Recent blog posts have taken sides on the issue of wine writers and if they should be certified. (Check Enobytes.com and The Wine Curmudgeon). It is time for me to chime in. At issue is the information or misinformation that is written. True anyone with Internet access can write a blog and say whatever they want. Is what they say true or not? To suggest that wine bloggers and wine writers become certified alludes to a broader question of whether any blogger, writer or author should be certified in whatever field they are writing.

Perhaps this is the wrong way to approach the information and misinformation on the Internet. Rather than debating whether a wine writer should be certified or not, one should give readers the tools to determine if bloggers, writers or authors are creditable writers. In the context of wine, some people give out misinformation. After visiting 600 wineries, I’ve heard a few statements that lacked factualness. The all-time whopper was a statement by a tasting room attendant that said, “Virginia has almost as many wineries as California.” I am not aware of any math systems that would logically conclude that nearly 200 is almost as many as 3,000. This tasting room attendant immediately lost credibility. Unfortunately she lost credibility with me and possibly with the other wine tasters at the tasting counter.

How do you go about judging credibility especially for a wine writer? First one can read what they write and ask does this seem credible. If they write a blog, look at their blog and see if there is an about me section or page. Does the about me section or page lead you to believe the writer is credible? For example, do they have any background in wine? Do they have any on hands experience in a winery or a vineyard, or perhaps as a home winemaker? Have they taken any formal or informal wine classes? Another item to look for is to see if the writer has contact information. If there is no way to contact the writer, generally via email, the credibility of the writing may be questionable. Any writer who makes blanket statements without explaining should be questioned. Wine is an enigmatic concept.

Wine writer certification will probably never happen. Consumer awareness, however, can happen. What would you suggest that consumers ask or look for in determining wine writer credibility?

Cheers,
Terry