Who’s a Big Winner today?
YOU’RE a Big Winner today.
No doubt that the wide world of wine media is awash in well-weathered year-end recaps (not too mention consonation!), with thoughts about the wines and wine-related happenings of a 2009 that has nearly gone by. While I enjoy the year-end recap thoughts as much as the next guy or gal, I’m not going to provide another look-back wine list or article review, mostly because I already have those posts published and can’t fool you into reading another one because you’re too smart.
No, I just want to tell you how lucky you are this year, wine-wise anyways.
Yeah, YOU. You’re one lucky S.O.B.
Look at it this way: Was 2009 perfect when it comes to wine? Of course not. But consider this:
You have access to more wine of higher quality and for lower prices than at any other time in the history of the world.
You also have access to more sources of quality information about wine (and all aspects of how it is made, distributed, etc.) than ever before.
So, you not only can get great wine for a great price, you also can gain as much knowledge about wine as you’re hungry for, at almost no cost to you.
Think about that for a second. Most of you reading this have more opportunity when it comes to wine than your parents ever dreamed of. Unless you’re like 14. In which case, you should know that I do not have reviews of Peppermint Schnapps on this website. And no, I am not going to buy some for you at the liquor store down the street. Look, kid, just buzz off already, will ya?!?
The cherry-on-top of this have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too scenario is that the price of entry for your say in the growing wine conversation (which can positively influence where the wine industry goes in 2010 and beyond) is approximately $0.00. In short, you have a wealth of wine knowledge available at your fingertips, and as they told you at the end of the G.I. Joe cartoons in the mid-eighties, "Now you know, and knowing is half the battle." And knowledge, as we all know (ha-ha!), is power.
In other words, who’s the big winner after the wine trials, tribulations, travails, and victories of 2009? YOU are, my friend, you are.
So, as we draw the curtain on 2009, take a moment to toast yourselves, as you are potentially the most powerful influencer of the future of wine.
Cheers and Happy New Year!
(images: bargreatharry.com)
Thanks for the affirmation today! I was feeling a little down ;)
What do you think will be on the scene for 2010? What is in store for the wine world, bring on some 1WineDude predictions.
Josh @nectarwine
Also, I will annoy even more people in 2010. ;-)
Here's one: more reliable ROI measures will take hold for predicting & measuring success of social network initiatives for wine. and wineries will STILL ignore it. :-)
"Access to more wine of higher quality and for lower prices than any other time in the history of the world" — definitely. I'm constantly reminded of how lucky I am in this regard. For example, tonight's choice was an $8.99 Spanish Cava that, while not life-altering, is hella good for the price, or twice the price, and the flat-out perfect match to accompany the spicy tomato soup I made. I knew this Cava, and not the bubbly I have in my fridge that actually was more than three times the price, would be perfect for this occasion, and damn if I wasn't right!
Awesome!
And the best part about that example (aside form the great QPR) is that most of the time Cava is not a wine that is bowing to the "International style" and is keeping its regional identity. Score!
Cool, I didn't know the part about Cava keeping its regional identity and not bowing to "international style." Love that!