Archive for the 'Technology' Category

One of my favorite things to come out of the rise and proliferation of social media is the online or synchronized tasting. Whether it’s for wine, beer or spirits, online tastings have become one of the best ways to share the same bottle and informative experience with hundreds or even thousands of people simultaneously all over the world. Through the use of networking sites like Facebook and Twitter as well as personal blogs and organizational sites, people can share comments and opinions about a beverage and learn from participating representatives or producers all from the comfort of their home. Aside from being there one on one with the respective producer, what could be better than that?

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Years ago (before I started working at Wine Enthusiast in 1999)–and long before anyone had ever heard of the term social media–a lot of my interaction with fellow wine lovers was online via various forums, or bulletin boards. People would post notes on wines they had recently tasted, seek wine-related travel advice, maybe even organize offlines (in-person gatherings). It was a heady time for wine geeks, filled with open exchange of information and a spirit of generosity.

It was with great sadness, then, that I learned last night the wine forum billed as the world’s biggest, Mark Squires’ Bulletin Board on erobertparker.com, would no longer be an open community, but instead be reserved solely for paying subscribers. A huge number of participants (myself included) have lost one of our cyberhomes.

Thankfully, the online wine community is a large and vibrant one, and there are many alternative forums to which users can migrate. Here are some of my favorites:

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Social networking sites, though not new to anyone under the age of 30, seem to finally be proliferating among the “elder” population. Most of my 30-something friends are communicating daily on Facebook—probably using it more than regular email. My 60-something father and  friends’ parents have accounts.  My wine industry colleagues—some of them poised, old-fashioned folks on the exterior–are gleefully updating their Myspace and Facebook pages to apprise friends, family and cyber pals of their daily moods (“XXX is feeling frisky”) and goings on (“XXX just ate a truffle that was to die for”).

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Last January I was all fired up when I saw a video of MS Surface (the Microsoft program that can turn tabletops into computers) used as a wine educator. With the flip of a hand, the demonstrator was a virtual wine steward, taking us through a restaurant table that allowed him to select wines based on parameters like acidity, body and depth. At his fingertips he found recommended food pairings and even viewed a map of the winery’s location. His glass was associated with his chosen wine, so that placing the glass on the table brought up the wine’s information. He lit up the rim of the glass based on how much he liked the wine, showing us a way to mix and mingle with other oenophiles. You can imagine the possibilities!

If you haven’t seen it yet, check it out here:

The problem is that MS Surface won’t be ready for consumers for a few years and I’ve yet to see any imitations of it that work in a functional, inspiring way. On the two occasions when I’ve visited a bar that boasts a “virtual wine list” I’ve shut it off, after frantically waving my hands at it, not getting far. It’s a shame because I think there is a lot of potential here.

If used in a wine shop, customers are no longer forced to rely on the employees’ knowledge of each wine. People would be free to explore  beyond the back label, on their own. Waiters become nearly defunct in wine bars if people can order from their table and mark their preferences for further recommendations. Whether the electronic wine surface functions well or not I wonder, are people interested in this?  There is something to be said for having an exchange with a real person, and learning about wine from their perspective. Maybe computers take some of the humanity and fun out of the wine drinking experience. On the other hand, if people have the freedom to explore on their own, a lot of the intimidation factor is removed. People who might be scared to approach a clerk or ask a question of their waiter are free to explore to their heart’s delight. I see both sides of the coin.

Have you seen an electronic wine educator at a wine bar or shop near you? What do you think about this potential development?