So I’ve been home from WBC 14 for 5 days and in that time, there have been some fantastic posts about WBC come across my Facebook feed. Here are some of the posts that I’ve particularly enjoyed:
My response to the Panel of Professional Print Writers from Vindulge. – The most eloquent criticism I’ve read in a long time and it hit on many good points.
Wineries Need to Give Bloggers More Respect from Demystified Vine. – I wholeheartedly agree. I’ve said that I’m a blogger to some wineries and they don’t seem to care, while others take some interest…then there are the ones that are almost overzealous to the fact that I chose their tasting room during my adventures.
Top 10 Things I Learned at WBC 2014 from Another Wine Blog. – FYI, I wholeheartedly admit to being part of #10 on this list. There were times when I couldn’t breathe because I was laughing so hard.
On Respecting Intellectual Property Rights & Tell Me a Story from BungRCooper. – Some fantastic points were made in both posts. As a photographer and a casual fiction author (yes, I’m admitting that I write the faux pas genre known as fan fiction when the muses cooperate…so shoot me, I’ve learned to duck…), I’m hyper aware when it comes to people stealing sh!t. Just don’t do it, no matter how tempting it may be. As for “Tell Me A Story”? Yes, please! Tell the story of the wine or the winery. In time, we all come to know your story…share the winery story instead!
My takeaways from WBC 14 are this:
– Santa Barbara County is beautiful. Seriously. This view from Presqu’ile should prove it.
– The wines in Santa Barbara County are even more beautiful.
– As bloggers, we need to focus more on character rather than credentials.
– Drinking wine + blogging ≠ wine blogging.
– A hotel that doesn’t advise of an option (*ahem* Marriott, yes I’m talking about the breakfast option for an additional $10) that should’ve been clearly asked at check in does not make for a good experience. In fact, when the most friendly staff members are the restaurant staff…you’ve got a problem.
– While I understand the desire to have one “official” after party, when you have a conference of this magnitude, there will always be rogue events. Instead of chastising those rogue events, go with the flow. While the Jordan and J Party was awesome and I thoroughly enjoyed myself (hi, I was there until the very end of the party…), there’s also something to be said about the “backyard BBQ” or “family reunion” atmosphere of the rogue events. Yes, some of them were invite only or exclusive to a certain set of bloggers, but that’s what happens when you end up becoming friends with people *AND EARN THEIR RESPECT* at these conferences.
For the live tasting notes, please go check my twitter feed, @onegirloneglass. If you’d like to see pictures from the weekend, go check my Facebook page, One Girl, One Glass, One World.
