Mike Duffy at Winery Website Report. El Jefe at Twisted Oak, and Paul at Inertia hit me with the “Why I Blog” tag today. Many thanks fellas, I always enjoy talkin’ ’bout myself! Here’s what I came up with…
- First and foremost the blog is a cheap, fun marketing vehicle and personal relationship builder. Crass perhaps (at least the marketing part), but true. The thing is I think that relationship building is marketing, and it’s actually one of the very best parts of the job. I think that if you’re going to go into the wine business you absolutely have to like people and want to welcome them into your life.
- I blog because I noticed it was far too hard to find solid information on how to start a winery. It’s a complicated process in a complex, over-regulated industry. I figured a blog outlining how one person went about doing it would help aid others who were trying to round up this kind of info.
- In that vein, I also hoped to get (and was lucky enough to receive) some feedback on the process by other folks more experienced and knowledgeable than I (not too hard). I talk to a lot of folks in my neck of the woods, but a blog brings in voices from hither, thither, and etc.
- Finally, there’s some sappy chick movie I watched once where one of the characters said about his father: “Things don’t really seem real to me until I’ve told him about them.” I can’t for the life of me remember anything else about that flick, but I feel the same way about all the seminars, classes, research and discussions I have about the industry. Ideas only really get cemented in my mind when I have to sit down and post on what I’ve learned, hopefully in a semi-entertaining way. Building this winery is my unending passion and sharing that passion on this blog seems like the best outlet I have.
If I didn’t write, I’d be even worse company at dinner parties than I am now, boring people with talk about Precision Viticulture. There are probably only 14 readers in the world interested in PV, but dammit I want them all.
So now it’s my turn to tag a few others! Tag, you’re it.
Craig Camp @ Wine Camp Blog
Steve @ The Wine Collector
Jamie Goode, the Carl Sagan of Wine
Jeff @ Good Grape
Alder @ Vinography
Josh, it’s good to see the vinosphere biting a solid chunk out of this meme. Your post is especially thoughtful on each point. Good show!
Just for ducks, check out where this meme has been recently on the Blog Meme Tracker.
Josh – You are doing great – we also paid it forward to you. – http://blog.inertiabev.com/index.php/2007/04/24/paying-it-forward/
Inertia – Powering the Wine Revolution
—Paul Mabray – CEO
I definitely agree with your last point. You never really know something until you try to teach it. So, how’s the winery coming?
I love how so many people are actually answering this! It’s much fun to read about what drives people to keep up this hobby. I think it’s been great to read about the beginnings of your winery, really, a learning experience.
If you hadn’t put the “blog” in “Pinotblogger” then it would have been “Pinotger” and, well, that’s just weird. I feel the same as you and wish I had figured it out when I was starting my winery!
very much enjoy the blog, so whatever the raison de etre, please keep it coming…