Know – and Use – Different Sources

Burgundy is the world … but also a small place, and its specialist wine writers are surprisingly few, although we do meet and greet on occasion.

In reality, there is a kind of “competition” among the writers, and this sometimes makes the meetings a bit awkward. Egos are sometimes quite substantial in this business (and thats good), to be perfectly honest – even hogs have one!

In general, however, the relations are very good given the situation, and I do like the meet-and-greet culture. In the end, it’s not war and hostility; it’s “just” wine after all.

Who should you follow?

Sometimes I’m asked who I read (aside from the Winehog), and I must say that, given the situation described above, it’s difficult for me to point to any one of my journalistic colleagues – or critics, as some like them be called.

In the English-speaking press, one has big names like Allen Meadows, Jasper Morris, Neal Martin, and William Kelley, all of whom taste widely and focus on their tastings.

Add to this Stephen Tanzer (who’s now semi-retired) and John Gilman with his “View from the Cellar.” – both also fine writers. Notes-wise there are also Bill Nanson’s reviews in his Burgundy Report and Charles Curtis does occur on occation.

When you want to get geekier, you have me: Steen Öhman, the Winehog. I focus more on new producers, vineyard maps, historical details, clones, and viticulture, aside from targeted producer tastings.

And the above somehow – more or less – concludes the English-language wine writer/reviewer scene.

Choose one or several. If you choose more than one, it’s mainly a question of your personal taste, both in palate and writing style.

Podcasts – a different media

One of the interesting media I check more and more is the leading podcast I‘ll Drink to That! by Levi Dalton, whom I recently met face to face in Burgundy.

To me it’s a nice exposure to a different media that really gives one the opportunity to dive more deeply into certain subjects.

An example is: “Listen to Françoise Vannier and Never Look At Burgundy the Same Way Again.”

I know Françoise Vannier, and to get information directly from her is great. Well done!

There are many more exciting pod-casts on I’ll Drink to That! …

Please support Levi Dalton on his project … cheers