Comments on: We don’t need no steenkin’ wine coverage! http://www.redwinebuzz.com/winesooth/2008/07/20/we-dont-need-no-steenkin-wine-coverage/ searching for truth in wine Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:38:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: David http://www.redwinebuzz.com/winesooth/2008/07/20/we-dont-need-no-steenkin-wine-coverage/#comment-1852 David Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:57:38 +0000 http://www.redwinebuzz.com/winesooth/?p=106#comment-1852 Santa Barbara winery country does not have it bad compared to the Temecula wineries. Who has even heard of Temecula??? As a result, we have tried to provide some visibility at http://Temecula-Wineries.net. I will tell you what, I will visit Santa Barbara wineries in exchange for you visiting Temecula Regarding the LA Times, don't you feel that it has been irrelevant for some time. The web has kind of taken over for those looking for news. It provides video and more recent info. Santa Barbara winery country does not have it bad compared to the Temecula wineries. Who has even heard of Temecula??? As a result, we have tried to provide some visibility at http://Temecula-Wineries.net. I will tell you what, I will visit Santa Barbara wineries in exchange for you visiting Temecula

Regarding the LA Times, don’t you feel that it has been irrelevant for some time. The web has kind of taken over for those looking for news. It provides video and more recent info.

]]> By: Larry Schaffer http://www.redwinebuzz.com/winesooth/2008/07/20/we-dont-need-no-steenkin-wine-coverage/#comment-145 Larry Schaffer Fri, 25 Jul 2008 20:57:48 +0000 http://www.redwinebuzz.com/winesooth/?p=106#comment-145 It's not surprising to me that the LA Times did this - cutbacks are inevitable in many businesses, and I would think print media might be hit harder than others with the current downturn in the economy. It is a shame that they chose to cut this coverage vs. others, but it's not the end of the world. As we all know, there are many many other avenues to learn about wines, different regions, etc. What would be interesting to investigate is what the SF Chronicle is doing 'right' vs. what the LA Times did. The Chron, as others have pointed out, have a weekly section on wine. Are there more advertisers in this section than the LA Times was able to entice into theirs? Perhaps the LA Times could (or should still) approach both the Temecula Valley Vintners Assoc and the Santa Barbara County Vintner's Assoc and offer 'deals' for continuous ads - scratch my back and I'll scratch yours . . . They would then have a vested interest in continuing to cover regions that, I agree with others, certainly deserves it. Cheers! It’s not surprising to me that the LA Times did this - cutbacks are inevitable in many businesses, and I would think print media might be hit harder than others with the current downturn in the economy. It is a shame that they chose to cut this coverage vs. others, but it’s not the end of the world. As we all know, there are many many other avenues to learn about wines, different regions, etc.

What would be interesting to investigate is what the SF Chronicle is doing ‘right’ vs. what the LA Times did. The Chron, as others have pointed out, have a weekly section on wine. Are there more advertisers in this section than the LA Times was able to entice into theirs? Perhaps the LA Times could (or should still) approach both the Temecula Valley Vintners Assoc and the Santa Barbara County Vintner’s Assoc and offer ‘deals’ for continuous ads - scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours . . . They would then have a vested interest in continuing to cover regions that, I agree with others, certainly deserves it.

Cheers!

]]> By: Morton Leslie http://www.redwinebuzz.com/winesooth/2008/07/20/we-dont-need-no-steenkin-wine-coverage/#comment-119 Morton Leslie Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:40:20 +0000 http://www.redwinebuzz.com/winesooth/?p=106#comment-119 I have never felt the LA Times, or any newspaper for that matter has contributed much in writing about wine. I mean for years there wasn't a wine column at the NY Times and wine articles there were written by a crime reporter. Both in the NY and LA Times I have seen at least one column which was for the most part verbatum from a press release. I know because I had the press release. For a time some of us looked at the column as a form of paid advertising, not that we ever bought an ad in the newspaper. The most successful thing the LA Times ever did was in the Sunday supplement, Balzar's column. Bob got a few dozen winemakers together to judge wines and pick the best California wine. (At the Lawry Center... ugh) At the first one we picked a 1969 Cabernet as the best Calif. wine from a struggling Napa winery and put it on the map. It's owner became the most famous vintner in the world. At that time Balzar was the equivalent of Parker in selling your product with a favorable review. Balzar's still teaching classes at 94, maybe they should bring him back. As I understand it the Los Angeles paper in downsizing is devoting more space to community news and adding more state and local news. That might indicate covering one of the states thriving businesses would be appropriate, but they seem to feel otherwise. Since more and more readers of the Times are doing so online perhaps management is looking to what they can do online that others can't. They know they can't afford be all things to all people any more. They will leave wine education to others. Is it really that big a loss? I have never felt the LA Times, or any newspaper for that matter has contributed much in writing about wine. I mean for years there wasn’t a wine column at the NY Times and wine articles there were written by a crime reporter. Both in the NY and LA Times I have seen at least one column which was for the most part verbatum from a press release. I know because I had the press release. For a time some of us looked at the column as a form of paid advertising, not that we ever bought an ad in the newspaper.

The most successful thing the LA Times ever did was in the Sunday supplement, Balzar’s column. Bob got a few dozen winemakers together to judge wines and pick the best California wine. (At the Lawry Center… ugh) At the first one we picked a 1969 Cabernet as the best Calif. wine from a struggling Napa winery and put it on the map. It’s owner became the most famous vintner in the world. At that time Balzar was the equivalent of Parker in selling your product with a favorable review. Balzar’s still teaching classes at 94, maybe they should bring him back.

As I understand it the Los Angeles paper in downsizing is devoting more space to community news and adding more state and local news. That might indicate covering one of the states thriving businesses would be appropriate, but they seem to feel otherwise. Since more and more readers of the Times are doing so online perhaps management is looking to what they can do online that others can’t. They know they can’t afford be all things to all people any more. They will leave wine education to others. Is it really that big a loss?

]]> By: el jefe http://www.redwinebuzz.com/winesooth/2008/07/20/we-dont-need-no-steenkin-wine-coverage/#comment-118 el jefe Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:16:25 +0000 http://www.redwinebuzz.com/winesooth/?p=106#comment-118 I'm sad about this. I understand downsizing at newspapers as Steve appropriately pointed out. However, I grew up in the San Gabriel Valley near LA, and the LA Times was where I first read about and learned about wine. And now they won't be there for the next generation of wine drinkers. I’m sad about this. I understand downsizing at newspapers as Steve appropriately pointed out. However, I grew up in the San Gabriel Valley near LA, and the LA Times was where I first read about and learned about wine. And now they won’t be there for the next generation of wine drinkers.

]]> By: Arthur http://www.redwinebuzz.com/winesooth/2008/07/20/we-dont-need-no-steenkin-wine-coverage/#comment-117 Arthur Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:13:03 +0000 http://www.redwinebuzz.com/winesooth/?p=106#comment-117 Thanks, Steve. I understand that the wine coverage (for whatever publication) will be provided by a handful of freelance writers. I'm sure they are all good people, but this is not the same as having a resident wine wonk who is local and has a feel for the people they write for. Thanks, Steve.

I understand that the wine coverage (for whatever publication) will be provided by a handful of freelance writers.
I’m sure they are all good people, but this is not the same as having a resident wine wonk who is local and has a feel for the people they write for.

]]> By: Steve Heimoff http://www.redwinebuzz.com/winesooth/2008/07/20/we-dont-need-no-steenkin-wine-coverage/#comment-116 Steve Heimoff Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:41:42 +0000 http://www.redwinebuzz.com/winesooth/?p=106#comment-116 Arthur, the LA Times has been going downhill and downsizing for many years. It's a pity, as it once was one of the great newspapers in the U.S. As you know, here in the Bay Area, the San Francisco Chronicle has an entire weekly section on wine. I'm hoping it doesn't go away, and I don't think it will. San Franciscans are pretty passionate about vino. Arthur, the LA Times has been going downhill and downsizing for many years. It’s a pity, as it once was one of the great newspapers in the U.S. As you know, here in the Bay Area, the San Francisco Chronicle has an entire weekly section on wine. I’m hoping it doesn’t go away, and I don’t think it will. San Franciscans are pretty passionate about vino.

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