Your Vote Matters (Off-Topic)

This is completely off the topic of wine, and for that I apologize. But it’s also something I sort of let slip through the cracks in the midst of a dozen other things.

In the real world, I’m an instructional designer and trainer with a soft spot for gadgets and mobile devices. I’ve never been to South by Southwest (SxSW) even though it’s really right in my bailiwick.

This year, I partnered with a colleague at Yahoo! and we submitted a presentation to SxSW. It’s about designing content that works as learners move from device to device to device. For instance, I can seamlessly access and continue what I’m doing on Facebook or Yahoo Messenger as I move from my iPad to my mobile phone to my laptop. But imagine having to design mobile learning for multiple devices? What design considerations go into that? And that’s heart of our proposed session.

At SxSW, the audience gets 30% of the vote on what will be at the conference. So you get to vote!  You’ll have to create a free account (which is very quick) and then just click the Thumbs Up button on our panel. That’s it! It will take 5 minutes or less.

Our panel: The Revolution is Now: Mobile Content Strategies

Thanks so much and know that I appreciate your vote on this!

Cheers,

Michelle

Come See Michelle Make a Fool of Herself …

I’ve been invited to be a “celebrity” grape stomper at the Vevay Indiana Swiss Wine Festival this weekend.

If you want to see me pulling a Lucille Ball, barefoot in a tub of grapes, this is your chance. I’m stomping at noon on Saturday.

It’s a contest to make the most juice from those squished grapes (I just know this is going to be gross). But on the off chance I win, $1000 will be provided to the Freestore Food Bank. If I place second, they get $500. I have a one in twelve chance of winning.

Mollydooker Comes to Morton’s

I soooo want to go to this.

Raise a glass to fine Australian wines this fall at the Mollydooker Blending and Wine Tasting Celebration! Held on Tuesday, Sept. 13 at Morton’s The Steakhouse Cincinnati, the event will feature Sparky Marquis, the award-winning winemaker and owner of Mollydooker Wines.

During the event, Marquis will lead guests through a tasting of several 2010 Mollydooker Leftys, named playfully after the fact that both Marquis and his wife Sarah are left handed. He will also invite patrons to participate in a fun wine blending session, where they will create and vote on their favorite blends.

Guests will also be treated to a three-course dinner and both Marquis and wine expert Michael Brown from Vintner Select will be available throughout the event to answer guests’ wine-related questions. The evening starts at 6:30 p.m. and the cost is $100 per person, including the tasting, blending, dinner, wine pairings, tax and gratuity. Space is limited. For more information or to make a reservation, visit www.mollydookerwines.com.

The Mollydooker Blending and Wine Tasting Celebration Dinner Menu:

Appetizer
Miniature Crab Cakes
Blue Cheese Tenderloin Crostini

Entrée
Beef Filet with broccoli and mashed potatoes

Dessert
Double Chocolate Mousse

Changes are afoot …

I know it’s been slow around the blog. There’s definitely been a lot more action over on the Facebook page. But that’s all going to change soon.

First, I just took, and passed, the Introductory Level Sommelier course. I’m convinced they do their best to scare you to death as part of the training. I need to write up the experience but I’m still sort of processing it.

Next, I’ve got the opportunity to spend more time on the West Coast over the next few months. That means I’m taking more of  a backseat role here at the blog, and functioning more as a Managing Editor.

Of course, I need something to edit, right? I’m bringing on two lovely new writers, both with fresh perspectives and who are perfect for Wine-Girl.net. Like me, they’re not wine experts, but consumers, just like you. I’m excited about them both. I’ll let them introduce themselves to you over the next few days.

I will be chiming in periodically with things I simply must share, wines that simply must be reviewed, and interesting observations of a Cincinnati wine girl in California wine country.

I’m excited about the changes ahead!

Cheers, 

Michelle

Own Your Own Winery on Facebook

Wines of Chile USA announced today the launch of their debut game on Facebook, Terroir Hunting, where users will be able to virtually run their own winery. The game will involve virtually harvesting the grapes, then bottling, selling and exporting your wines and finally having them rated by wine experts. Real Chilean winemakers will give users tips along the way as their wine empires grow.

Terroir, which notes the special characteristics that geography, geology and climate bestow upon grape varietals is one of the most important aspects of producing quality wines. In Chile there are a range of terroirs that are beneficial to many different varietals. It is the winemakers’ job to know which region is best suited for a specific varietal and to continually seek out new and unexplored terroirs, thus the term terroir hunting. As you navigate through Terroir Hunting, you will also become an expert on terroir, the winemaking process as well as selling and marketing your own wine.

“We think wine enthusiasts will have a lot of fun with this game,” says Lori Tieszen, Executive Director of Wines of Chile USA. “Becoming a terroir hunter on Facebook gives people the opportunity to virtually experience the importance of terroir in Chile and how it translates into quality wines.”

Winemakers and oenologists from Casa Silva, San Esteban, San Pedro, Santa Rita, De Martino, Undurraga, Valdivieso, Veramonte and Viña Altair will be offering expert advice and tips as the players continue to expand their wineries.
To learn more about Wines of Chile and to start playing the Terroir Hunting game, please visit http://www.facebook.com/WinesOfChile. And don’t forget, you can always visit My Wine Education on Facebook as well, where I’m trying to post photos of my current trip to Calistoga.

Editor’s note: I apologize for just cut and pasting a press release, but I’m out of town with limited access and I thought this sounded interesting enough to post.