Wednesday, September 29, 2010

MORE THOUGHTS: 1100 vs 1105

Here are some of the latest YouTube postings surrounding 1100 & 1105






















Tuesday, September 28, 2010

WASHINGTON WINE SOCIAL MEDIA PILLARS

I wanted to take a moment and laud the work of a group of dedicated advocates of Washington State Wine.
These tireless and somewhat whacked group of Social Media Masters are voices of information, reason and most importantly passion and fun!  Their dedication, attention to detail, almost Sherlock Holmsian pursuit of the truth is only exceeded by their total belief in the quality of Washington Wine.

For starters there can only be Paul Gregutt.  He has been the voice of Washington wine for almost ten years now.  His palate and his concise writing style have guided wine aficionados through the maze of the exploding Washington wine scene, creating sense of standard and ultimately lifting the quality of wine for everyone.
Respect his opinion, heed his concerns and most importantly follow his writing.

No one on the Washington wine scene has evolved (exploded, really) with more dedication and passion than Josh Wade of DrinkNectar.com.  And no one has done more to tout the wineries and wine scene of Spokane, WA when it could have been drowned out by the "Woodinville" or "Walla Walla " voices.  Josh has been everywhere; video, virtual tastings, blogging and appearances, bringing the "Good News" of Washington wine to anyone who will listen.  Follow him.  You won't be disappointed.

Certainly the most prolific, with excellent quality,  is Sean Sullivan and the Washington Wine Report.  And a nicer, more positive and encouraging guy you may never meet.  Sean really cares.  He loves Washington wine and he wants you to share his passion.  His detailed and thought provoking posts tell a story.  They are informed, connected and important, for they give his readers many reasons to be "evangelists" for up and coming labels, if not the whole of Washington wine.  Take a moment and give Sean a read.  You will learn something!

Barbara Evans, Seattle Wine Gal, is one of the most dynamic, intelligent and passionate people you could know.  She MADE the Social Media scene in Seattle come alive for wine.  She organized, connected, cajoled and insisted that people understand how great wine is in Washington.  Every time you are with her, it's an EVENT!  She knows her wines and the people.  More importantly, she knows the power of combining passion and information.  If you want to stay informed, you'll try to keep up with Barbara!

Woodinville Wine Update, Shona Milne, is the Queen of Woodinville.  Shona is the glue every region needs that keeps everyone connected.  Her intelligence and passion around not only Woodinville, but all of Washington wine is to be commended. If you want to stay on top of one of the great wine regions in the world, you will connect with Shona!

Bean Fairbanks of Wine Beer Washington is also a positive force for Washington Wine & Beer promotion

Even though these are a group people I know, have talked to and/or worked with, there are many more important contributors.

Washington is blessed with the greatest Social Media Wine Army in the world.

"THE BATTLE OF WASHINGTON STATE" - 1100 vs 1105

IT'S ON!  One thing is for sure, there will be change in Washington.  The people of the state have salivated over the opportunity to remove the WSLCB from SELLING alcohol.  The question is "HOW?"

1100 threatens to blow up everything.
This is "Free Market" capitalism at its best. 
The gold rush is on and the big boys know it
(see the Wine Spectator article for $ spent). 
And fear mongers cry foul with scenes of drunks in the streets and nothing but cheap Chilean wine in every store.







1105 is a distributors wet dream; get the state out of distribution, while retaining their control of product flow (again see how much $ is being spent!).
High volume restaurants and box stores will not have nearly the leverage with volume purchases as they would under 1100.

What to do?  What to do?
No one knows what's really going to happen.
And what if they BOTH pass??!!
That'll be up to the State Supreme Court I imagine.

But all is NOT lost.  There are some possible solutions.

First, although this is probably going to be drastic change a little too quickly, Free Markets do eventually work for the best.

Second, with change MUST come NEW thinking.

Let's look at the issues that removal of WSLCB sales controls may incur:

#1 Loss of revenue to the state coffers.
#2 Market dominance by large "Box" chains and large producers.
#3 Increased short term and long term alcohol social and health issues.

#1 seems easy to me; RAISE THE TAX ON ALCOHOL! 
Market forces will drive down distribution and sales costs so alcohol pricing will drop. 
If the state makes up, let's say HALF the difference with increased taxes, the combination of greater sales volume and a higher tax % should cover any shortfall.

#2 is an increased awareness both publicly and financially of the very important role that the craft alcohol industry plays in the Washington economy.  Renewable, sustainable and labor intensive as any industry, the state has done only a fair job of promoting and selling Washington Alcohol Products (The WSLCB stores should have been Washington wine dominate, not just a month a year promotion!)
That means either tax Washington Alcohol Products differently than out of state products or subsidize and promote their production in every way possible.

#3 is the most nebulous of the issues.  The connection between a more free market environment and social issues is debatable at best.  There will be a need for more oversight and training in the new economy.

IMMUNO CAP IgE-WHY YOU NEED THIS TEST

Although, wine is always on my radar screen, I came to Boston to pursue Social Media from a medical perspective.  Through that endeavor, I was reintroduced to this amazing test.

A lot of what we encounter around health is more of a mystery, hocus pocus, hear say and hardly understood. "Red wine is good".  "Too much alcohol is bad."  "Fat is bad."  "This fat is good."  "Carbo load for energy."  "Go on Atkins and skip the carbs." 
WHAT?...HUH?...YES...NO...WHY...MAYBE...TRY THIS...DON'T DO THIS...

Each person has their own genetic make-up, life history and present condition.  Wouldn't it be nice to KNOW what exactly is going on with your body.  I know a whole bunch of people that have allergies, asthma and other medical problems.  They suffer through life with little or no help.

I say STOP!  GET THE TEST!

ImmunoCAP IgE from Quest Diagnostics will tell you what are the conditions and triggers that are causing issues in your body.  DEAL WITH FACTS!  And then learn the techniques and tools you can use to avoid, reduce and in some cases eliminate these stresses from your life.

It's available, it's easy, and it is cost effective; CHEAP by any standard

Monday, September 27, 2010

WHERE'S THE WASHINGTON WINE??!!

After a few weeks in Boston I'm shocked, "Shocked I tell you!", that there are no Washington wines anywhere to be seen (Sorry Ste. Michelle/Columbia Crest all though solid, don't constitute a representation)
Where's the McCrea, the DeLille Cellars, the Amavi?  Nobody talks Cabernet Franc here.  I see Barrister and Barrage wowing people.

Get this.  Boston is a bookend to Seattle (With better sports!); education, seafood, on the coast, liberal, beer and they drink a TON of wine. Wouldn't the divine Walter Dacon Viognier go beautifully with steamed lobster!

The Boston Wine Expo, one of the top wine festivals, has Mercer Wine Estates & Pacific Rim Winemakers, THAT'S IT!

At least Oregon has the Northwest Core Collection.

Folks, we all know the quality, the value and availability of great Washington wines.
WHY DOESN"T BOSTON!

There is an abundance of world class reds from Walla Walla, Horse Heaven Hills, Red Mountain and there is a growing exploration of new varietals (Grenache, Tempranillo, Sangiovese and Mourvedre to name a few).

Let's tell Boston and the world WHAT"S UP in Washington!