Normally I try not to post too many personal rants on my blog since overall this is a food and wine pairing site with a local twist. But after last night's twitter tasting I could not help but type this out. Agree or disagree with me, that's fine, and after all that is what makes America and the internet so great, everyone has a right to express their opinion.
Being a wine blogger we often are sent free samples, love that part, in return we are to either participate in a live twitter tasting, or write a review on our blog. A nice perk for our "hobby." However, this is where it gets tricky. Since most wine bloggers are not paid professionals, free wine is kinda like our currency. So when you get a free wine, the review can get dicey If you hate the wine, do you say that, do you just not write about it, but what if you have to tweet about it, and it sucks, or do you just play the positive spin game? All questions, that I know go on in my head and from what I have read, other bloggers have wrestled with these questions.
I have struggled with these questions for the duration of my blogging life, almost two years now, and came to a conclusion a few months back. Be honest. Trust my palate.
While traveling the great state of Arizona, I have visited numerous wineries, and have had the pleasure to taste some truly remarkable wine, and some very forgettable wine. While I choose not to trash the, lackluster wine, I also don't give it a glowing review, but simply say it is not for me etc. . . That's honest.
I feel as a wine blogger, my job is not to trash wine, and on the flip side, not say something is good when it truly is not. Everyone has a different palate and different wine education level, and I know my palate may not be as refined as some, and may be better than others, but I know crap in a glass when I taste it. Just because it is free does not mean I have to enjoy it or even swallow it.
Case in point last night. I received three wine samples to participate in a twitter tasting. I had a cold and was too sick to participate but in preparation for the event I had already opened the wines and reviewed them ahead of time with my mom and husband. We all agreed that the wines were better off in the sink drain than down our throats. Honestly, they were horrible. Zero finish, I cannot recommend a wine that has zero finish. Great wine, even descent wine, should have some thing going on in your mouth after you have swallowed it. They tasted like rubbing alcohol finished off with a splash of jolly rancher candy. "It is the Michelob Ultra of wine", my husband said, and he will drink anything, but not this stuff. Now, see that was harsh. But did I see any of those tweets this morning as I checked my twitter feed, no. Everyone had nice things to say, even some of my fellow respected wine bloggers, whom I know have a good palates, judging by their other reviews. So I ask why? Why say you like something when you know you don't. If this wine is not your blogs target audience, who cares, be honest! Why lie, why play the spin game? Really, whose feelings are you hurting, and do you really want more samples of crap wine?
I have unfortunately lost respect for several wine bloggers I used to follow regularly because they have raved about wine that quite frankly I knew to be bad. I mean, a $5 Pinot Noir cannot be good, if you know anything about the heartbreak grape. And on their recommendations I have purchased wines that my mom and I have poured down the drain. Again, just because it is free to you, does not mean it is good wine. Wine blogging has got to be about honesty, and if I, as a fellow wine blogger, cannot trust the blogs our there, then what is the point.
You may not like the wines I review, but I hope at least you can taste why I like them. I try for honesty, and the wines I have reviewed positively are because I did enjoy them and recommend them. So my plead to the wine blogging world is, let's be honest, regardless of the cost. Afterall, all we have is our voice and our palate, and who cares if it is different, as long as it can be respected and we should be a respected voice in the wine writing and drinking world.
Let's keep this conversation going, please share your thoughts and your voice in the comments section below or on my Facebook page.
Thank you! Cheers and enjoy!
Being a wine blogger we often are sent free samples, love that part, in return we are to either participate in a live twitter tasting, or write a review on our blog. A nice perk for our "hobby." However, this is where it gets tricky. Since most wine bloggers are not paid professionals, free wine is kinda like our currency. So when you get a free wine, the review can get dicey If you hate the wine, do you say that, do you just not write about it, but what if you have to tweet about it, and it sucks, or do you just play the positive spin game? All questions, that I know go on in my head and from what I have read, other bloggers have wrestled with these questions.
I have struggled with these questions for the duration of my blogging life, almost two years now, and came to a conclusion a few months back. Be honest. Trust my palate.
While traveling the great state of Arizona, I have visited numerous wineries, and have had the pleasure to taste some truly remarkable wine, and some very forgettable wine. While I choose not to trash the, lackluster wine, I also don't give it a glowing review, but simply say it is not for me etc. . . That's honest.
I feel as a wine blogger, my job is not to trash wine, and on the flip side, not say something is good when it truly is not. Everyone has a different palate and different wine education level, and I know my palate may not be as refined as some, and may be better than others, but I know crap in a glass when I taste it. Just because it is free does not mean I have to enjoy it or even swallow it.
I have unfortunately lost respect for several wine bloggers I used to follow regularly because they have raved about wine that quite frankly I knew to be bad. I mean, a $5 Pinot Noir cannot be good, if you know anything about the heartbreak grape. And on their recommendations I have purchased wines that my mom and I have poured down the drain. Again, just because it is free to you, does not mean it is good wine. Wine blogging has got to be about honesty, and if I, as a fellow wine blogger, cannot trust the blogs our there, then what is the point.
You may not like the wines I review, but I hope at least you can taste why I like them. I try for honesty, and the wines I have reviewed positively are because I did enjoy them and recommend them. So my plead to the wine blogging world is, let's be honest, regardless of the cost. Afterall, all we have is our voice and our palate, and who cares if it is different, as long as it can be respected and we should be a respected voice in the wine writing and drinking world.
Let's keep this conversation going, please share your thoughts and your voice in the comments section below or on my Facebook page.
Thank you! Cheers and enjoy!
I don't know too much about wines, so I depend on reviewers like you to keep in honest. Thanks for keeping your reviews real...I hope others take your lead.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments Lizzy, and glad you found my blog! And what you said is exactly my point, people still rely on wine bloggers for "normal" people reviews, and it is so important to be honest and have personal integrity when reviewing wine. Cheers!
ReplyDelete