That about sums it up: THANK YOU!
I’ve just returned from Walla Walla, WA where I was both a panelist and attendee at the 2010 Wine Bloggers Conference. As if that sentence didn’t contain enough Ws for you, I also was honored (and humbled) with the 2010 Wine Blog Award for Best Overall Wine Blog.
THANK YOU to all of those who nominated and voted for 1WineDude.com – and thanks especially the readers and frequent commenters who are the ones primarily responsible for making this blog as successful and fun as it is. Congratulations to all of the winners and finalists – they are all great, great blogs that are well worth your time.
I also made a speech, for which I felt quite unprepared but it seemed to go over well enough. I met friends, old and new, and learned that when you wine a WBA and stand still for more than 2 minutes in a room with lots of PR folks, you will have some of those (less sensitive) PR people actively block your way to the bathroom in order to talk to you and get your business card.
I also got interviewed a lot (or at least it felt like a lot to me); a fun one with the Wine Biz Radio guys appears at the beginning of the embedded video below (followed by interesting interviews with lots of other bloggers, winemakers, and cool PR people).
I tasted some wines, of course, and visited some wineries, and hung out with some wine personalities, and I do plan to write about all of that; I also plan to write a tribute to my dog, Sam, who passed away while I was at the conference. But I need to decompress first, and process the whirlwind emotional roller-coaster of the weekend that was WBC and WBA. And maybe remove the W key from my keyboards (not sure that last one is such a good idea, actually). More to come; for now – there’s a ton of WBC coverage happening in the blog-o-world.
Thanks again; I will try to “do right” and reinforce the vote of confidence that you’ve been kind enough to give me!
(video after the jump)…
Cheers!
Hey, congrats, Joe, er, uh I mean 1winedoody. I'll raise a glass in your honor, my friend!
Thanks, Matthew – I think Hosemaster's predictions for the award winners were pretty close!
Congrats for the award! "stand still for more than 2 minutes in a room with lots of PR folks, you will have some of those (less sensitive) PR people actively block your way to the bathroom in order to talk to you and get your business card." >> LOL – hope you could make it eventually…
Thanks – I did make it thankfully :-).
I'll just say it: some PR folks make me cringe and want to change professions to stave off guilt by association. But get used to it, Joe – with celebrity comes annoying groupies! :-) Congratulations!
Well, Mia, don't count yourself among them!
As for groupies, I'd welcome those if they carry luggage! :-)
I'm sorry to hear about your dog — it's hard when you can't be there for a pet at the end.
You mean my bathroom block wasn't subtle?!?! :-) JK – I echo Mia in her assessment. Congrats again on your win and looking forward to your WBC/WBA debrief!
P.S. Nice interview….now I need to Google a didgeridoo…
Thanks, folks!
The didj is an amazing instrument. I'm working on a junket to Australia, if we can make that happen in 2011 then you will almost certainly see a video of me demonstrating the didj…
Cheers!
Way to go, Dude. Yours is a triumph of consistency and quality, plus frequency. Keep it up!
Now I am wondering: wouldn't this be a valid story for coverage in major wine glossies? Doubt it will happen, though, because the last thing they want to admit is that there is quality content coming from blobbers on the Interweb!
Thanks, Tish – I suppose it is, actually. They can lave out the part about my dog, though!
I'm pretty sure I said you'd win about three months ago. I know there is a cloud of suspicion about your steroid use, but in this country you're innocent until proven human. Congratulations, Joe.
Must be terribly bittersweet after losing your dog. I'm guessing it wasn't a Poodle.
You did, HMW! The dog wasn't a poodle (he was a Weimaraner) – I'm the poodle! :)