There’s always a danger that things can get a tad introspective at conferences like EWBC, so it is great to get the opportunity to broaden ones horizons out in the field, or terroir, if you will. A trip to see how cork is produced was, inevitably, sponsored by Amorim, who almost silently supply one quarter of the world’s natural wine closures. A heavyweight, if there were ever such a thing, in the cork world.
If you eat out in the UK you might be interested in a new website aimed right atcha…Â Here is the press release:
An online portal, which brings people with a passion for food together to share their dining out experiences, has been launched. iStarvin, a site that combines the convenience of a restaurant directory with in-depth content and eye-catching photos, connects individuals with an interest in food and dining, allowing them to follow each other’s activity or seek recommendations for a special occasion.
Unlike the launch of many of their competitors, iStarvin has already done an adept job of creating a highly comprehensive restaurant directory. There are few, if any reviews yet, and there are one or two website glitches, but it looks like a great start. Clearly they hope to create a community to contribute insights and recommendations, but the business model relies on restaurateurs taking the opportunity to embellish the offer (for a price) and include, for example, the facility to book tables online. Like any advertising model this depends on Muggles like me and you using the service.
Being a mobile kind of guy, I rarely search a website unless it is apped up.  I am getting increasingly dissatisfied with Urbanspoon, Opentable, and AroundMe, so I hope that when iStarvin launches the iPhone app, it will be a truffle amongst mushrooms.
This is a well worn business model with no clear leader so I admire iStarvin’s balls in entering the market. Having said that, they have learnt from their competitors’ mistakes and it looks to be the best attempt yet from a consumer perspective (and that is the critical success factor).
iStarvin is using social media well to publicise the new site. I learned of it on Twitter from the excellently erudite Oliver Thring, one of the many food bloggers I met at EWBC. If you are a foodie, you should also follow Niamh, Chris, Lizzie and Douglas, charming chaps and chappesses all.
I’ve just returned from EWBC in Lisbon with a newfound passion for Portuguese wine. The whites impressed me most, even though they represented a mere champagne flute to the magnum of reds on display.
Espoṛo Reserva 2007 was a leftover bottle of tinto that found its way into my luggage by means not requiring wallet surgery РI can reveal no more than that.
I am in Lisbon for the European Wine Bloggers Conference and there are a few missing faces from last year which is a shame. The Italians are notable absentees, for example. However, the event is at least twice the size of last year’s and superbly well organised by Ryan and Gabi Opaz and Robert McIntosh.
If you are sad enough to want live updates you can follow me on Twitter at @tiptoptaps.
If you are even sadder and want to see everyone at the conference tweeting on exactly the same event every other second, follow the hashtag #EWBC.
Last year’s European Wine Bloggers Conference was a hoot. Erm, I mean a serious and considered look at the online wine world where ideas were floated, issues were shared, problems were halved, wine was consumed, and some people even got drunk.
As you can see from my eyes, this VinusTV video was filmed the morning after a huuuuuuge tasting where I sipped, but swallowed copiously.
If you write a wine blog, or have an interest on online wine affairs, I strongly recommend that you attend EWBC 2009 in Lisbon, 30 October. Hopefully you will find me in better shape to speak with you.
Apparently I am a wine blogger. I know this because I was invited to (and attended) the European Wine Bloggers’ Conference 2008 in La Rioja.
The organisers are canvassing for candidates to attend the 2009 event “in mid June in Italy”. Not very precise, but then again in these credit crunched times I don’t blame them for trying to assess likely interest before committing to the cream cracker budget.
If you are interested, email Rob, Ryan and Gabriella at contact@wineblogger.info and let them know who you are. If it lives up to half the value, fun and fuzzy memories of the 2008 event it is one not to be missed.
If you can also predict when and where it will be, can you let me know.
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