Feb 14, 2011
Former wine critics don't go away, they just blog. And this is a good thing. For many years, Daniel Sogg worked on the West Coast for The Wine Spectator. He reviewed wines, wrote features and wrote news reports. He understands as well as anyone the world from inside the confines of a key wine review publications. However, now he is a consultant. And now he's also a wine blogger: The Sogg Blog: Speaking Truth About Wine. To-date, Daniel has only…
Feb 7, 2011
In Stu Smith's latest volley at his blog "Biodynamics is a Hoax", he delivers in his most succinct fashion ("succinct is not one of Stu's strong suits since he, like me, tends to like words and uses them in volume) yet, the reason many in the wine industry are coming to question the Biodynamic movement. In "Why I Resent Biodyanic Farming" Stu explains, "By publicly claiming superiority they, de facto, belittle and ridicule everyone else’s farming methods and wine quality…
Jan 18, 2011
"The largest selection of Italian wines under one roof anywhere in America." The "Roof" is the Waldorf-Astoria, the "anywhere" is New York City and the "selection" is VINO 2011: ITALIAN WINE WEEK. When I was called and asked to moderate a seminar panel for the Italian producers and wine marketers attending Vino 2011 next week, I jumped at the chance. Having been invited to attend this event before and sit on a seminar panel, I became well aware that the…
Jan 3, 2011
Wine writing, as a craft, is fairly well scrutinized by those looking for the best of the best. In fact a variety of awards are given out each year to wine writers and journalists who are judged to be the better of the world wide lot. Although it delivers but two awards focused on wine writing (Best Wine Book and Best Writing on Beer, Spirits and Wine) The James Beard Awards do come with a certain amount of prestige. Much…
Dec 1, 2010
Some Assessments of my wine reading in 2010 and a look forward to 2011. FAVORITE WINE BOOKS OF 2010 New Connoissuers' Guide to California Wine and WineriesBy Charles OlkenAn outstanding guide to California's wine industry by a long time veteran observer. Required reading. Reading Between the WinesBy Terry TheiseA provocative narrative of the importers experience and opinions on the world of wine. Matt Kramer on Wine: A Matchless Collection of Columns, Essays, Observations By America's Most Original and Lucid Wine…