Wine Writing Ethics – a big gray blob

OK, I am finally blogging, having been spurred on by the recent invigorating posts related to wine-writing ethics over at my compadre Dr. Vino’s blog. The topic is way too broad to resolve or even present in one post, but it is certinaly a fertile place to start.

I used to have six-bottle wine bag from Cambria Vineyards and a leather backpack from Piper-Sonoma. I also used to have a cherry tree in my front yard, courtesy Sebastiani Vineyards (it died in our harsh Westchester winter…). My post-it notes say “Think Red. Think Cotes-du-Rhone.” My kids have gone to school with pens from Rioja, notepads from Sterling Vineyards and flashing pins from Georges Duboeuf.

Should I feel uneasy about any of this? I think not. It’s just the usual swag (as they call it in media circles)—publicity-driven tchotchkes. Then again, in wine the swag extends to, well, sample bottles…and freebies beyond swag entail tastings and dinners and wine-country accommodations and even all-expenses-paid trips.