Comments for Ronga's Rant http://lindsayronga.com Mostly ranting related to wine... Fri, 09 Jul 2010 11:25:12 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 Comment on About by Cathy Huyghe http://lindsayronga.com/about/comment-page-1/#comment-161 Cathy Huyghe Fri, 09 Jul 2010 11:25:12 +0000 http://lindsayronga.com/?page_id=2#comment-161 Hi there, Lindsay -- How are you? I believe we connected when you were still at HBS and I had been working with Pooja about wine-related programs and events for the Wine & Cuisine Society. I remember, in fact, talking with you as you checked me into the HBS holiday party... Was it at the Liberty Hotel?? In any case, Lindsay, I wanted to reach out because I’ve noticed Cork’d is now branching out into more city-specific ways and I am, of course, keen to connect with you about the Boston market. You may remember 365daysofwine.com and Red White Boston, where my team and I write about drinking wine every day in the Boston area. We are also about to launch our iPhone app for Red White Boston and I’m incredibly excited about it — more on that below my sig file! I’d like to connect with you and explore ways we might work together, perhaps for Red White Boston to provide content for your Boston-specific outreach, and in terms of the iPhone app especially since our intention is completely to scale it up and adapt it to other cities (Red White New York, Red White Miami, etc). I look forward very much to your response and to exploring ways to collaborate! Very kind regards, Cathy -- Cathy Huyghe 365 Days of Wine / Red White Boston Cell: 702.528.3717 huyghe@post.harvard.edu or cathy@well.com RED WHITE BOSTON IPHONE APP The idea of the app is to capitalize on the 80% (or more) of wine purchase decisions that are made in the aisle of the wine shop. For the first, roll-out phase I am looking to partner with 20 wine shops all over Boston, each of which will identify their five best wines. 20 shops x 5 wines = 100 Best Wines in Boston. The iPhone’s GPS capability allows the user to identify the wine shop nearest to them at that moment when they are looking to purchase a bottle of wine. User walks into the store and already, thanks to the app, knows the five wines the shop’s owner thinks are the best on her/his shelves. User can access information about the wines via text, audio, or video. Red White Boston shelf talkers visually highlight the wines for the user (and for non-users as well). User chooses a wine, indicates the choice in the app, and a code is generated for the user to be entered into a weekly give-away of a wine dinner at a Boston area restaurant. User’s choices are archived in the app’s Wine Journal, where they can also enter notes on what they thought of the wine. The last bit responds to the second biggest complaint wine drinkers have, which is that they can never remember which wines they tried and liked. (The first biggest complaint is not knowing which wine to choose, something the app itself obviously addresses outright.) There is literally nothing else like this app on the market that we know of, and we are incredibly excited about its potential! I’ve dropped a few screens from the app into the Powerpoint, attached to this email, for your CONFIDENTIAL review. Please have a look at the screens, if you would, and let me know what you think. I value your opinion very much. Hi there, Lindsay — How are you?

I believe we connected when you were still at HBS and I had been working with Pooja about wine-related programs and events for the Wine & Cuisine Society. I remember, in fact, talking with you as you checked me into the HBS holiday party… Was it at the Liberty Hotel??

In any case, Lindsay, I wanted to reach out because I’ve noticed Cork’d is now branching out into more city-specific ways and I am, of course, keen to connect with you about the Boston market. You may remember 365daysofwine.com and Red White Boston, where my team and I write about drinking wine every day in the Boston area. We are also about to launch our iPhone app for Red White Boston and I’m incredibly excited about it — more on that below my sig file!

I’d like to connect with you and explore ways we might work together, perhaps for Red White Boston to provide content for your Boston-specific outreach, and in terms of the iPhone app especially since our intention is completely to scale it up and adapt it to other cities (Red White New York, Red White Miami, etc).

I look forward very much to your response and to exploring ways to collaborate!

Very kind regards,
Cathy
–
Cathy Huyghe
365 Days of Wine / Red White Boston
Cell: 702.528.3717
huyghe@post.harvard.edu or cathy@well.com

RED WHITE BOSTON IPHONE APP

The idea of the app is to capitalize on the 80% (or more) of wine purchase decisions that are made in the aisle of the wine shop. For the first, roll-out phase I am looking to partner with 20 wine shops all over Boston, each of which will identify their five best wines. 20 shops x 5 wines = 100 Best Wines in Boston. The iPhone’s GPS capability allows the user to identify the wine shop nearest to them at that moment when they are looking to purchase a bottle of wine.

User walks into the store and already, thanks to the app, knows the five wines the shop’s owner thinks are the best on her/his shelves. User can access information about the wines via text, audio, or video. Red White Boston shelf talkers visually highlight the wines for the user (and for non-users as well). User chooses a wine, indicates the choice in the app, and a code is generated for the user to be entered into a weekly give-away of a wine dinner at a Boston area restaurant.

User’s choices are archived in the app’s Wine Journal, where they can also enter notes on what they thought of the wine. The last bit responds to the second biggest complaint wine drinkers have, which is that they can never remember which wines they tried and liked. (The first biggest complaint is not knowing which wine to choose, something the app itself obviously addresses outright.)

There is literally nothing else like this app on the market that we know of, and we are incredibly excited about its potential!

I’ve dropped a few screens from the app into the Powerpoint, attached to this email, for your CONFIDENTIAL review. Please have a look at the screens, if you would, and let me know what you think. I value your opinion very much.

]]> Comment on Why the Man in the Middle Matters by Todd Trzaskos http://lindsayronga.com/2010/03/why-the-man-in-the-middle-matters/comment-page-1/#comment-157 Todd Trzaskos Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:51:25 +0000 http://lindsayronga.com/?p=155#comment-157 I am in whole-hearted agreement...having a few reliable names in the pocket, can reduce the risk of the unknown when trying new bottles. I just posted recently about the Berger Zweigelt brought in by Michael Skurnik, and was so jazzed that I contacted Skurnik, and they turned me on to a few more of their Vitamin Z's. In turn got in touch with the VT distributor to find out what availability was like, and she pointed me at the local wine shop that has the last couple of bottles of Gobleburg Zweigelt, which I pick up this evening. Nice when it comes together like that... I am in whole-hearted agreement…having a few reliable names in the pocket, can reduce the risk of the unknown when trying new bottles. I just posted recently about the Berger Zweigelt brought in by Michael Skurnik, and was so jazzed that I contacted Skurnik, and they turned me on to a few more of their Vitamin Z’s. In turn got in touch with the VT distributor to find out what availability was like, and she pointed me at the local wine shop that has the last couple of bottles of Gobleburg Zweigelt, which I pick up this evening. Nice when it comes together like that…

]]> Comment on Oompa Loompa Wine Economy by Creative Juices http://lindsayronga.com/2010/02/oompa-loompa-wine-economy/comment-page-1/#comment-154 Creative Juices Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:36:55 +0000 http://lindsayronga.com/?p=141#comment-154 Terrific writeup. A lot of what Gary V does fascinates us, but I do think that everyone has their own way of expressing themselves that comes naturally and they are good at. We really enjoy your style, please keep it going! Terrific writeup. A lot of what Gary V does fascinates us, but I do think that everyone has their own way of expressing themselves that comes naturally and they are good at. We really enjoy your style, please keep it going!

]]> Comment on Why Your Voice Matters by Warren Bobrow http://lindsayronga.com/2009/10/why-your-voice-matters/comment-page-1/#comment-143 Warren Bobrow Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:52:59 +0000 http://lindsayronga.com/?p=124#comment-143 I love the smell of cow and pig. I grew up on a former dairy farm. On a hot day the barns reeked of the stable. I seek these flavors in the foods I eat-the wines I drink and the scents that I find to be sensual. What else is there in life? If you walk into a cheese shop, it had better smell like cheese! I am naturally attracted to the smell of the earth and sweat. cheers! wb I love the smell of cow and pig. I grew up on a former dairy farm. On a hot day the barns reeked of the stable. I seek these flavors in the foods I eat-the wines I drink and the scents that I find to be sensual. What else is there in life? If you walk into a cheese shop, it had better smell like cheese! I am naturally attracted to the smell of the earth and sweat. cheers! wb

]]> Comment on Kosher = Hebrew for “Pure” by Jeremy Parzen http://lindsayronga.com/2009/06/kosher-hebrew-for-%e2%80%9cpure%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-142 Jeremy Parzen Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:08:17 +0000 http://lindsayronga.com/?p=34#comment-142 @Ronga great post... Kosher wine is so misunderstood, on so many levels (and on both sides of the aisle, so to speak). I hope you'll write a more detailed post: I'll read it! @Ronga great post… Kosher wine is so misunderstood, on so many levels (and on both sides of the aisle, so to speak). I hope you’ll write a more detailed post: I’ll read it!

]]> Comment on Why Your Voice Matters by Hello Vino http://lindsayronga.com/2009/10/why-your-voice-matters/comment-page-1/#comment-141 Hello Vino Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:43:18 +0000 http://lindsayronga.com/?p=124#comment-141 Right on. I LOVE seeing peer reviews. I love seeing peer reviews right next to "expert" reviews/industry scores so the consumer can decide what the truth is, make up their own mind, or lean toward a certain recommendation that fits them. Real time reviews are huge! Shouldn't we all just smile, sip, and share? :) Jim from Hello Vino Right on.

I LOVE seeing peer reviews. I love seeing peer reviews right next to “expert” reviews/industry scores so the consumer can decide what the truth is, make up their own mind, or lean toward a certain recommendation that fits them. Real time reviews are huge!

Shouldn’t we all just smile, sip, and share? :)

Jim from Hello Vino

]]> Comment on Why Your Voice Matters by Steve Paulo http://lindsayronga.com/2009/10/why-your-voice-matters/comment-page-1/#comment-140 Steve Paulo Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:22:43 +0000 http://lindsayronga.com/?p=124#comment-140 Preach on, sister! Speaking of which, I need to go review a Pinot Noir Brut I drank yesterday on Cork'd... Preach on, sister! Speaking of which, I need to go review a Pinot Noir Brut I drank yesterday on Cork’d…

]]> Comment on How Emotions Affect the Taste of Wine by Chris Davis http://lindsayronga.com/2009/09/how-subjective-is-scoring-a-wine/comment-page-1/#comment-131 Chris Davis Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:06:19 +0000 http://lindsayronga.com/?p=114#comment-131 I couldn't agree with you more. I noticed this when i visited the north fork of LI for my 1 year anniversary. When i re-tasted the wines that i brought home they were not as good as i "remembered" or simply perceived at the moment. The power of persuasion, environment and the mind is extraordinary! I couldn’t agree with you more. I noticed this when i visited the north fork of LI for my 1 year anniversary. When i re-tasted the wines that i brought home they were not as good as i “remembered” or simply perceived at the moment. The power of persuasion, environment and the mind is extraordinary!

]]> Comment on How Emotions Affect the Taste of Wine by Hello Vino http://lindsayronga.com/2009/09/how-subjective-is-scoring-a-wine/comment-page-1/#comment-130 Hello Vino Tue, 29 Sep 2009 01:57:18 +0000 http://lindsayronga.com/?p=114#comment-130 This is very interesting, and deadly accurate. There are certainly instances where the taste of the wine was enhanced by the experience... and that's a great thing. Even better, there have been times where I've tasted a wine at an event, purchased a bottle, and it tasted better when opened on a weekend night on the back patio. Love when that happens. I agree, the notes that accompany ratings/reviews are extremely important (and helpful). Aside from the context of the review, they sometimes provide some great ideas like food pairings to try or even restaurant recommendations - an added bonus. Enjoyed the post, and congrats with the recent re-launch of Corkd! - Rick from Hello Vino This is very interesting, and deadly accurate.

There are certainly instances where the taste of the wine was enhanced by the experience… and that’s a great thing. Even better, there have been times where I’ve tasted a wine at an event, purchased a bottle, and it tasted better when opened on a weekend night on the back patio. Love when that happens.

I agree, the notes that accompany ratings/reviews are extremely important (and helpful). Aside from the context of the review, they sometimes provide some great ideas like food pairings to try or even restaurant recommendations – an added bonus.

Enjoyed the post, and congrats with the recent re-launch of Corkd!

- Rick from Hello Vino

]]> Comment on How Emotions Affect the Taste of Wine by Barret Hudson http://lindsayronga.com/2009/09/how-subjective-is-scoring-a-wine/comment-page-1/#comment-129 Barret Hudson Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:15:41 +0000 http://lindsayronga.com/?p=114#comment-129 I definitely find this to be true and I feel that a lot of wineries, and particularly winery owners can over look this aspect of the business. Where I am from we have to charge a relatively hefty amount for local wines compared to California wines due to harder growing conditions and a general lack of competition in the growing market. Its almost impossible to find a Texas wine that is better than something coming out of California for less money. I always tried to tell people when I worked at a winery here that what we are selling is an experience of drinking wine, not the wine itself. If we were just selling wine we would be out of business. Smell (and as an extension taste) are the senses that have been most strongly linked to the memory zones in our brain, so as a winery owner or employee, if you can create an enjoyable experience in a pleasant atmosphere that is fun and exciting, people will not only want to come back to the winery but will also want to drink your wines at home, because the smells and tastes of the wines will bring back the memories of their trip to the winery. In a sense the wine becomes an anchor to a pleasant event in our memory, a way of going back an reliving it whenever we want. I definitely find this to be true and I feel that a lot of wineries, and particularly winery owners can over look this aspect of the business. Where I am from we have to charge a relatively hefty amount for local wines compared to California wines due to harder growing conditions and a general lack of competition in the growing market. Its almost impossible to find a Texas wine that is better than something coming out of California for less money. I always tried to tell people when I worked at a winery here that what we are selling is an experience of drinking wine, not the wine itself. If we were just selling wine we would be out of business. Smell (and as an extension taste) are the senses that have been most strongly linked to the memory zones in our brain, so as a winery owner or employee, if you can create an enjoyable experience in a pleasant atmosphere that is fun and exciting, people will not only want to come back to the winery but will also want to drink your wines at home, because the smells and tastes of the wines will bring back the memories of their trip to the winery. In a sense the wine becomes an anchor to a pleasant event in our memory, a way of going back an reliving it whenever we want.

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