Our latest interview is with Bill Wilson from Wine For Newbies. Bill’s podcast series is a great way for beginners to learn about wine and for wine enthusiasts to brush up on their knowledge. His new video podcast series takes us even deeper into the wine world.
You can find Bill on Facebook, Twitter, or contact him via email.
Tell us a little about your background?
I'm a lawyer by day and a wine enthusiast by night. It was a genuine treat when these two paths crossed back in the 1990s when I was one of the lawyers who worked on the very first federal lawsuit to challenge prohibition on the direct shipment of wine to consumers. I learned a lot about the law in that case, and my clients taught me a lot about wine.
What made you want to teach others about wine?
Even before I got into the wine shipping case, I was teaching entertainment law at Notre Dame and an intro to law class for Indiana University in South Bend. I really enjoy teaching, and it seems like a perfect combination.
What is your advice to new wine drinkers who want to learn more about wine?
First, do not be deterred by the fact that wine can be complex. Get in there and start drinking it. Try different wines. Go to wine tastings. Ask questions. Use the Internet, where there is sooo much information available. Listen to Wine For Newbies. :-)
How can we get more 21-30 somethings more interested in wine?
For one, we need to get the message out that wine is not impossible to understand. I also think we need to encourage the understanding that Bud Light or whatever cheap beer is available is not how to impress a date--or a business associate.
Before I began to learn more about wine, I was at a dinner with a client and another attorney. I was the youngest one at the table. The other attorney handed me the wine list and suggested I pick something for the table. It was intimidating at first, but then I realized the wine list was organized in a helpful way. I think people fear that this could happen to them, but they don't know how to go about learning some simple guidelines. You don't need to know a lot about wine in this situation. Even knowing just a little bit puts you ahead of the pack.
Where do you see the Michigan wine industry over the next 5 to 10 years?
It's hard to say because there seems to be two tiers to the Michigan wine industry. I'm probably way off base here, but this is my perception. One tier is looking to bring Michigan wine to people who don't drink wine. Tabor Hill could be a good example of that. Another tier is looking to bring Michigan wine to people who drink the best wines they can get their hands on. Wyncroft (a small winery in Buchanan) is perhaps a good example of this effort.
I'm hopeful that both tiers will grow over the coming decades. One of the challenges will be that so many Michigan wineries use grapes that aren't well known--Sylvaner, Traminette, and so on. Right or wrong, wine drinkers who gravitate toward the main wine producing areas think of these grapes as "lesser" wine grapes. My sense is that wine consumers are becoming more familiar with the popular grapes, and I think if Michigan wineries try to move toward that group of grapes, it will be to their benefit.
This is unfortunate in a way, because wine really should be a reflection of where its grapes are grown, and Michigan ought to have its characteristics. But, with the Parkerization of the wine world, it's hard for Michigan wineries to swim upstream.
How could Michigan wineries do a better job of promoting themselves?
That's a good question. I would probably be running a winery there if I had the answer. The Lake Michigan Shore appellation has qualities that are similar to the Pacific Northwest, New York's Finger Lakes region, and Bordeaux, with Lake Michigan providing its influence on the vineyards to its east. I'm no marketing expert, but I think Michigan wineries need to start bragging about their terroir. Michigan wineries can make world class wines if they are willing to take the risk. A handful already do.
The biggest problem is that it takes money to do the promotion. The Michigan wineries aren't exactly drowning in money, and the state's current budget problems mean the state can't promote its products very much. It will be up to bloggers like you to get the word out, one person at a time.
How important is social media like Facebook and Twitter to local wineries?
I think every winery needs to be using social media, just like every business needs to. It is an amazingly inexpensive way to connect with your customers and potential customers. It is also an amazingly time consuming effort. But that's what it takes to build a following and build a business.
What was the last Michigan wine you had and what were your impressions?
I think the last one I had was the '05 Pinot Noir from Wyncroft. I need to disclose that Wyncroft's winemaker, Jim Lester, is a friend of mine. Still, I really enjoyed this wine. It is not like the styles coming out of California. It's more Burgundian in its approach. I did a bit of a blind tasting next to a red Burgundy. I thought the flavors in the French wine were more prominent, but that Jim's wine had a bit more finesse and layering of flavors.
What other wine-related projects are you currently working on?
My main focus right now is on the Wine For Newbies 2.0 series I'm calling WFN 101. I'm putting out separate "lessons" on different parts of wine in written, audio and video formats. I've had to scale back the aggressive publication schedule to one lesson per week. Otherwise, my hosting provider was going to shut me off. :-) (Actually, I was just going to run into a limit, but the effect would be the same: no new material until some time had passed.)
My hosting provider just put together the iPhone app that you were kind enough to review. I'm hoping that will bring the show to more people.
The ultimate goal is to do what Robert Parker did: stop practicing law and make a living doing only wine writing/podcasting. It's a bit tricky since we're all used to the "anything is free on the Internet" mindset. But, I think in the short future I will be offering upgraded content for those who are willing to pay to increase their education.
Those things should keep me busy for a little while. That along with work and being a new father!
Comments