Monthly Archives: October 2009

Green Drinks & Wine Blogging Wednesday October: Blog Action Day 2009

Yes, it’s that time of the month where two of my passions collide on the same day–the in-person Green Activism & Networking event known as “Green Drinks” and the on-line wine reviewing event, “Wine Blogging Wednesday” –both happening tomorrow, Wednesday October 14 which is also the day before Blog Action Day 2009!

Green Drinks is a monthly international networking event for folks in green businesses or with environmental interests. You should be able to find one somewhere near you although getting there may not be all that green! For me, tomorrow, Green Drinks happens at my favorite and local brew pub, Anacapa Brewing Company, right down the street from me on 472 Main in downtown Ventura.

I always ride my bike to Green Drinks and this time I have my new BIKERGO to show off! I am so excited! I can’t wait to see the smile on Tea’s face when I get her on this bike! And I know Rachel Morris of VCCOOL is going to get a huge kick out of it too. Who’s up for joining me there tomorrow when I finish up teaching at Ventura College?

Tonight I’ll be tasting and reviewing and writing my Wine Blogging Wednesday post with help from my visiting from Long Island friend Jane. I’m going to compare a Primitivo from Sobon Family Wines with their Zinfandel. Continue reading →

Will the FTC fine wine bloggers $11,000 for non-disclosure?

You can buy a lot of wine for $11,000: Does the new FTC law fine bloggers who don’t report payment or gifts?

Twitterland and the Blogosphere has been hopping lately with news that the FTC is going to start fining bloggers (and presumably other social media users) who do not make it clear that they are getting paid to promote a product. Many wine bloggers who subsist on samples, free or discounted wine shipped to them by the winery or given to them by the winery will run the risk of getting fined if it is not clear that they’re blogging for wine, blogging for the wine industry, or paid in some way.

PLEASE NOTE: NO FREE WINE WAS CONSUMED WHILE WRITING THIS BLOG POST!

While there’s been a lot of whining amongst the winos I follow, as well as a general uproar, I think overall this is a good idea. I can usually tell when someone is pimping a product. But not always. And the general public is not as well versed in the sneaky ways of affiliate marketing and various nefarious schemes to make it seem like regular folks are writing about products.

Personally, I much prefer to say where, when, and how–and to know that transparency is the industry standard.

An article today by Jay Yarrow in the Silicon Valley Insider says that’s not what the FTC means. According to the article, “The assistant director at the FTC  overseeing this ruling, Richard Cleland, says that’s not true. He tells Fast Company:

That $11,000 fine is not true. Worst-case scenario, someone receives a warning, refuses to comply, followed by a serious product defect; we would institute a proceeding with a cease-and-desist order and mandate compliance with the law. To the extent that I have seen and heard, people are not objecting to the disclosure requirements but to the fear of penalty if they inadvertently make a mistake. That’s the thing I don’t think people need to be concerned about. There’s no monetary penalty, in terms of the first violation, even in the worst case. Our approach is going to be educational, particularly with bloggers. We’re focusing on the advertisers: What kind of education are you providing them, are you monitoring the bloggers and whether what they’re saying is true?

Mashable was one of the first sites to report on the FTC change.

http://mashable.com/2009/10/05/ftc-blogger-endorsements/

And here’s a selection of others who rapidly followed suit:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/08/opinion/08sicha.html?_r=1

http://ow.ly/t3Qg

In related news, a blogger temporarily lost her unemployment benefits in confusion on what kind of income she was receiving from Google Adsense:

http://www.mediabistro.com/mediajobsdaily/omgwtf/blogger_loses_unemployment_benefits_over_238_in_adsense_pay_139537.asp

It’s a new world out there. Watch your step!Will

Have fun, Sonadora, wine blogging in Portugal! Wine Predator Comes in Second!

A twitter post from Jo Diaz about a contest for a wine blogger to travel to Portugal drew me like a mouse to cheese to her blog where I found out that yes, the winner would get an all expense paid trip to travel in Portugal for week exploring the wines and the region plus $1000!

Something right up my alley!! So of course, even though I found out about the contest only a day or two before the deadline, I applied, getting my submission in just in time! Here are my 200 words:

WOW an all expense paid trip to the Alentejo Wine Region of Portugal with Jo Diaz of Wine-blog.org? And to blog five entries?

Choose me, Art Predator aka Wine Predator! Have Macbook, will travel! And blog like mad about wine!

As an established blogger, I’ve posted live at the 2008 and 2009 Wine Bloggers Conferences, at WordCamps and other events.

As Art Predator, I prowl for the aesthetic—that which engages the whole soul, according to Coleridge. Wine, food, travel: I’m always looking for exciting experiences to share with my readers and subscribers.

Plus I’ve never been to Europe! Instead of a post college trek Continental trek, I backpacked from Mexico to Canada. They don’t call me a “wash’n’wear” kind of gal for nothing!

I am thrilled by the opportunity to share with readers the joys of the journey and what I learn about the exciting wines of this region. With my background in creative writing and environmental studies, I will write with flair about the land and the people, because as lovely as the wines may be, it’s the stories that surround them that create a full aesthetic experience which “engages our souls.”

Well the good news is that the wonderful Wannabe Wino aka Sonadora is going to Portugal at the end of the month to attend Enoforum with Jo Diaz of WineBlog.org and to write at least five blog posts about the trip and her experiences!

And the other good news is I’m first runner-up to go!

I know, I know, it could be seen as all bad news. But it’s really not. I am thrilled to be first runner-up behind Sonadora. I read her blog, Wannabe Wino, where she was a fabulous host to the August Wine Blogging Wednesday prompt and she has does an excellent and honest job of describing and reviewing wines, we follow each other on twitter, not to mention she had a really great response to the challenge of saying why she should be chosen to go! You can read her response and the announcement that she won on Jo Diaz’s blog here.

What an amazing opportunity for Sonadora! The European Wine Bloggers Conference is happening when they arrive, and I am sure that Sonadora, like I would, will take advantage of the chance to attend everything and do everything she possibly can.

So who or what is this Enoforum which is sponsoring the trip? According to Jo Diaz, “the six founders are the six cooperative wineries from the Alentejo Region, in the south of Portugal. These six wineries encompass 12.000 hectares (296,523 acres) of vineyards, with a yearly production of 60 million litres (6.7 million cases) of wine. In September 2005, new shareholders joined this group: “PME Investimentos, S.A.” and “INVOCAPITAL, S.A.”” They will also be hosting Jo and Sonadora for a few days in Lisbon.

Have a fun time you two! I look forward to reading about the trip!

And what does this mean to me, Wine Predator? And what does it mean to you, oh faithful Wine Predator reader?

I’m inspired! I’m invigorated!

You may have noticed that I’ve slacked off some here…but I’m back! And I have a lot of wine bottles hanging around waiting to be written about!!

So we’ll see you around!!

Wine Blogging Wednesday #62: A Grape By Any Other Name

Wine Blogging WednesdayAccording to Dale,

“The idea is to taste wines labelled with their lesser-known varietal synonyms. For example:

  • Instead of Zinfandel, try a Primitivo
  • Instead of Grenache, try a Garnacha
  • Instead of Shiraz, try a Syrah
  • Instead of Sauvignon Blanc, try a Fume Blanc
  • Instead of Pinot Grigio, try a Pinot Gris

Regional alternative names are allowed too. For example:

  • Instead of Sauvignon Blanc, try a Sancerre

His post even offers a List of Grapevine Varieties from the National Grape Registry and he encourages participants to try BOTH the traditionally named grape AND its alternative, and, as he says

“Extra geek cred for the most obscure grape review!”

Want to participate? Find your wine by another name and drink up! Then, post next Weds. Oct 14 and Email Dale with a link to your post to be included in the roundup.

I’ve been trying to do them each month since December. It’s a lot of fun so go for it! Let me know if you do!

Now for the real challenge: which pair of wines do I taste? I’m leaning hard toward zin/primitivo! Any suggestions?