Should people who write about wine except samples?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Timothy Troke on -
Samples yes, cases no. We accept samples for our online show. As we don't take Ads yet it helps to keep our costs down. However it doesn't guarantee a great review.
Cheers
Tim
www.slurpswish.com
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Permalink Reply by Cuvée Corner Wine Blog on -
Hey Tim,
Samples yes, cases no, and no ads. Thank you!
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Permalink Reply by Hamish Wakes-Miller on -
Yes. How can you review a wine if you have not sampled it?
It is up to the winery/agent/retailer who they send samples to and if the recipients want to receive them.
At the end of the day there is absolutely no obligation to write a positive review. If any journalist/blogger has an ounce of integrity they will back their own judgement and write an honest review.
www.bellawines.co.uk used to send loads of samples to journalists. However now we are far more selective for who we think may be the decision makers and key influences to improve exposure and ultimately sales.
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Permalink Reply by Cuvée Corner Wine Blog on
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Hamish,
Thanks to you as well, as I have said I just started blogging about all things wine in June, and I appreciate any and all tips you can give me regarding the subject. If you have any other tips for me I would glad to listen or suggestions of where to go from here please feel free to message me. Thanks again.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Wangbickler on -
I believe that it is perfectly acceptable for wine writers/bloggers to accept samples from wineries. As somebody who works in PR & marketing, I regularly send samples to media and bloggers. It is understood that the recipient will at least try the wine, but is under no obligation to write or post a review. If they like it, great! If not, too bad for us.
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Permalink Reply by Cuvée Corner Wine Blog on
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Michael,
Hey thanks for your input. I just started my blog in June and have started to receive some samples and I was wondering how to handle the obligation part of the relationship. Thanks for clearing it up for me. By the way feel free to send a sample or two my way and I will be sure to at least review it. Have a great week!
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Permalink Reply by Katie Pizzuto on -
That's exactly it, Michael....as long as there is a clear understanding that there is no pressure to post a review, there is no reason to avoid accepting samples. And I will say that, as a blogger, I have little room for purposely attacking a wine I didn't like. The point is to get people drinking and expanding their tastes. Knocking a wine simply because it wasn't my cup of tea is silly, and so I prefer not posting at all if I didn't like the sample. When it comes to a company's marketing, however, THAT I will most certainly attack if I don't like it!
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Permalink Reply by Eric Boyum on -
Michael,
After reading the entries of this discussion - and given the fact I am a former journalist of two major daily newspapers and have a journalism degree - I believe your position on this topic matter is most realistic and you approach it correctly. You are right on the money with your assesment of how things SHOULD work. However, I believe in this industry, there will always be a fair share of favoritism extended to those who provide samples. Just like they say 'no rooting in the press box at sporting events,' there always is...
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Permalink Reply by Cuvée Corner Wine Blog on
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Eric, hey thanks for joining the conversation! I really appreciate your input! I have to agree with you about Michael position on the subject. So I read that you're a "former" journalist, should I read that as a 'recovering' journalist? And I thought I was the only one who noticed the 'press-box' cheerleaders.
But I digress, given the premise of favoritism given to those who provide samples to the wine writing communtity should we look at those reviews as slightly less objective? Should the fact of a press sample be included in the review of the wine, like a disclaimer?
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Permalink Reply by Eric Boyum on
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While I agree we need to be given samples, we need to be objective. O.K., I think Brett Farve is the most overated quartback of all-time...I had a bigger sample of him being in the midwest during most of his playing career, so I can, as a educated sport's scribe, comment on his short commings that are now being fanned about in the national media airwaves...very similar to wine, my friend...
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Permalink Reply by Eric Boyum on
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I guess my point being no disclaimer is really necessary. Just like with Farve, as we have seen days when he performed better than his current sample of work this season. If he performs poorly than he should be reviewed as such. Wine should be reviewed very much the same. If it is junk or not preforming well, than the word will get out and shame on those who provided it, expecting a good review. However, sometimes poor reviews are not published for fear of offending the provider who sent the sample. This is too bad when this happens. Beware of anyone who only provides positive reviews. More than likely they will be non-objective with their true thoughts on a product review.
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Permalink Reply by tom merle on -
What about samples to bloggers in non direct ship states. Do most of these states make exceptions for this purpose? Let's assume bloggers meet the definition of "wine writers". Maryland had to pass the R. Parker law allowing only him to receive wine for reviewing purposes.
I'm particularly interested in the state of Massachusetts.
TOM
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