The Web’s Gift to Wine Lovers

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It was bound to happen. All its old-world charm — visions of sun-ripened clusters hanging on the vine; cool, dark, fragrant cellars lined with oak barrels; teams of harvest workers picking pinot clusters by hand — doesn’t seem to lend itself to the computer age. But, in fact, many wine lovers these days discover wines, meet fellow wine lovers, and, yes, buy wine, all via the Internet.

Every morning, I log on to my computer and check out some of my favorite wine blogs. They help me to stay current with the wine market, learn interesting facts about the varietals and vineyards I love, and discover new wines from around the world that I’ll want to add to my table and cellar.

The thing about wine blogs, though, is there are a lot of them out there. Everybody these days seems to fancy themselves a wine geek, yet many wine blog authors are oftentimes misinformed, misleading, or just sloppy when it comes to research. Time is precious, and we have little time to waste trying to figure out which wine blogs are actually worth our time.

Because I’m in the business, I’ve been forced to cull through hundreds of blogs, and thus have come up with a definitive list of wine blogs that entertain, inform, and educate. I’ve taken to adding my top blog choices to my “favorites” tab on my computer. While I’m having my morning coffee or tea, I surf the blogs listed below. After each daily read-through, I often feel I’ve learned something new, had a few chuckles, or discovered a wine I hadn’t heard about that I’ll most certainly want to try.

The following are my top blogs. They’re free to read, easy to navigate, and updated on a nearly daily basis.

Vinography: A Wine Blog vinography.com

This is a great blog — easy to read, regularly updated, and pretty cutting-edge. The blog is the brainchild of Alder Yarrow, a thirty-something wine lover who lives in San Francisco. But it’s not all about him. In the end, what makes this blog so refreshing is that it’s all about wine. It’s intelligently written and organized, provides visitors with a free, downloadable aroma card, and covers events, wine reviews, and interviews in economically and engagingly written prose.

Sharon’s Wine Blog sharonwine.blogspot.com

Sharon Bowman is an American living in Paris. She’s mad about Burgundy, and writes lovely, thoughtful ruminations and tasting notes on many of France’s latest, greatest offerings. Bowman often pairs her wines with savory dishes and writes grippingly about those as well. Something tells me she’s an M.F.K. Fisher in the making.

Decanter Magazine Blog blogs.decanter.com

Decanter has transcended its once-stuffy image as a U.K.-based, serious, and dusty enological tome. It’s now considered one of the most engaging wine mags in the world, and its blog is hip, informative, and always entertaining. Log on each day to learn about the wine industry’s latest triumphs and faux pas, and leave a comment — all for free.

Joe’s Wine Blog joeswine.blogspot.com

Don’t let the name fool you; this is no ordinary Joe. Joe’s Wine is a carefully and artfully arranged collection of notes on travel, wines from around the world, and just the sheer love of discovering a new wine at a great price. I like the way this blog is organized, with easy-to-find tabs directing a visitor to categories that feature all varietals by name, Joe’s Top 50 wines, and much more.

Red Vin Man Blog redvinman.wordpress.com

This is a great blog to navigate on a cold, rainy day. The writing is gorgeous and fulfilling, with vivid references to places traveled and wines tasted. Its author, an Englishman named Mark Pinsent, writes about Seattle, Burgundy, Bordeaux, and England all with the same class and flare.

The Wine Wanker thewinewanker.blogspot.com

The Wine Wanker is a twenty-something waiter and wine lover living in New Zealand who goes by the name of Jules. His writing is funny and insightful, and his passion for wine and life are evident. His blog drifts from wine notes to talk about pop culture, music, and the media, but it’s all in good fun and worth a read.

Two Bees Wine Blog twobeeswine.blogspot.com

This is a charming blog composed by a married couple who are home winemakers and growers. We follow their highs and lows in the cellar and vineyard year ’round in their nicely written journal entries.

USA Today Wine Blog blogs.usatoday.com/cheers

Jerry Shriver has been writing about wine for years. He champions the cause of the average American consumer who is on the lookout for interesting, compelling wines that don’t burn a hole in one’s pocket. I find that this site, perhaps more than any other, has led me to some of the best deals on great wines.

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