Joey Logano, 2011 NSCS Goody?s Fast Relief 500 Race Preview

2011 NSCS Joey Logano - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCARJoey Logano No. 20 Home Depot Toyota Camry Goody?s 500 at Martinsville Speedway The Home Depot Team Notes of Interest The Home Depot Team and Joey Logano return to Martinsville Speedway where they earned their best finish of the 2010 season. Logano finished second...more»

Source: http://www.catchfence.com/2011/sprintcup/03/29/joey-logano-2011-nscs-goodys-fast-relief-500-race-preview/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=joey-logano-2011-nscs-goodys-fast-relief-500-race-preview

Eddie Johnson Leslie Johnson Bruce Johnstone Alan Jones Tom Jones

2011 Wine Marketing Report Edition No. 1 Pt. I of III

Unless you’re Rip Van Winkle snoozing since 2004 and awakening in the early spring of 2011, it’s not hard to persuasively argue (to say nothing of intuitively understanding) that digital marketing (in all of its permutations) is foremost on the minds of wine marketers for direct-to-consumer engagement.

That’s the fact.  Here’s the reality:  It’s wild and wooly out there.  Making sense of it is beyond any one person and yesterday’s Twitter account is tomorrow’s old news.  Yet, trying to figure out any one thing (like geo-location, for example), can take you into Alice’s rabbit hole leaving you more confused than when you began.  This, I know.

Continuing what has always been a part of what I write about here – the intersection of wine marketing and wine enthusiasm – I’m altering these posts to, at the least, be more findable on the site by headline if not style.

Generally, I like to take sides on an issue and make hyperbolic proclamations that read like mandates (um, Glenn Beck without the apocalyptic bombast?).  Instead, with this incrementally re-jiggered series of posts that will occur once every month or two, I’m choosing to just simply discuss a few things that have wine marketing implications (that I find of interest) while offering some context that I find equally interesting.

Of course, first up is the wine industry’s favorite internet poster child:  Gary Vaynerchuk. 

Gary V. and Dailygrape.com

On Monday, March 14th Gary Vaynerchuk announced on the 1000th episode of WineLibraryTV that he was re-deploying the web-based show that launched him into pop culture.  During what he described as an “emotional” episode that seemed to me to have all the emotional sincerity of somebody cruising up to their baby mama’s trailer park in an Mercedes S-class to drop off eight months of child support back payments, Vaynerchuk revealed that the newly created Dailygrape.com would be the new home for his wildly popular wine review show.

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WineLibraryTV (WLTV) isn’t going away, per se, but it will now only be used for special interviews and one-off activities, according to Vaynerchuk.

Citing a need to, “Innovate” and get out in front of trends, Dailygrape.com is available via your web browser and optimized for viewing on iPads and iPhones.  As an iPhone/iPad application, Dailygrape offers a number of features for community and user wish lists, and access to additional Gary Vaynerchuk reviews.

Speaking of reviews, Vaynerchuk promised more of them, which he will deliver on…for the introductory price of $2.22 a month through the rest of year, delivered in a monthly newsletter.  More on this in a second.

A couple of things jump out to me about Vaynerchuk’s move to a de-couple himself from his retail operation, WineLibrary:

1) He’s smart to not let his charisma and personality take him in business directions away from the core of what got him to this point – wine.  Does Oprah become an icon and build a media empire if she took a left turn out of her afternoon chat fest three years in? 

2) He’s smart to re-brand because his shtick is intrinsically linked to WineLibraryTV and his WLTV patois has a finite audience.  The early returns on his first two episodes at Dailygrape.com indicate Vaynerchuk may be toning his act down from outsized caricature to energetic everyman.  This can have a direct correlation on potential audience growth.

3) In order to be taken seriously as a wine critic, where there is ample room for deification with a younger generation, Vaynerchuk had to separate himself from the frequent denunciations that a reviewer can’t be impartial if they’re selling the wine, as well.

4) Dailygrape.com doesn’t offer an RSS feed – which means Vaynerchuk is no longer syndicating his content – an online model that has been predominate over the last decade; the notion that giving content away for free, everywhere, can help build a brand.  No, instead of going to Google Reader to watch the show, you’ll have to go directly to the site, or the iPhone/iPad compatible application on your device.

This “innovation” that Vaynerchuk speaks of seems to me to be more of business-savvy maturation and a necessity with an eye on the next couple of years of sustaining growth for his personal brand. 

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What’s he’s doing is using internet feedback as a large focus group to answer perceived negatives while at the same time creating a branded media property separate from the womb of his retail operation, positioning himself as an accessible wine critic for a new generation.  Rachael Ray has her 30-Minute Meals and Vaynerchuk is building on wine criticism.  Through this process he’s also showing his cards for what we’ll be talking about two years from now, which will likely include:

1) Remember when we didn’t have to pay for anything on the internet?  Vaynerchuk goes premium offering exclusive content to subscribers.

2) Vaynerchuk the respected wine critic with a fast-growing subscription-based newsletter, widening influence and Dailygrape shelf talkers at retail stores nationally

3) Multi-platform ubiquity

4) Extensible branding and the foundation of a media company à la Oprah’s Harpo Productions and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.

In sum, I’m careful not to confuse “innovate” with “necessitate” and, truthfully, it seems like the changes Vaynerchuk is making are as necessary as they are cutting edge yet I have a sneaking suspicion that Vaynerchuk’s star is not only going to get brighter, but he’s going to convert detractors in the process.

To see how my Vaynerchuk analysis skills were in March of 2007, a little over a year into WineLibraryTV, click here.

Next up:  Pts. II and III of this post series.

Source: http://goodgrape.com/index.php/site/2011_wine_marketing_report_edition_no._1_pt._1_of_3/

Marc Gené Elmer George Bob Gerard Gerino Gerini Peter Gethin

Mustard Festival Won?t Continue ? What to do instead

This was to be the 20th annual Mustard Festival but the event is taking a ?hiatus? as it states on the Mustard Festival website. I must admit the only event I ever participated in was the mustard photo contest. All the other official mustard events sounded like fun but they were way too expensive for my pocket book. Just because there is no official Mustard Festival this year, don?t let that stop you from enjoying the wild mustard and visiting the Napa Valley. You can always make up your own Mustard Festival activities. We love this time of the year and here are a few of our favorite mustard activities that will be easy on your budget. Continue reading

Source: http://www.winecountrygetaways.com/napablog/mustard-festival-won%e2%80%99t-continue-%e2%80%93-what-to-do-instead/

Travis Wade Kvapil Robert Allen Labonte Terrence Lee Labonte Randy Joseph Lajoie Kevin Paul Lepage

Tasting Report: 2008 Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

Sometimes I wonder why I do it. By "it" I mean consulting wine ratings from publications, combining those opinions with reviews from other wine enthusiasts, and tracking them down at the best fully-loaded prices I can find. A lot of times the wine just can't live up to the accolades - I can't see my way to the massive numerical rating it's attained.  Other times the wine steps up and absolutely delivers the goods.

From the first sip I could see my way to the 94 point rating Wine Spectator bestowed upon the 2008 Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir Russian River Valley - and that's not always the way it goes. The wine immediately reminded me of some of my favorite California Pinot Noirs. It's more restrained than the Kosta Brownes I've had, and doesn't have the earthy nuances I've enjoyed in Sea Smoke's wines. It delivers generous fruit, but it also has this subtle tobacco leaf note I've enjoyed in wines from Clary Ranch and Belle Glos Las Alturas.

For me, a great Pinot Noir is as much about what it doesn't have. So many reveal stemmy/green aromas that I find distracting. Some of my favorites (Zepaltas, Radio-Coteau, and Red Car) succeed for their vibrant purity, lacking any off notes.

This wine isn't necessarily a bargain play at $45. I just think it absolutely steps up and delivers exactly what I'm looking for in a Russian River Valley Pinot Noir.  And that's what I expect in a $45 domestic bottle of wine.

It might be hard to find the 08 around anymore and the 09 is already in stores (2009 will probably be a more highly regarded vintage for California Pinot Noir). I'll look forward to trying the 09. Note this isn't the "Crossbarn" bottling I'm referring to which sells in the $30s. I haven't had that wine but just thought to point it out in case you see the Crossbarn pop up in searches.

Here are my notes:

2008 Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
14.5% Alcohol
3,644 Cases Produced
$45 Release Price
Purchased at: Hingham Wine Merchant

Visually it's slightly dark for Pinot and perhaps veers more towards purple than it should. On the nose it is very pleasant with freshly cut strawberries and a hint of tobacco leaf. On the palate is where this wine really steps up and leaves $20 Pinot Noirs behind. It pours on clean elegant fruit and adds some beautiful slightly-sweet spicy flavors. Silky smooth without a hint of a green or off note. Man, I wish I would have bought more of this.

95/100 WWP: Classic

See other reviews on CellarTracker
Find it in retail shops on Wine-Searcher.com


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WellesleyWinePress/~3/-WZwV2h8sgQ/tasting-report-2008-paul-hobbs-pinot.html

Leslie Johnson Bruce Johnstone Alan Jones Tom Jones Juan Jover

Jimmie Johnson, 2011 NSCS Goody?s Fast Relief 500 Race Preview

2011 NSCS Jimmie Johnson - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCARJIMMIE JOHNSON 2011 STARTS: 5 WINS: 0 TOP 5: 3 TOP 10: 3 CURRENT DRIVER POINT STANDINGS: 5th POINTS BEHIND 1st: 14 FINISH IN CALIFORNIA: 2ND SPRING 2010 FINISH AT MARTINSVILLE: 9th RACE NOTES Martinsville Speedway ? Johnson has made 18 Sprint Cup Series...more»

Source: http://www.catchfence.com/2011/sprintcup/03/29/jimmie-johnson-2011-nscs-goodys-fast-relief-500-race-preview/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=jimmie-johnson-2011-nscs-goodys-fast-relief-500-race-preview

David Lee Blaney Michael Duane Bliss Kurt Thomas Busch Kyle Thomas Busch Jeffrey Tyler Burton

How To Decode Sherry Bottling Codes

Today is Wine Blogging Wednesday 70 and I’ve chosen Sherry in keeping with the theme of Spanish wines we have never had before. Sherry has a lot of issues gaining mindshare with the American consumer but one of the most basic is turnover of stock since some Sherries ? Fino and Manzanilla in particular ? are best [...]

How To Decode Sherry Bottling Codes originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Winecast/~3/9JTdUjQdJIQ/

Kevin Michael Harvick Virgil Ernest Irvan III Kenny Dale Irwin Jr Dale Arnold Jarrett Jimmie Kenneth Johnson