Comments on: American Wine Blog Awards Fermenting Change?

By: enobytes

enobytes — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 23:13:59 +0000

Mary, I love your “Inside a Wine Scam” series! Great writing and great investigation. Brilliant and Bravo!!

By: Mary B.

Mary B. — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 11:55:43 +0000

Ho, ho, I love the Budo Kun Award. Our winery blog did not make the finals this year, which I can understand as the judges were clearly looking for winery blogs which adhere to customer education. But I must admit I was disappointed. Our December 5-part series ‘Inside a Wine Scam’ resulted in an FBI subpoena, and a flood of calls to the winery. To date, the series has saved small businesses (that we know of) over $30,000 in fraudulent fees and orders. It’s very much outside the box, I guess, but it gave me great pleasure (it was fun doing the investigative reporting) and satisfaction to write the series. I am proud to be a loser, and I am adding Budo Kun and Enobytes to our bloglist!

By: Karen

Karen — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 06:10:55 +0000

I’m not a blogger so take my comments for what they are worth. I am simply an outsider looking in. It seems as though supporting a second award seems appropriate, especially if each award has different objectives. Almost every industry supports more than one type of award system, why not this industry. Good luck in moving forward!

By: Joe Power

Joe Power — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 23:25:24 +0000

Great post! Glad I found it, not only did it point me to that spiffy loser award, but gave me the idea for my article today. Thanks!

By: Jill

Jill — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:12:11 +0000

Great post. Made me laugh (many times) and think (a feat in and of itself).

Thanks for wearing the Budo-Kun badge! He’s very happy to be represented on Enobytes.

Best,

Jill

By: Robert

Robert — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:38:59 +0000

I was sure you did – it is just that I noticed a common tone to a lot of posts in the last few days (not just here, but around the wine blogosphere) that I thought might detract from the result despite his efforts, hence the comment

change is coming!

By: enobytes

enobytes — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:30:07 +0000

You bet! It is not my intent to bash the AWBA but rather to propose change. Furthermore, I would not want to step into AWBA’s shoes and facilitate such a large undertaking and I commend Tom’s efforts.

By: Robert

Robert — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 08:56:53 +0000

Let me start by saying that not only did I not qualify as a finalist, but wasn’t even nominated or considered – nor did I expect to be. I should also point out that I have my own issues with the AWBA (in particular the first A), but that is a different issue.

However, it must be a little frustrating for Tom Wark this year that his project to try and raise the profile of wine blogging in general by getting readers and bloggers involved in a friendly competition, should have resulted in quite so much negative feedback in only its second year.

I am very much in agreement with many of your points above about another award/system being useful (I have contributed my own thoughts on the OWC already as you know), but I wonder whether we ought to be knocking Tom’s endeavour quite so much instead of supporting it?

I think it is a point worth raising as those who are finalists will be seen as just self-promoting and any contrary views simply as sour grapes (!).

Do you agree that it is in our overall interests to support Tom’s awards as well?