Let’s assume for the sake of the argument that certification for wine writers is going to happen. One of the questions that will arise is if the certification is going to be required or voluntary. I don’t believe that wine writers can be required to have certification to write about wine. Many writers who write about wine do inform while others state their opinion. Requiring certification for writers to state their opinion will not happen. To try to force certification on these writers will face an uphill battle with The First Amendment to the United States Constitution. However making wine writer certification voluntary could happen.

So now let’s assume that there is going to be voluntary certification for wine writers. Whatever organization or entity provides the certification, can provide an icon that can be posted on the writer’s site or in the writer’s column. I am a member of the IFWTWA (International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association) and their logo is on the About page on the WineTrailTraveler website. The organization that issues the certification can market the logo to help consumers identify the writers who are certified.

What can actually constitute wine writer certification is a hurdle that needs debate and research. I’ll offer a couple opinions in the next couple of days. My experience in traveling to over 600 wineries over the world for the past four years has led me to understand that people come to wine and wine knowledge from many paths. There is no certification for winemaking. There are winemakers who learned the art from their ancestors and are now multigenerational winemakers within their family. Other winemakers read a paperback book on winemaking and then plunged into the process with trial and error experiences. Some winemakers have formal education from universities and colleges that have oenology programs. Others have learned winemaking skills as an apprentice to a winemaker. There are many ways to come to the knowledge of winemaking and many ways to come to the knowledge of wine.

Cheers,
Terry