Good Grape Wine Company

February 25 2009

American Wine Blog Award Finalists are Announced!

Thanks to Tom from Fermentation for doing the heavy lifting and rounding up his team of reviewers to analyze and name finalists in the 3rd annual American Wine Blog Awards.

I am pleased to be named a finalist for the third year in a row in the “Best Blog Presentation/Graphics” category.  Amongst the competitors in the same category is the Hosemaster of Wine, a newer wine blog that definitely forces other wine bloggers to not take themselves so seriously (don’t believe me?  Check out his post about the American Wine Blog Award finalists and his vivisection of a couple of people).  Plus, he always posts a tasteful nudie picture with every post, which, you know, appeals to my prurient side.  My flying birds can’t compete with a set of 38D ta-ta’s.

While I did not make the cut in a couple of other categories, it is hard to quibble when you are up against pros like Eric Asimov, Alice Feiring, Tyler Colman from Dr. Vino and Alder from Vinography.

If anything, the finalists in the Best Wine Blog Writing and Best Overall Blog categories speak to the level of quality wine writing that is being served up online. 

Generally speaking, the balance of the finalists are an interesting bunch.  I am very glad that my pal Tim from Winecast was named a finalist in for Best Business/Industry Wine Blog.  Likewise, I’m very glad for Lenn from Lenndevours for being named a finalist in two categories – Best Single Subject Blog and Best Overall Blog.  Both bloggers have been overlooked in years past and are getting some well-deserved acknowledgment.  Of course, Dr. Debs repeats as a finalist with her always excellent Good Wine Under $20.

The one outlier for me was Steve Heimoff not being named a finalist in any categories—that certainly would have added to the pro’s who are in the mix.  It surprised me because not only is he an excellent writer, but he writes with a clarity of voice that is very strong.  Plus, I like jousting with him as we take our respective “old school,” “new school” positions.

If you would like to vote for Good Grape, or any of the other worthy finalists, please go to Fermentation and cast your vote.

*NOTE* on Blog Comments on Good Grape

For about 10 days, the comment function did not work on my site – blame a new polling module that was installed and fouled some things up. 

I bring this up because, in my estimation, the American Wine Blog Awards are a nice pat on the back for the blogging that many people do out of simple passion, but more important than an award are the comments and community that fuel wine blogging. 

I know it is the fuel in my blogging engine. I check the back-end of my site several times a day for new comments and I am always happy when I get them.  I also notice when I do not get them.

So, just as important as voting in the wine blog awards is commenting and adding your voice to the online wine community.  If you are a lurker and you have not commented, please do.  If you have commented here and you tried over the last two weeks to no avail, please get back in the swing and call me out on stuff, or agree, if you are so inclined, or take a tact that I may have missed in a post.  But, for me, and on behalf of all wine bloggers, remember that it is the conversation that makes it fun and worthwhile.

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