Dirty South Wine

First Rule of Marketing Wine To Millenials

 

The First Rule of Marketing Wine to Millenials: You do not talk about marketing wine to millenials.

The Second Rule of Marketing Wine to Millenials:  You do not talk about marketing wine to millenials.

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Instead, you make a good product, no, an amazing product, with a great, honest, story.  If you don't do that, you shouldn't be in the game.

Honesty, Transparency, and Exceeding Expectations are mandatory. How you communicate that determines whether you win or lose (with both millenials and geezers).

There is no need for new brands, new labels, secret societies (I didn't make that one up), or to co-market shows with the Jonas Brothers (but if you want to sponsor a tour with Kool Keith, that's ok with me).  It is about being straight up, honest, and telling your story better than the next guy /gal.

If I hear marketing wine to millenials one more time, I'm coming out swinging...

Film: Blood Into Wine

Finally- A new wine movie that looks good.

Here is the list of Feb. showings, including 3 Nights in Healdsburg, CA.

A Year and 1 Day: Wine and Dreams

1 year and 1 day ago I was laid off from Kodak.  Something that was probably inevitable, but now seems more like fate.  The tense, division-wide conference call, the typical "we're going to get through this" (where "we" is the company, not the majority of people on the call), and then the call after the call-  "Your position has been eliminated."

Then the quiet relief of being totally screwed or completely free.  I chose being free, and decided to make 1/29/09 the best day of my life.

I never looked for a "real job" again.  Instead- wine, social media, and wild dreams of making a living doing exactly what I loved seemed more like options versus fantasies...  Options that didn't exist before.

Spring of 09 was tough, but amazing.  I had never spent that much time at home in ATL.  For 9yrs, my life had been a 100+ days a year of of flights, hotels, rental cars, and meetings-- When that stops, it is eerie, but a good eerie (if there can be such a thing).  What does a lazy morning feel like?  My dry cleaner thought I moved away.  My neighbors thought I was unemployed-- Truth is, I had never worked harder.

Fast forward-  Murphy-Goode announces "A Really Goode Job", I dedicate 3 months of my life to getting it, have an outpouring of support (that I am eternally grateful for) from a huge community of social media, wine, friends, family, ex-business partners, and Atlanta-  And then I'm here.  Six months in wine country... The best experience I've ever had.

Now, 1 year later, I'm looking once again at fantasies that have become options...

2010 will be the hardest working and best year of my life.

(much more to come)

Keep On Growing - Derek & The ...

What Were They Thinking? Hardy Wallace in Mr. Healdsburg Pageant???

In the most recent installment of "What have I got myself into?"  I am participating as a contestant in the Mr. Healdsburg Pageant.  A tongue-n-cheek, spoof, event which is an actual fundraiser for The Raven Theater in Healdsburg. (Raven site down, will post URL once up)

The winner participates in parades, ribbon cuttings, and living for a year in all the glory that is Mr. Healdsburg--  I think I can handle that!

There will be talent, swim wear, formal wear, and some grueling questions (where I hope I perform better than Miss Teen South Carolina).  I'll be posting the link for tickets asap, and get them early.  The show sells out way in advance.

And for now other reason than I need some Jay-Z...

Can I Get A... - Jay-Z

Hardy Wallace on Social Media and Murphy-Goode in Today's Press Democrat

(Click on Image to go to the interview)

Though I won't comment on the future, my initial contract with Murphy-Goode and "A Really Goode Job" is up on 2/15.  It has been an amazing six months that I recap in the near future.

The Wine and Food Revolution Will Not Be Televised...

Just some quick shots of food, wine, and people in January.  I won't pretend this makes any sense... but I like it.

(Huge thanks to Raelinn at Willams Corner Wine for providing the juice!)

This Week: Speaking At 2010 Wine Entrepreneur Conference in DC

Awww yeah, Awww yeah.

I'll be in Washington DC this week speaking on social media at the 2010 Wine Entrepreneur Conference. 

I think this will be a great event-  A mix of wineries, PR, retailers, importers, writers, and this guy.

2010 Wine Entrepreneur Conference:  Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin

The Mothership Has Re-Landed- Terroir SF Reopens 1/15

After being closed for 3 months due to some whack-a-mole flood, one of the best wine bars on the solar system, Terroir, reopens tomorrow in San Francisco. 

Terroir, is a wine bar that focuses solely on natural wine--organic, dry farmed, indigenous yeast with no freaky-stuff (unless you count that bio-dynamic cow horn manure / prep 500 as freaky-deaky).

It is an amazing spot.  I wrote about my first visit here.

You know it is gonna git hawt- so git down there and make it rain!!!

From the Center Of The Edge: Wine-Maker Sean Thackrey

It had been about 16yrs since I was last in Bolinas CA.  The last time I rode down that windy, cliffy, eucalyptus, lined road I was laying flat on the floor in the back of a purple school bus that was blasting "I Want To Take You Higher" by Sly and the Family Stone, as our dreadlocked driver took the coastal turns at what seemed liked light speed.  This time the bus was a car with driver, and we were off to see wine-maker Sean Thackrey, but somehow the vibe was not that far off from my last trip in 1994.  (Though the percentages of nervousness and excitement may have been inverted)

The crew consisted of Jo and Jose Diaz, Steve Heimoff, and I.  Jo and Jose run the PS I Love You (Petite Sirah advocacy org.) as well as Diaz Communications (of which Sean is not a client of), Steve Heimoff is the W. Coast Editor of Wine Enthusiast, and Sean Thackrey is highly regarded for his Petite Sirah and other wines made with what some may refer to as "alternative" methods.

We spent the afternoon having lunch, listening to stories, and sampling a few of Sean's wines.  His 2006 Sirius Petite Sirah was a clear favorite of mine.  (no notes taken, except a mental "Boom Y'all!")

The most amazing part of the trip was listening not really to Sean's methods, or wine philosophy, but in feeling how passionate he is about it.  It wasn't strings of buzz words or marketing, just a guy telling stories over lunch, in the middle of nowhere, with a couple of open bottles of wine.

It is tough to explain how amazing that really is...

2010 Starts With A Book and A Wine (Kind of Sort Of)

(kudos to Foodie Buddha for giving me the unboxing idea)

2010 is off to a good start with a book and a wine showing up at my door.

In the late fall, I competed in Crushpad's Blogger Blend-off (a competition using Crushpad's Fusebox to create the best blended wine) and was selected as the winner.  My 1st case of the 2007 "da yamaz" (the llamas) just arrived.

It has just been bottled, so I will not say it is drinking well (yet)...  I'll check back on "da yamaz" in awhile to see how this sumbi*ch is coming together.  In awhile, I will be providing a link for anyone wanting to order "da yamaz".  All profit will be donated to charity.

Also, I just received a copy of "The Anti-Résumé Revolution" in which I'm featured in a chapter with an interview regarding getting laid off from Kodak and going for my dream job.  

 

Pretty crazy.

Now I'm off to film Sean Thackery...