The EWBC Scholarship is introducing the two main receivers of this years scholarship for EWBC 12, which is held in Izmir, Turkey.
BLOG: The Frugal Wine Snob, www.TheFrugalWineSnob.com
FIRST TIME AT EWBC: Yes, and looking forward to it!
BACKGROUND: Besides being a musician, artist, and Mom of four children age 11-22, since 1986 I’ve been a magazine and book editor/designer/publisher, and have enjoyed a sideline as a gardening and restaurant-review newspaper columnist.
BLOG MISSION: “The Frugal Wine Snob” is dedicated to “wines that cost less than $20 but taste like a million bucks.” I started the blog to keep track of my tasting notes, grow as a person, and share my finds with others. It has been a labor of love and learning, as well as a wonderful journey of meeting happy, passionate people.
WINE-WRITING GOAL: I recently returned from Willamette Valley, Oregon (North American Wine Bloggers Conference and a magnificent pre-conference excursion). The trip was mind-blowing. I listened to people I admire, including Randall Grahm; met several bloggers I’ve looked up to for a long time; and met several independent artisanal winemakers, who gave me a glimpse into the power of pursuing one’s life dreams and the rewards of producing the very best wine they can. The sense of connection, and the excitement associated with the rapidly burgeoning world of artisanal winemaking, generated not only inspiration and joy for me, but also an idea for an international wine magazine (print, web, multimedia, mobile/tablet/social media, events, intimate tours, etc.) about independent winemaking. Although the majority of wine sold is produced and distributed by large conglomerates, the vast majority of wineries are actually small producers that can be described as family-owned, independent, “craft” and “artisanal.” Winemaking is exploding worldwide.
BENEFITS I ENVISION FROM BEING AT EWBC 2012:
1. The international connections I would make in support of this new notion and network would be amazing.
2. My exposure to people and winemaking in an unknown-to-me area would be hugely beneficial to my worldview, particularly as someone with the intention of producing an international wine project.
3. It would be a helluva lot of fun.
4. Knowing what I know now from having been in Portland, I am absolutely certain the scholarship and being there would benefit me in ways I can’t possibly begin to imagine.