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Drinknectar.com mastermind Josh Wade, April 28th Guest of #socialwine

April 23, 2010
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Josh Wade

Josh Wade

Wednesday April 28th at 6pm PT you can follow our tweetchat with Drinknectar.com wine and coffee blogmaster Josh Wade, known on twitter as @nectarwine.

Our line of questioning this week will be on the topic of “blogging, Social Media and H.R. 5034, The discussion will cover how Josh Wade has built his blog and Social Media presence and the effects of the House Bill attempting new regulations on shipping wine, please send your questions to @craigsutton by direct message or email before the event and include your questions.

Josh’s Bio

Josh Wade is the creator of DrinkNectar.com. DrinkNectar is an expression of Josh’s passion for wine and coffee. Using video reviews and text, DrinkNectar explore the story behind the wine, winery, and coffee shop. The focus begins in Spokane, WA then expands to Washington State, and then to the rest of great wine and coffee world. Josh is a firm believer in the power of social media and has used his platform to create #WAMerlot and most recently to collaborate on StopHR5034 (an effort to end the legislation prohibiting direct shipping of wine).

By day Josh is a project manager for a international financial institution helping to manage the changes occurring in the corporate intranet space. Josh also spent six years as a youth pastor / worship pastor and still enjoys playing guitar in church nearly every week. DrinkNectar is moving toward the launch of several business models including social media consulting, and wine related retail storefronts.



KEPR-KIMA Action News and Weather Anchor Troy Barrett, April 21st Guest of #socialwine

April 20, 2010
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Troy Barrett

Troy Barrett

Wednesday April 21st at 6pm PT you can follow our tweetchat with news and weather anchor Troy Barrett, known on twitter as @thetroybarrett.

Our line of questioning this week will be on the topic of “wine and the media, the discussion will cover how wine is impacted by media coverage and what you can do to get the media interested in you! To share your questions for that event early, please contact @craigsutton by direct message or email before the event and include your questions.

Troy’s Bio:

Troy Barrett is the morning news and weather anchor for the local CBS affiliate TV stations KIMA and KEPR Action News. Troy began his professional broadcasting career in Phoenix as a radio disc jockey where he held on-air positions at both KSLX-FM (classic rock) and KBUQ-FM (country at the time).

Troy is a graduate of The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University where he earned a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism with a minor in Physical Geography (Meteorology). Troy’s first on-air television job took him to Southern Oregon where he spent three years providing morning and midday weather forecasts for ABC affiliate KDRV-TV in Medford, Oregon. While in Southern Oregon, Troy fell in love with the wine industry and all that the Rogue, Applegate and Willamette Valleys had to offer. His next TV adventure was going to take him to El Paso, Texas, Troy packed up as much Oregon wine as he could and headed to the borderland. After spending three years in El Paso as a weather forecaster, news anchor and news reporter, Troy jumped at the chance to return to the Northwest so he could live and work in the the greatest wine region in the nation.

“The wine industry here was one of the main reasons I accepted the position at Action News…no, I don’t have a drinking problem…I have a curiosity problem…I want to learn everything about wine and the wine industry.”


Transcription of the #socialwine chat with Sean Sullivan

April 20, 2010
Posted under socialwine
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craigsutton: Welcome to #socialwine tweetchat with special guest @wawinereport. Need help? Click here http://ow.ly/1yCpn

craigsutton: Tonight we’re talking “how to blog about wine” discussing keeping it relevant while in the public eye

craigsutton: Don’t forget, you are welcome to comment between questions using the #socialwine hashtag

nwwines: @craigsutton , thx, you already started #socialwine?

craigsutton: If you have ?’s for the guest please DM me or email craig@ikonmg.com, Im checking and will credit you

craigsutton: @NWwines just starting now :)

craigsutton: Hey everyone, whats in your glass? #socialwine Olsen Hills 2007 Malbec for me!

craigsutton: Q1: Hi Sean! Tell us about your introduction to wine…

wawinereport: First thx to @craigsutton for the invite. I’m drinking an 04 Rioja Riserva. Decided to venture out of WA for our discussion.

craigsutton: RT @RedMtnSongbird: @craigsutton Barnard Griffin Chardonnay 2008

wawinereport: A1: Was introduced to wine early in life. Often had wine around the table I would sip. Didn’t get serious until 10 yrs ago tho>.

craigsutton: Q2: When and why did you first start writing about wine?

wawinereport: A2: Started writing probably 2005. I always take a lot of notes. Circulated those to my friends who circulated them to theirs.

wawinereport: A2: The blog started more out of seeing so much #wawine on the shelves I wasn’t reading about..

wawinereport: A2: I still do see a lot of wine on the shelves I don’t read about. So much out there! >

craigsutton: Q3: So why blogging?

wawinereport: A3: I started blogging mainly to experiment with a different medium. Early stuff had been .pdf docs (which I still do). I liked.

wawinereport: A3: the immediacy of the medium. You can get things out there as fast as you can type them. >

craigsutton: Q4: What was the most important benefit you offered to readers to encourage them to read?

wawinereport: A4: What I’ve focused on is trying to dig deeper into areas, people, vineyards. Tell an interesting story.

wawinereport: A4: In WA there are so many great stories. Great stories w great people making great wines. Ive tried to bring those to people >

craigsutton: Q5: How do you view the competition in wine blogging, is there enough?

wawinereport: A5: There are an abundace of blogs out there. Seems to grow by the day. Main thing is to know what you want to do and how you..

wawinereport: A5 you want to differentiate yourself from the thousands (thousands) of wine blogs out there. So I think there are a lot…

wawinereport: A5 of wine blogs out there. I’d personally like to see more depth and differentiation. Also a bit less navel gazing. >

craigsutton: Q6: Ok, gotta ask, describe “naval gazing” please :)

nwwines: RT @craigsutton: @NWwines just starting now :) #socialwine this is what I’m drinking http://twitpic.com/1fntck

wawinereport: A6 Navel gazing. I see a lot of wine blogging about wine blogging. I don’t entirely get this because there is so much content…

wawinereport: A6 to write about. Writing about writing has its place but I see a lot of people responding to the criticism of whether blogging

wawinereport: A6 in general or wine blogging in particular is relevant and interesting. To me, that discussion is not interesting…

wawinereport: A6 Blogging about wine and things related to it are interesting. Less navel gazing, more high quality content.

wawinereport: RT @Catie: @wawinereport It depends on what navel you are gazing at. <-You bring up an important point Catie. :)

craigsutton: What do you do to separate your blog from the pack? Something specific?

craigsutton: @nwwines OHHH A Lemberger :) #socialwine #lucky

wawinereport: A7: Pick something specific that you are interested in and excited about. Passionate about. Learn as much as you can and…

wawinereport: A7: Share it with others. What that specific thing is matters less than that you are passionate about it and learn about it….

craigsutton: That was Q7: by the way :)

wawinereport: A7: There will always be folks w similar interest. Find a singular passionate focus & dedicate yourself to it…

wawinereport: A7: For me, it’s Washington wine. > #wawine

craigsutton: @wawinereport Amen brother :)

craigsutton: Q8: One of the most difficult tasks in blogging is consistently writing content, do you have a road-map for delivery?

craigsutton: @nectarwine DM me or email to craig@ikonmg.com , i will credit you for the ?

wawinereport: A8 I do have a roadmap. Of course, I drive off it occasionally! I remember @garyvee saying once that you should be able to…

wawinereport: A8: generate a list of 50 topics you want to write on. My list is several times that. Part of why I enjoy it so much. >

CUVEE_CORNER: RT @craigsutton: Q8: One of the most difficult tasks in blogging is consistently writing content, do you have a road-map for delivery?

craigsutton: Q9: Do you measure your traffic by post? If so what do you hope to learn?

nectarwine: @wawinereport #socialwine dude, you are a stud! – I’m planning my week on Monday, just to figure out what’s going to post Wed

wawinereport: A9: Honestly, I pay attention to metrics somewhat but not as much as one might think (or as much as I should). I do look at…

wawinereport: A9: overall trends of visitors and how people got to my blog. The analytics you can look at is frightening by the way. But it’..

wawinereport: A9 interesting to see what someone was searching on that brought them to the blog. >

craigsutton: Q10: @ACCQueen asks, Can u provide advice for a winery trying to get noticed by top Bloggers?

wawinereport: A9 I will say that I would write this blog even if no one read it. I love doing it. Hopefully that comes through in some way. >

nectarwine: LOL Q9 @wawinereport #socialwine – for a while there ppl were getting to my site searching for naked taylor swift b/c I posted a pic of her

wawinereport: Q10 Winery’s should definitely consider sending samples to bloggers. However, know that bloggers do get samples from many…

nectarwine: RT @wawinereport: A9 I write this blog even if no one read it. I lv doing it. Hopefully that comes through #socialwine << it does, friend!

wawinereport: Q10 wineries so the question is, again, how to differentiate yourself from others. What do you do to get yourself noticed….

wawinereport: Q10 Establishing relationships where people know who you are is always more successful than cold calling. Like anything else. >

craigsutton: Q11: from @TheTroyBarrett When do you tell a winery / tasting room staff you are a blogger. Especially when you getting started.

wawinereport: Q11 When I started out I enjoyed being able to go to a tasting room and just take in the experience as a consumer. I think that.

wawinereport: Q11 does have value for writers, consumers, etc. However, after a point, it’s not practical. Writing lots of notes and asking…

wawinereport: Q11 lots of questions brings attn quick. People used to think I was from the health board. So I would say, everyone will…

wawinereport: Q11 find the right time to decide to tell people when they are coming or when they get there. >

craigsutton: Q12: @nectarwine asks What are the next steps for you to build @WAwineReport

nectarwine: Q12: @nectarwine asks What are the next steps for you to build @WAwineReport #socialwine < I ask b/c you rock and deserve more attn

wawinereport: A12 I wld like to continue to offer more in-depth writing on #wawine. Beyond that, all I can say is stay tuned. :) >

wawinereport: Thank you @nectarwine

craigsutton: Q13: Q13: @ACCQueen asks for your thoughts on the free wine controversy. Can you tell us about it b4 answering?

nectarwine: RT @wawinereport: A12 Beyond that, all I can say is stay tuned. :) > #socialwine << so coy, my friend…hmmmm

wawinereport: A13 Lot of discussion out there about bloggers receiving ‘free wine’ and thinking that people are doing this all for freebies…

wawinereport: A13 I’m not saying those folks aren’t out there. However, it should be pretty apparent if you look at what they are doing…

wawinereport: A13 whether they are serious or not. Does that answer the question @ACCqueen? >

craigsutton: Q14: Last one from me, What intrigued you about social media, and do you view it as a way to drive traffic?

wawinereport: A14 I love the ability with Social Media to talk and hear directly from people you might not be able to interact with on a…

wawinereport: A14 daily basis. I have learned so much about what is going on in WA from Social Media. I view it as about relationships. If…

wawinereport: A14 it drives traffic great. But I don’t see it as about that. More about Meeting and interacting with people. >

craigsutton: Thank you very much Mr. Sean Sullivan from @wawinereport. Be sure to check out his blog here: http://ow.ly/1yDHl

craigsutton: This was my favorite interview to date and thought your answers were all spot on!

craigsutton: I hope all of our follows had a great night! Would love your feedback

wawinereport: Thank you very much @craigsutton. Folks, do feel free to reach out to me at any point with questions, comments, even critiques! >

craigsutton: Until 6pm next week, im out #socialwine feel free to talk amongst yourselves (like I could stop you!)

simplealcohol: RT @nectarwine: Q12: @nectarwine asks What are the next steps for you to build @WAwineReport #socialwine < I ask b/c you rock and deserve more attn

wawinereport: Thanks again to @craigsutton for the invite and Qs from @ACCQueen @nectarwine @TheTroyBarrett tonight at

onerichwineguy: got into a discussion with a client and missed #socialwine. Dang it!!

wawinereport: @onerichwineguy We missed you!

onerichwineguy: @wawinereport Just reading it now! Great stuff!!



Transcription of the #socialwine chat with Sales Manager, JJ Williams of Kiona Vineyards and Winery

April 20, 2010
Posted under socialwine
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craigsutton: Welcome to #socialwine tweetchat with special guest @kionawine. Need help? Click here http://ow.ly/1vPuC

craigsutton: Tonight we’re talking “the process of building a marketing plan around a wine” discussing the Lemberger and ice wines

craigsutton: Whats in your glass?

craigsutton: Its a @kionawine 2003 Syrah for me!

craigsutton: Don’t forget, you are welcome to comment between questions using the #socialwine hashtag.

KionaWine: @craigsutton #socialwine Sipping a 2002 Estate Red Mountain Merlot. I know, it’s tough working for a winery.

craigsutton: @kionawine sounds yummy, Ok lets start with the questions!

hashtager: # Don’t forget, you are welcome to comment between questions using the #socialwine hashtag.

craigsutton: Q1: What is the first step in your decision making process when thinking about marketing your wines? Specific goals?

ThomsonVnyrds: Martini & Rossi #Prosecco Cheers to warm weather in #SF #CA this #WineWednesday

KionaWine: A1: First step is to determine who is interested in a specific wine. Ice Wine drinkers and Sangiovese drinkers are different.

KionaWine: A1: There is obviously some overlap, but often have to appeal to completely different demographics within our own product line.

KionaWine: A1: There are people who enjoy our Ice Wine on a weekly basis that don’t even consider themselves “wine drinkers.”

craigsutton: Q2: From @MargoAndTroy Do you try to develop a mktg plan for each wine or do you develop plans that are more general?

KionaWine: A2: Both. A lot of selling wine comes down to brand recognition. With over 20 wines, we have to be general.

KionaWine: A2: But also specific. We push the “brand” but also highlight specific products depending on the market

KionaWine: A2 Unlike some wineries, we make so many wines that it is sometimes hard for somebody to find a specific wine in a shop.

KionaWine: A2 which is why selling the Kiona” name is oftentimes more important than pushing one specific wine.

craigsutton: Q3: How do you research a demographic and target them for your wine sales, does your distribution network help?

KionaWine: A3 A lot of times it comes down to price. Different price tiers can greatly influence who is interested in wines.

KionaWine: A3 Sometimes you won’t get a second look because the wine is too expensive, sometimes because it is too inexpensive.

KionaWine: A3 To answer the question more succinctly, yes, the distributors help immensely. They know what their buyers want.

craigsutton: Q4: from @wawinereport how has Kiona has leveraged interest in Lemberger to build up their brand and upsell people?

KionaWine: A4 Lemberger has a small but extremely dedicated legion of followers. It’s so good and so unique it brings people in naturally

KionaWine: A4 A lot of people visit us because of one wine or another and are surprised we make so many other wines.

KionaWine: A4 Lem is a good segue wine. It’s inexpensive and competitive. People are willing to check out more expensive wine after trying.

KionaWine: A4 10-$12 is a good experimentation and impulse-buy price range. People are more willing to drop 20 after 1 positive experience.

craigsutton: #Craigmercial Please tell your friends to join us at #socialwine, the goal is to learn from each other and support makes it worthwhile!

craigsutton: Q5: From @onerichwineguy What is the above $30 mkt doing this spring? Is that mkt coming back anytime soon?

ThomsonVnyrds: Q5 midpoint. Drink the rest of the #bottle yourself or invite a #neighbor over? Join #socialwine on your own or w/a #friend!

KionaWine: A5 30$+ has been hard. Overall good for us though because people are discovering that 10-$20 wines can be as good as $50+ wines

KionaWine: A5 Most of our wines in WA are at or under $20. People who used to buy $40 wines are “downspending” to ours and are enjoying it.

ThomsonVnyrds: @craigsutton #Apologies.#Priorities.I know!Never leave a #man in the field.That’s the #rules. Even #SparklingWine #Champagne

KionaWine: A6 So many things. Grape origins, niche, how much we make. We are family owned/operated so we get to do everything ourselves

craigsutton: Q7: From @clivity What role do individual relationships play, given the size of Kiona?

KionaWine: A6 It’s not according to “in-the-bottle” quality. Our Cab/Mer is $10 in WA and I’d put it against any Cab in the US personally.

KionaWine: Q7 Huge. We are “big” in the sense that we make a lot of wine for a family winery.

KionaWine: Q7 We are small in the sense that we are just a family. We value people/buyers/customers/complainers/fans so much

KionaWine: Q7 Wine is the most social beverage in existence. We take pride in making friends wherever we go and whatever we do.

craigsutton: Q8: from @onerichwineguy what will control the sub 500 case winery glut. standards r being written to call yourself a “winery”?

clivity: @KionaWine Q7, Thanks JJ you do a good job at it.

KionaWine: Q7 Plus it’s our (MY) name on the label! Everything anybody does under the Kiona name is a reflection of our family

ThomsonVnyrds: oh snap! @onerichwineguy great Q! furthermore what will control the ever popular #lifestyle vineyard?

craigsutton: Followers of tonights chat can learn more about the “1eyed wine guy” by clicking here….Later :) http://ow.ly/1vQ6x

KionaWine: Q8 Nothing. If they can sell it more power to them. It’s a lot harder to run a winery than most people think.

KionaWine: Q8 It’s not romantic. It’s not easy. It’s hard, passionate work, from growing grapes, to making wine, to selling the darn stuff.

craigsutton: Q9: What goes into the label process, do you create them internally, work with a vendor, does the process change?

KionaWine: Q8 There will always be a market for boutique wine, but I do think we’ll start to see some form of “shakedown” soon.

KionaWine: Q9 We’re actually working on label stuff now. Being family run, this is an interesting process for us. Everybody has to be happy

onerichwineguy: @KionaWine Answer to Q8 – Amen! people think it’s all a party. It’s harder than it looks.

palatebomb: @craigsutton Good job tonight and thanks to @KionaWine as well!

KionaWine: @clivity Thank you!

ThomsonVnyrds: @KionaWine well said.How do U convey that 2 starry eyed spectators?Is it the industries job 2 self-regulate?Sorry for jumpin in!

craigsutton: @palatebomb Thanks! not done just yet.. thought the Later thing might have got ya!

KionaWine: Q9 Keeping Grandpa and Grandma happy RE labels is a sticky issue. Currently working on dessert wine and non-estate wine redo.

craigsutton: One more ? before we call it a night

KionaWine: Q9 We work with actual graphic designers. We aren’t computer whizzes or designers. They usually know better than we do!

craigsutton: Q10: What channels in both traditional and new media marketing do you use, does either outperform the other?

KionaWine: Q10 Twitter and Facebook are fantastic, but I think they fall in the realm of customer service more than sales and marketing

KionaWine: Q10 1200+ facebook and 600+ twitter followers, I we haven’t seen a huge jump in #’s, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth it.

KionaWine: Q10 Like we said before, wine is a social beverage. Facebook and Twitter are social platforms. The marriage is perfect.

KionaWine: Q10 But we have some HUGE news that I can’t really talk about yet that will make Kiona MUCH more visible in the Seattle market

craigsutton: Would like to thank JJ Williams of @KionaWine for his time tonight! This was fun and educational!

KionaWine: Q10 You can talk about how good your wine is all day long, but until somebody tries it, it doesn’t really mean anything.

craigsutton: @KionaWine aww, cant get the scoop? Hey look noone is watching *turns around*

KionaWine: @craigsutton #socialwine In time, my friend. :-)

onerichwineguy: Thanks to @craigsutton and @kionawine for tonights #socialwine. Good job JJ!

chefmagana: Thanks guys RT @craigsutton: Would like to thank JJ Williams of @KionaWine for his time tonight! This was fun and educational!

craigsutton: Remember to join us next week, with guest @wawinereport! Get Wine, get Social, lets get #socialwine!

KionaWine: @craigsutton Any time! My job to make Kiona fans happy. If anyone has any questions ever, let me know on Twitter or Facebook

craigsutton: @KionaWine Ill come pay you a visit in May


Washington Wine Report editor Sean Sullivan, April 14th Guest of #socialwine

April 8, 2010
Posted under socialwine
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Sean SullivanWednesday April 14th at 6pm PT you can follow our tweetchat with Washington Wine Report editor Sean Sullivan, known on twitter as @wawinereport.

Our line of questioning this week will be on the topic of “how to blog about wine, The discussion will cover how Washington Wine Report got started and the process Sean uses to keep it relevant and in the public eye. To share your questions for that event early, please contact @craigsutton by direct message or email before the event and include your questions.

Sean’s Bio:

Sean Sullivan is editor of a Washington wine-dedicated blog known as Washington Wine Report. The blog focuses on increasing consumer awareness of the Washington wine industry by: reviewing currently released wines; providing summaries of recent articles; writing in-depth reports on wineries, vineyards, and winemakers; and conducting monthly on-line wine tastings.

It all started after writing e-mail distributed wine reports for several years to keep his friends involved, Sean founded Washington Wine Report in 2007.A native of Massachusetts, Sean moved to Seattle in 2000 to pursue his love of mountain climbing and soon found himself immersed in Washington’s emerging wine scene.