Slack journalism or do they believe this crap

Slack journalism or do they believe this crap (9 Oct)

Winning a trophy at any wine show is always good news for the winery, but I'm becoming increasingly concerned the amount of bovine manure being sprayed forth by both the wineries, and the press in relation to these wins.

The latest example is from the Sydney Morning Herald, which in theory is a respected newspaper. The article is headed, "Clare Valley hailed in wine competition” and there is nothing wrong there. It then goes on to state, "A South Australian winery has been hailed for producing the best riesling in the world at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in London.

Kilikanoon, from the Clare Valley, won the trophy for the best worldwide riesling for its 2006 Mort's Block riesling at the prestigious competition.”

Further on in the article it states, "Fellow Clare Valley winery, Taylors, won the award for the best international red blend at the London-based competition.

Taylors' award winner was their Eighty Acres 2005 cabernet shiraz merlot.”

I have no idea where the unnamed journalist got the information for this article; it could quite possibly have been based on press releases put out by the wineries. Wherever the information came from, the sort of journalism does nothing to enhance the credibility of the wine industry, the newspapers themselves, or the wine show system.

Whilst the Kilikanoon Mort’s Block may be a fine Riesling, it is certainly not the best in the world, no matter what the winery or the journalist who wrote this rubbish may think. Exactly the same thing can be said about the Taylors blend. I can absolutely guarantee without any fear of contradiction that it is not the best red blend in the world.

All these two wines have managed to do is to win a trophy in one competition. That does not make them the best in the world, just the wine that won it’s category in one particular show, that happens to accept entries from all over the world.

Whilst marketing your product is great, it's about time the wineries, and the press, stop treating consumers like they are complete and utter bloody idiots and showed some respect for their consumers. Why not tell consumers the truth; this wine won a prestigious trophy in an international wine show. Is it that sufficient praise? Or in their heart of hearts, do the wineries realise that a trophy at a wine show means nothing, so they have to use bovine manure to sell their wine? This situation stinks, and it's about time wineries stopped relying on meaningless points and a lot of flatulent rhetoric to promote their wines.

I will get off my soap box now. You can return to regular viewing!

Feel free to submit your comments!

From: Murray

10/09/2007 01:45:35 Ric, The Taylors came from their press release; and I'm pretty sure the riesling did too; it's just a rehash. Here's the full Taylor's release:
MEDIA RELEASE
8th October 2007

2007 Wine World Cup & Australia triumphs!
South Australian winery Taylors wins major red wine gong

Australians disheartened with the weekend's result of the Rugby World Cup game in France need only look across the Channel in London, where the results for the "World Cup of the wine world; the International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC)" should give them a reason to rejoice once again.

Australia blitzed the competition with Clare Valley winery, Taylors picking up the coveted Cup for Best International Red Blend with their Eighty Acres 2005 Cabernet Shiraz Merlot.

Taylors only just made it in time to enter the Eighty Acres range in the IWSC this year, following the release of the four new blends, including the 2005 Eighty Acres Cabernet Shiraz Merlot, as recently as August this year.

A very proud Taylors Managing Director, Mitchell Taylor says the IWSC trophy is an overwhelming result for the winemaking team.

"This award is an outstanding endorsement of the hard work and talent of the entire Taylors team. The Eighty Acres Cabernet Shiraz Merlot is a very young player in the Taylors range and we’re thrilled with its performance so far."

"We're all just over the moon. It takes skilled players, teamwork, passion, vision and good soil and to win a challenge as big as this one," said Mitchell.

Taylors has enjoyed a tremendous run, having collected over 50 awards from five different International and local wine competitions in just the last two months. The shows based in Vienna, Shanghai, Canada, New Zealand, Perth and Melbourne have awarded Taylors across their entire portfolio.

"These awards have highlighted the ability of Taylors to craft wines of purity and regional expression; it also showcases the quality of its Clare Valley varietals. This international success is important to us as it really helps to place the Clare Valley on the map of best Australian wine regions & as we've always known it should be" said Mitchell Taylor

ENDS
Notes to the editor:
About IWSC:
The International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) released the names of the winners from the London headquarters on Thursday 4 October. Wines competing in the Best Red Blend category included those from Argentina; Australia; Brazil; Chile; Mexico; New Zealand and South Africa.

One of the most premier competitions in its category, the IWSC judging panel is made up of Masters of Wine, prominent trade judges and knowledgeable consumers or "lay" judges from all over the world who undertake a rigorous blind tasting and technical analysis of the wines.

About Eighty Acres:
For the Taylor family, 80 Acres is all about the dirt. It's a range refreshingly down to earth, designed to be serious quality – but without taking themselves too seriously.

The name comes from the first block planted on the family estate by Bill Taylor Senior, who in 1969 got his hands dirty planting vines on the traditional 80 acre blocks. He named the first block ‘eighty acres’ – as he was pretty down to earth with names too. In a nod to that heritage, this range bears the same name on the label, and of course some of the dirt.

2005 Taylors 80 Acres Cabernet Shiraz Merlot is a deep purple colour with a crimson hue and smells of juicy plums, black currants and liquorice with background notes of chocolate, vanilla and cedar. The palate has intense flavours of berry fruits, spice, liquorice, dark chocolate and vanilla. Good oak integration, balanced acid and soft tannins create a well structured wine with a soft, velvety finish. Ideal with BBQ satay steak, this wine can be enjoyed now or from the cellar in five years time.

....... etc etc etc

From: daz

10/09/2007 09:20:25 Your point is absolutely correct about the journo's use of the results from one competition.

I've not tasted either wine so I can't comment on their quality. What did you think of the riesling? I enjoy good riesling.

TORB Responds:

Daz, I love a good comedian; its a pity that you aren't one of them mate! (Good post though. :) )

From: Andre

10/09/2007 19:02:54 "respected newspaper" is a too strong term for the SMH, even if it is in theory.
Also, I bet there are other 28 riesling winners from the 34 entries and 175 red blend winners from the 182 candidates.

From: nathan Waks

10/24/2007 16:29:49 Dear All

I hope we didn't do the misleading here.

We sent out a press release stating the facts- which have been turned into a story by I think AAP/Reuters, possibly combined with a release Taylor's may have made.

Our release clearly stated that we had won the award for the best Riesling (worldwide)- my brackets in the release. We would never make such an inflated claim! However, we are pretty pleased about the overall result. The text of our press release is on our website...

Nathan Waks CEO Kilikanoon

TORB Responds:

Hi Nathan,

Thanks for the clarification. If it's as you say and the journalist came to that conclusion by themselves, they should be looking for a job in a produce store selling fertiliser. Something they are eminently qualified to do!

	Snippet
Sydney Time Copyright © Ric Einstein 2008	Slack journalism or do they believe this crap (9 Oct) Winning a trophy at any wine show is always good news for the winery, but I'm becoming increasingly concerned the amount of bovine manure being sprayed forth by both the wineries, and the press in relation to these wins. The latest example is from the Sydney Morning Herald, which in theory is a respected newspaper. The article is headed, "Clare Valley hailed in wine competition” and there is nothing wrong there. It then goes on to state, "A South Australian winery has been hailed for producing the best riesling in the world at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in London. Kilikanoon, from the Clare Valley, won the trophy for the best worldwide riesling for its 2006 Mort's Block riesling at the prestigious competition.” Further on in the article it states, "Fellow Clare Valley winery, Taylors, won the award for the best international red blend at the London-based competition. Taylors' award winner was their Eighty Acres 2005 cabernet shiraz merlot.” I have no idea where the unnamed journalist got the information for this article; it could quite possibly have been based on press releases put out by the wineries. Wherever the information came from, the sort of journalism does nothing to enhance the credibility of the wine industry, the newspapers themselves, or the wine show system. Whilst the Kilikanoon Mort’s Block may be a fine Riesling, it is certainly not the best in the world, no matter what the winery or the journalist who wrote this rubbish may think. Exactly the same thing can be said about the Taylors blend. I can absolutely guarantee without any fear of contradiction that it is not the best red blend in the world. All these two wines have managed to do is to win a trophy in one competition. That does not make them the best in the world, just the wine that won it’s category in one particular show, that happens to accept entries from all over the world. Whilst marketing your product is great, it's about time the wineries, and the press, stop treating consumers like they are complete and utter bloody idiots and showed some respect for their consumers. Why not tell consumers the truth; this wine won a prestigious trophy in an international wine show. Is it that sufficient praise? Or in their heart of hearts, do the wineries realise that a trophy at a wine show means nothing, so they have to use bovine manure to sell their wine? This situation stinks, and it's about time wineries stopped relying on meaningless points and a lot of flatulent rhetoric to promote their wines. I will get off my soap box now. You can return to regular viewing! Feel free to submit your comments! From: Murray 10/09/2007 01:45:35 Ric, The Taylors came from their press release; and I'm pretty sure the riesling did too; it's just a rehash. Here's the full Taylor's release: MEDIA RELEASE 8th October 2007 2007 Wine World Cup & Australia triumphs! South Australian winery Taylors wins major red wine gong Australians disheartened with the weekend's result of the Rugby World Cup game in France need only look across the Channel in London, where the results for the "World Cup of the wine world; the International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC)" should give them a reason to rejoice once again. Australia blitzed the competition with Clare Valley winery, Taylors picking up the coveted Cup for Best International Red Blend with their Eighty Acres 2005 Cabernet Shiraz Merlot. Taylors only just made it in time to enter the Eighty Acres range in the IWSC this year, following the release of the four new blends, including the 2005 Eighty Acres Cabernet Shiraz Merlot, as recently as August this year. A very proud Taylors Managing Director, Mitchell Taylor says the IWSC trophy is an overwhelming result for the winemaking team. "This award is an outstanding endorsement of the hard work and talent of the entire Taylors team. The Eighty Acres Cabernet Shiraz Merlot is a very young player in the Taylors range and we’re thrilled with its performance so far." "We're all just over the moon. It takes skilled players, teamwork, passion, vision and good soil and to win a challenge as big as this one," said Mitchell. Taylors has enjoyed a tremendous run, having collected over 50 awards from five different International and local wine competitions in just the last two months. The shows based in Vienna, Shanghai, Canada, New Zealand, Perth and Melbourne have awarded Taylors across their entire portfolio. "These awards have highlighted the ability of Taylors to craft wines of purity and regional expression; it also showcases the quality of its Clare Valley varietals. This international success is important to us as it really helps to place the Clare Valley on the map of best Australian wine regions & as we've always known it should be" said Mitchell Taylor ENDS Notes to the editor: About IWSC: The International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) released the names of the winners from the London headquarters on Thursday 4 October. Wines competing in the Best Red Blend category included those from Argentina; Australia; Brazil; Chile; Mexico; New Zealand and South Africa. One of the most premier competitions in its category, the IWSC judging panel is made up of Masters of Wine, prominent trade judges and knowledgeable consumers or "lay" judges from all over the world who undertake a rigorous blind tasting and technical analysis of the wines. About Eighty Acres: For the Taylor family, 80 Acres is all about the dirt. It's a range refreshingly down to earth, designed to be serious quality – but without taking themselves too seriously. The name comes from the first block planted on the family estate by Bill Taylor Senior, who in 1969 got his hands dirty planting vines on the traditional 80 acre blocks. He named the first block ‘eighty acres’ – as he was pretty down to earth with names too. In a nod to that heritage, this range bears the same name on the label, and of course some of the dirt. 2005 Taylors 80 Acres Cabernet Shiraz Merlot is a deep purple colour with a crimson hue and smells of juicy plums, black currants and liquorice with background notes of chocolate, vanilla and cedar. The palate has intense flavours of berry fruits, spice, liquorice, dark chocolate and vanilla. Good oak integration, balanced acid and soft tannins create a well structured wine with a soft, velvety finish. Ideal with BBQ satay steak, this wine can be enjoyed now or from the cellar in five years time. ....... etc etc etc From: daz 10/09/2007 09:20:25 Your point is absolutely correct about the journo's use of the results from one competition. I've not tasted either wine so I can't comment on their quality. What did you think of the riesling? I enjoy good riesling. TORB Responds: Daz, I love a good comedian; its a pity that you aren't one of them mate! (Good post though. :) ) From: Andre 10/09/2007 19:02:54 "respected newspaper" is a too strong term for the SMH, even if it is in theory. Also, I bet there are other 28 riesling winners from the 34 entries and 175 red blend winners from the 182 candidates. From: nathan Waks 10/24/2007 16:29:49 Dear All I hope we didn't do the misleading here. We sent out a press release stating the facts- which have been turned into a story by I think AAP/Reuters, possibly combined with a release Taylor's may have made. Our release clearly stated that we had won the award for the best Riesling (worldwide)- my brackets in the release. We would never make such an inflated claim! However, we are pretty pleased about the overall result. The text of our press release is on our website... Nathan Waks CEO Kilikanoon TORB Responds: Hi Nathan, Thanks for the clarification. If it's as you say and the journalist came to that conclusion by themselves, they should be looking for a job in a produce store selling fertiliser. Something they are eminently qualified to do! Copyright © Ric Einstein 2007