Wine and food enthusiasts apparently love to Tweet!
By Julianna Hayes
Grape Expectations
When I first started writing about wine, I would sift through trade magazines and books hunting for topics.
It wasn’t long before the Internet became my main research vehicle, of course. I visited the same trade publications in their digital form and I started navigating my way around the web using the search engines Excite! Infoseek and Altavista – before the Google giant took over. As a result, I found many like-minded writers worldwide who were an endless sources information and ideas.
Eventually, I added online discussion forums and blogs to my bookmarks and created a blog of my own, on which I pleaded for comments and story suggestions.
Now, it seems, Twitter has evolved as my go-to source.
I’ve had a Twitter account since late 2008, however, it took some time to figure out why and how I should use it. Initially, I intended only to follow and be followed by friends. But since I was already using Facebook for that purpose, it turned out to be overkill and a whopping time waster. I mean, how much small talk can you possibly make with an old chum from high school? The tweets were eventually reduced to weather updates and lame jokes.
It wasn’t until a couple of wine industry folks randomly opted to follow me that Twitter’s true worth became clear. As more people added me to their list of Twitter “friends,” I cherry-picked the ones I personally wanted to follow, based on what kind of information their tweets might provide and if there were some use for communicating with them.
Now that I’ve built up a robust roster of followers and followees, Twitter is a bonafide communications tool I wouldn’t want to live without. Anytime I’m on my computer I keep TweetDeck running in the background. I don’t always have the time or inclination to tweet myself, but those of the people I follow flash briefly on my scene. I make a note of anything that peaks my interest and I have a sizable list of story ideas generated entirely this way. Who knew I could be such a twit..er..twitterer?
What’s more, Twitter keeps me informed of developments in the industry. Last fall, I got the whole scoop on the 2010 harvest via tweet. I’ve conducted interviews by way of the direct message option, used Twitter to brainstorm, participate in “virtual” tastings, and post updates on my blog.
However, Twitter and the realm of social media are often scoffed at by many old school industry folk and dismissed as “kids play.” Yet continued resistance equals missed opportunity at real-time, two-way communication with those who matter to their business.
In fact, some of the most active communities on social media revolve around food and wine, according Allison M. Markin of All She Wrote Consulting, which specializes in this form of marketing in the Okanagan.
To that end, her firm has organized Eat. Drink. Tweet., a social media “bootcamp” for the wine and culinary industries this weekend at Okanagan College in Penticton.
The three-day conference will help participants recognize social media as a must-do marketing tool to reach wine lovers, foodies and culinary aficionados around the world. The keynote speeches, seminars and presentations will cover the basics of using such platforms as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Linkedin and Foresquare, but also get into more advanced strategies such as how to build a blog on WordPress and putting ads and pages on Facebook.
Among the highlights of the bootcamp are:
- A live Twitter wine and food tasting presented by the Naramata Bench Wineries Association and Okanagan chef Roger Planiden.
- Keynote address by Rick Bakas of Bakas Media, the first person hired into the wine industry as a director of social media marketing at St. Supéry winery in Napa – this is his first visit to Okanagan wine country.
- “IRL” – In Real Life – a panel discussion on in real life successes using social media in the Okanagan, featuring: Ezra Cipes, Chief Operations Officer, Summerhill Pyramid Winery; Bradley Cooper, Winemaker, Township 7 and Black Cloud Wine; Christina Ferreira, Okanagan Wine Festivals Society; Christa-Lee McWatters Bond, Local Lounge and Grille; Sandra Oldfield, Winemaker, Tinhorn Creek Vineyards.
The cost of the conference is $252 and participants can register at through the Okanagan College continuing studies department. Visit http://allshewrote.ca for more details.
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If a wine social media bootcamp isn’t your thing, but drinking wine is, there are still tickets available for the 8th Annual International Wine Exhibition, Friday, March 11, at Kelowna’s Coast Capri Hotel. More than 250 wines from 50-plus worldwide producers will be pouring their wares throughout the evening. The event is a fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Kelowna and the Sunrise Rotary Club. Tickets are $55 and available at The Coast Capri Hotel front desk, Caps Liquor Store and Discover Wines.
Wine Notes
Township 7 2009 Viognier
Peach, apricot, orange peel and floral bouquet with honey and candied ginger notes. Lots of zesty citrus, light ginger and apricot flavours. Fresh and bright.
Cellaring Potential: Drink now.
Score: B+
Price: $20
Availability: Winery, VQA shops, select retailers
Sandhill 2008 Cabernet Merlot Sandhill Estate Vineyard 2008
Herbaceous and savoury with earthy, soya, coffee and chocolate in the forefront laced with black cherry and plum. Black fruit, menthol, herbal, peppery flavours and a slightly hot finish. You’ll either love it or hate it.
Cellaring Potential: Has some bite that could benefit from time
Score: B
Price: $22
Availability: BC LDBs, VQA shops, select retailers
