Vender vino

Robert McInstosh, Ryan Opaz and Gabriela Opaz –the people who annually organize the European Wine Blogger Conference (EWBC)– have recently created a new award aiming to enhance the new journalism specialized in wines worldwide as a result of the development of Social Media. The blogs, posts, or any other tools included in what we generically define as “Social Media” can be written in many different languages, including Spanish.

I think that these awards will be as well organized as the EWBC in Vienna. You can see what I wrote about the EWBC in this post:  European Wine Blogger Conference, Vienna 2010 or simply take a look at the following summary.

Both the Internet and Social Media have erupted with tremendous force in the world of wines to radically change the knowledge, culture and generation of branding and marketing of the wine world. But the real strength is not only in the Internet itself but in finding the perfect combination of virtual and non-virtual actions. In my opinion, the EWBC is one of the most serious attempts in the world to combine both spheres.

To know that Robert, Ryan and Gabriella are behind these Digital Wine Awards can only mean a guarantee of quality.

So if you have a wine blog –no matter the language– and you want to take part in the contest, you may participate in the following categories: Best Wine-related Investigation Story, Best Wine-related Editorial Writing, Best Wine Tourism Post, Best Wine Themed Video and Best Winery Self-Produced Content.

The prize for each of the categories is 1,000 Euros. The deadline for entries is February 28, 2011.

For more information visit http://borndigitalwineawards.com/.

This post in Spanish: Nacen los Digital Wine Awards

A few days have passed since the naming of the winner of “Un año sabático en la Rioja.”

I really enjoyed the action. So far I have enjoyed being acquainted with one of the participants, Pak Muñoz, seeing his drive, enthusiasm, empathy and professionalism and I decided to support his candidacy for the gap during one year in La Rioja.

We dicided to make a party one week left to the end of the contest. We did it in a very charming store (Arteaske). The party was great, and Pak got many votes. Although he didn’t pass the 6th position.

I do not know if this frantic week made things happened as they did (I want to think so), but  the jury’s decision was that the quota of finalists was extended from 5 to 8. Pak failed to be among the top five, but reached the end (we say in Spanish that God writes straight with crooked lines).

The final was celebrated and Nere Ariztoy won. I do not know Nere in person. But from here, I send my congratulations to her. I believe that she has all the characteristics to be a good representative of the Rioja in the blogosphere.

The action was a complete success. There were 1600 people who wanted to participate in the contest. Hence 15 finalists were down to the bone, they set up many kinds of events and parties to archive more votes. They made videos, writings, labels which spread the name of La Rioja with huge enthusiasm. A total success. But this is nothing. But nothing. If compared to what it can be if they have made the right choice in the selection of the Community Manager and give her tools to work.

What qualities must a Community Manager have?

A Community Manager should be able to moderate and facilitate discussion, to define the communication strategy and action lines, to have knowledge about the industry, Marketing and Advertising. He has to be good at writing, friendly to new technologies, creative, empathetic. He should manage Social Media, and also be good at a face-to-face interaction. He should give a good image to the brand he represents.

To be fair, I find Nere the correct winner. But I still consider that there are some other candidates who reached the final who were also extremely profitable. Are there other designations of origin DOs or large wineries that have followed the contest? Do they realize the importance of having someone carrying communication in Social Media? Do they see any good professionals to provide the best CM capabilities? Because they already have made the selection process in part if they asre interested in other candidates.

Every time I lose my way on the Web 2.0, I review this phrase that appears in a great book of 2006 “The World is Flat” by Thomas Friedman. To remember myself that everything is going very quickly.

“Every morning in Africa a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. I doesn´t matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle… when the sun comes up, you´d better start running.”

I take the compass, try to straighten the course… And I start to run.

Related posts:
Today I vote for Pak Muñoz at the “A Sabbatical Year in Rioja” Contest
Winner of the Draw for Tasting and Tapas in a Winery. Vota Pak a la Rioja.

This post in Spanish: Concurso de “Un año sabático en la Rioja”. Mis conclusiones.

The winner of the sweepstake for the tapas tasting at the Rioja Pak Wine Cellar is: prrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Miriam Suarez

As published at the time the prize was a tasting for two people in Gosalvez-Ortí Winery in Pozuelo del Rey (35 km from Madrid).

I hope you enjoy it, Miriam. Thanks to everybody that helped out at Pak with all your votes and your participation in the events proposed for Pak getting to the final. Because Pak has done it. He has reached the final. He has wit and determination, this Pak!

Now we just need it to win. Good luck this weekend during the final in Rioja!

Thank you very much to Bodegas Gosálbez Ortí for sponsoring this contest.

Ah! You want to know something about the fortunate:

This is what she tells us:

“My name is Miriam Suarez, in this world 2.0 @Miriam_Suarez.

Currently I am working with Agora News with Social Media issues and I am a presenter on a program that will air soon on the web … a secret, even I can not tell :)

I am Personal Shopper, I have a degree in Business Administration and I have a Master in Marketing and an Executive MBA at IE.

I love wine and it made me really happy when you told me about the award because I never won anything XD … and I decided I voted for Pak because I thought the idea of the contest was original and I liked your video. I also participated in the Rioja, but I only reached the interview. It seemed to me OK to vote for a fellow that looked so original. Pak I wish you luck! and thanks for the gift! “

Post in Spanish: Ganador concurso Sorteo cata y tapas en Bodega vota Pak a la Rioja

Yesterday I met Pak. I met him at the Beers & Blogs annual meeting held in Madrid. This Beers & Blogs was somehow special –it was the first one after holidays, and I had the chance to see the face of many bloggers and Twitter users who gathered there.

Pak is a very peculiar guy, who is participating at the A Sabbatical Year in Rioja contest. I believe the idea currently being developed by the Rioja Appellation of Origin is original, attractive and interesting. And when you get all these three factors together in Social Media, your chances to reach success are pretty high. In this year’s edition, there are 15 guys competing to become the winner of the “A Sabbatical Year in Rioja” contest. What is this contest all about? Check this website to find out.

If all 15 show the same passion and interest Pak does, the name of Rioja will be in the mouth of every person going out for a glass of wine in every city of Spain.

Congratulations to the Rioja people and their agency, (Contrapunto Barcelona) on this initiative. This is real Social Media, and a clear demonstration of what Social Media can do in combination with face-to-face meetings. Only those reaching balance between both spheres manage to gain success –and this contest is a perfect example.

And there was Pak, in a bloggers meeting, with his laptop, inviting all people in the room to log in and vote for him.

Pak is a very funny and convincing guy. He is now in the sixth position of the ranking –only five of them will make their way to the final. I don’t know the rest of participants, but my vote today is for Pak. Why him? Because face-to-face meetings are also important.

Use this link to vote for him.

Good luck, Pak

PS: I just met Sara –I wish you good luck too.

This post in Spanish: Hoy voto por Pak Muñoz en el concurso “Un Año Sabático en la Rioja”