By Lenn Thompson, Founder and Editor-in-Chief
As the founder of Wine Blogging Wendesday, I like to hop in and host at least once a year. It's fun to force people to drink what you tell them to. It's a power rush. A boost to my ego.
Okay. What really happened is that the planned host for September went and got pregnant and gracefully bowed out until after the baby is born in the spring. So, I'm jumping in so we don't miss a month.
After brainstorming a bit, I dismissed simply making participants drink local again. That's been done. But, ever the proponent for supporting local wineries, I did find a new angle that I think will be fun -- At the Source.
Rather than walking into your local wine shop to pick up a wine for WBW, I want you to actually visit a winery and taste a wine there. Bonus points if you can taste it with the winemaker or the vineyard manager.
Because I'm a bit late announcing (was hoping to find a host before taking it on myself), we'll push out WBW an extra week and do it on Wednesday, September 16. That should give people plenty of time to visit a tasting room, taste several wines and pick one for WBW.
See how I still kept the local angle in play? Not bad, right?
I understand that this will mean some interesting wines for many of you -- especially those in lesser-known corners of the wine world. But, I've had some fun and interesting wines from quite a few off-beat places. Have fun with it.
And remember, you can visit a winery this weekend for WBW, just don't post until September 16.
Email me a link to your post for the roundup please.
I live in Indiana, and take this assignment as a personal attack, an attempt to cause my palate and soul grievous injury.
Posted by: David Honig | August 23, 2009 at 10:15 PM
I feel for my friend David, but at least living right up against the border with Michigan I can cross the state line and visit some wineries there.
I have one problem, though. The wine I'd like to feature in this WBW comes from a place with no tasting room. But the winemaker has given us bottles as samples, so I think I'm covered. I've tasted the wines with the winemaker before, so we should be in good shape.
You know, David, the rules don't say you have to visit a local winery...could be a good excuse for a road trip.
Posted by: Bill from Wine For Newbies | August 24, 2009 at 08:24 AM
David, if you want to take a road trip to the Finger Lakes I'm sure me or any number of our enthusiastic correspondents could arrange a winery visit or two.
Posted by: Jason Feulner | August 24, 2009 at 09:07 AM
David - you need to fight back. I'd deliberately go non-local and recount a tale from a tasting room visit in another state...
Posted by: 1WineDude | August 24, 2009 at 09:40 AM
All I'll say is this... no one ever claimed that drinking local wasn't an extreme sport at least part of the time ;)
Suck it up!
Posted by: Lenn Thompson | August 24, 2009 at 09:43 AM
Excellent topic for September! Another reason to get out and visit some of our newest wineries here in Virginia.
Posted by: Frank | August 24, 2009 at 10:42 AM
thanks for the heads-up we will prepare for the onslaught in our tasting room --
Posted by: Kevin Durland | August 24, 2009 at 10:49 AM
Soooo you're sayin I CAN'T do a post about a Willamette winery? Cuz that would really jive well with my schedule...
That's actually a serious question. Does "at the source" mean at any winery or does it have to be a winery near where we live?
Posted by: Erika | August 26, 2009 at 09:29 AM
Great prompt, especially this time of year! I contacted winemaker, Michael Meagher of Old Creek Road Winery near Ojai and will be meeting him there when he arrives with a freshly picked truckload of Viognier on Friday morning so that should be great fun. Anybody in the area who wants to join is welcome--let me know with a comment on my blog!
Posted by: art predator | September 10, 2009 at 11:39 AM
Erika,
I'm going with at any winery since I moved to Maryland and cannot get to the one good local winery (Black Ankle) in time to meet the deadline. I think what was local to you at one time qualifies. Lenn, what do you think?
Posted by: winenegress | September 14, 2009 at 03:06 PM
Great idea! Hello Vino will be participating in this WBW by visiting d'Art Wines in Lodi, CA, and tasting wines with winemaker Dave Dart. I'll be live blogging from the tasting room, with some videos, too.
Excited to be a part of WBW,
- Rick from Hello Vino
Posted by: Hello Vino | September 15, 2009 at 09:07 PM
what a great goal to the blog! like the idea. i'd love to know some details as im coming to town on monday.
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