00:54 +0000 http://www.spinthebottleny.com/?p=1332#comment-421 There are definitely some truly great people in the wine business too, and I didn't mean to give them short shrift. That's why the disconnect in the blogosphere seems so extreme sometimes. People in person are so kind and generous with their time, opinions, etc. Totally agree that wine = exploration is the right way to go. There are definitely some truly great people in the wine business too, and I didn’t mean to give them short shrift. That’s why the disconnect in the blogosphere seems so extreme sometimes. People in person are so kind and generous with their time, opinions, etc. Totally agree that wine = exploration is the right way to go.

]]> By: sasha http://www.spinthebottleny.com/spin-the-blog/enough-with-the-haters-an-stbny-mini-screed/comment-page-1#comment-420 sasha Mon, 17 May 2010 12:58:52 +0000 http://www.spinthebottleny.com/?p=1332#comment-420 You're welcome! I'll try to come up with some English subtitles for you, maybe sometime next month? A little testament to l'amitié franco-américaine oenologique... You’re welcome! I’ll try to come up with some English subtitles for you, maybe sometime next month? A little testament to l’amitié franco-américaine oenologique…

]]> By: sasha http://www.spinthebottleny.com/spin-the-blog/enough-with-the-haters-an-stbny-mini-screed/comment-page-1#comment-419 sasha Mon, 17 May 2010 12:52:53 +0000 http://www.spinthebottleny.com/?p=1332#comment-419 Smart editor! I do think that kind of "why does the consumer care?" discipline is the biggest thing we as wine bloggers (myself included) lack. We lose out, the consumer loses out, and so does the wine business overall. While we're underdeveloped as far as wine drinking/culture goes, Americans are great, and often very smart, consumers. Parker, love him or hate him, understands this, and has been very smart about talking to wine consumers on their own terms. People are willing to try new stuff. We just need to make a compelling case for why they should. Smart editor! I do think that kind of “why does the consumer care?” discipline is the biggest thing we as wine bloggers (myself included) lack. We lose out, the consumer loses out, and so does the wine business overall. While we’re underdeveloped as far as wine drinking/culture goes, Americans are great, and often very smart, consumers. Parker, love him or hate him, understands this, and has been very smart about talking to wine consumers on their own terms. People are willing to try new stuff. We just need to make a compelling case for why they should.

]]> By: Tom Johnson http://www.spinthebottleny.com/spin-the-blog/enough-with-the-haters-an-stbny-mini-screed/comment-page-1#comment-418 Tom Johnson Mon, 17 May 2010 12:29:24 +0000 http://www.spinthebottleny.com/?p=1332#comment-418 I actually find most people in the wine business quite welcoming, almost evangelical in their desire to spread the joy of wine. I'm not in the business myself, but I have a blog, and I sometimes think that we delve too deeply, too quickly into the complexity of wine. Most people are just looking for a simple, pleasant drink. An example of that is our preoccupation with wine and food matching. We can make it sound so complicated, implying horrible humiliation if something goes wrong. Your story about the Torrontes is exactly right. I find a lot of people settle into a safe Chardonnay without ever exploring other possibilities. It seems to me the underlying thing we should stress is that wine is an exploration and there are no wrong steps. Try something. If it's bad, that's not a disgrace. It's a lesson learned and move on to something else. I actually find most people in the wine business quite welcoming, almost evangelical in their desire to spread the joy of wine. I’m not in the business myself, but I have a blog, and I sometimes think that we delve too deeply, too quickly into the complexity of wine. Most people are just looking for a simple, pleasant drink. An example of that is our preoccupation with wine and food matching. We can make it sound so complicated, implying horrible humiliation if something goes wrong.

Your story about the Torrontes is exactly right. I find a lot of people settle into a safe Chardonnay without ever exploring other possibilities. It seems to me the underlying thing we should stress is that wine is an exploration and there are no wrong steps. Try something. If it’s bad, that’s not a disgrace. It’s a lesson learned and move on to something else.

]]> By: Miss GlouGlou http://www.spinthebottleny.com/spin-the-blog/enough-with-the-haters-an-stbny-mini-screed/comment-page-1#comment-415 Miss GlouGlou Mon, 17 May 2010 08:50:37 +0000 http://www.spinthebottleny.com/?p=1332#comment-415 Hey, Thank you so much! I am astonished to see how open-minded american people are about wine. We French are often too posh. I'll try to translate the video You're talking about, but infortunately I am far from being fluent. Thank you again! Miss GloGlou Hey, Thank you so much!
I am astonished to see how open-minded american people are about wine. We French are often too posh.
I’ll try to translate the video You’re talking about, but infortunately I am far from being fluent.
Thank you again!
Miss GloGlou

]]> By: Todd Wernstrom http://www.spinthebottleny.com/spin-the-blog/enough-with-the-haters-an-stbny-mini-screed/comment-page-1#comment-411 Todd Wernstrom Mon, 17 May 2010 03:27:37 +0000 http://www.spinthebottleny.com/?p=1332#comment-411 Right on. I think that in fairness to those of us who write about what is, at the end of the day, essentially just grape juice (I'm very happy to no longer be an official one of them), it's pretty easy to get blinded by our indulgencies, particularly now in this age of anyone-who-has-a-computer-can-be-an-"expert". It's easy to fall into the you're-only-as-good-as-your-last-outrageous-bottle times. Are we (you guys) writing for each other or for the consumer, the person in the chain who actually ends up as the point of all of this? I keep in mind the very sage question posed by my primary editor/critic during my 10-year writing career every single time I floated an idea for a column or story: Why should the consumer care? Indeed. One might proffer the same question to any of us, regardless of where we fall in the chain, from winegrower to distributor, restaurateur to sommelier, editor to blogger. If not for them, then for whom? And if it's not obvious, we need to recalibrate or get out. Right on. I think that in fairness to those of us who write about what is, at the end of the day, essentially just grape juice (I’m very happy to no longer be an official one of them), it’s pretty easy to get blinded by our indulgencies, particularly now in this age of anyone-who-has-a-computer-can-be-an-”expert”. It’s easy to fall into the you’re-only-as-good-as-your-last-outrageous-bottle times. Are we (you guys) writing for each other or for the consumer, the person in the chain who actually ends up as the point of all of this? I keep in mind the very sage question posed by my primary editor/critic during my 10-year writing career every single time I floated an idea for a column or story: Why should the consumer care? Indeed. One might proffer the same question to any of us, regardless of where we fall in the chain, from winegrower to distributor, restaurateur to sommelier, editor to blogger. If not for them, then for whom? And if it’s not obvious, we need to recalibrate or get out.

]]>