Today marks the 1oth birthday of this website, Australian Wine Review. A bloody decade!
What an incredible ten years it has been – a time that has changed my life.
But it didn’t begin that way…
When I started this website, blogging was a cool thing that everyone wanted to do, and it seemed a natural progression to get on the bandwagon. That said, I didn’t necessarily start it to be a blogger. Instead, I started this website to serve another purpose – as a place for my wine notes to go. At the time, I had endless notepads full of barely legible tasting notes, and putting them on the interwebs seemed like a quick way to keep them all in one place (there’s an explainer in this video and this one I did many years ago for a previous birthday).
Of course, I had dreams of becoming a full-time wine writer, so it wasn’t just about a note repository, I wanted people to read my words and comment too.
Still, it still took ages for anyone to notice that the website existed, despite how much I enthusiastically posted (and those early posts are cringeworthy). But I was keen, and disciplined enough to post regularly which is the key to success. What’s more, in 2008 there was a vibrant wine blogging community that helped push me harder too.
Within 18 months things started to click for me – I went from ‘aspiring wine writer with a shitty website’ to ‘published wine writer with a shitty website’ and the samples started flowing in. Back then, the twitter wine scene was also a thing, with ‘tweetups’ seen as somehow the route by which wineries would sell wine to Gen Y. It was a fun time, and I lapped it up hard.
Since then it hasn’t always been easy – I’ve lost count of how many times people have stolen my content (fuckers) or the annoying French hackers who try and crack it all the time (why do they bother) and more. But on the whole, this website is now something fun – a place that has changed from being my main wine outlet to be a specific outlet. A place where writing about the wines that pass my desk is a creative outlet with no editors of commercial realities in the way.
More than fun, it’s a great feeling to get something back when you post. To know that someone, somewhere, might give a shit and agree/disagree violently with your ramblings to correspond with what you’ve written. Sure, it might just be an ego stroke/validation of opinion, but that sensation is what makes writing worthwhile.
Speaking of worthwhile, I’ve met some awesome fellow bloggers via Australian Wine Review over the years, many of whom, sadly, don’t post regularly anymore. I’m looking at people like Julian Coldrey (Full Pour), Chris Plummer (oh man I still haven’t found out what happened to Chris, and I’ve put some time into it. He was at Australian Wine Journal) and Jeremy Pringle (RIP JP. Wine Will Eat Itself).
Thankfully others are still powering on – like Stu Robinson (The Vinsomniac), Steve Q (qwinereviews going strong), Regan Drew (Vinonotebook.com) and Sean Mitchell (grapeobserver.com) which is much more heartening.
It’s rather dreary thinking how many of my favourites have dropped off over the years actually, and it’s not like new ones are coming on. I think, aside from those that I’ve mentioned and the likes of Ed (who predates me at Wino Sapien) or Philip (Drinkster), there aren’t many other ‘old timer’ Australian wine bloggers left around anymore.
We’re a dying breed.
Indeed, wine writing as a whole is in poor health in the country, with fewer columns, fewer websites and less critical thought devoted to wine now than ever in my drinking lifetime. There are plenty of quality words still being written (the boys at The Winefront do a great job for example), but there are almost no pure wine writers left in this country. Nearly everyone now has to maintain a side job selling/marketing/events etc to sustain themselves, and some that are left seem to feel the need to pump up their scores for their own self-importance (don’t get me started).
The model is broken.
Personally, the last 12 months have seen me considering the future of Australian Wine Review for the first time in my life too, as I struggle to justify the costs. Advertising no longer comes close to covering off hosting, so the site probably costs me $50 a month (and let’s not talk about how many hours go in) which is harder and harder to justify.
Just to further question intentions, my body last year decided to start attacking itself, and alcohol makes things worse. I went through a torrid few months late 2017 miserably staring down the barrel of arthritis medication that would stop me drinking much ever again, and I lost interest in drinking full stop. Wine? Not much use when you can’t straighten your fingers.
But I’m coming back. Slowly. There’s still a war happening in my body but now I feel less powerless and better informed. My health is better, my outlook is better and, surprisingly, I’m tasting more now than ever before. Professionally, I’m writing more, have more projects on the go (The Tasting Glass is killing it) and I can proudly proclaim that life is good.
Before I get all teary though and starting thanking The Academy, I’d just like to say again that the single best thing is when someone comments on a website post. Please, call out the wines you like/love/hate etc. Hassle me when you disagree about a wine. Just something. All of it is useful, as this wine reviewing caper is a lonely pursuit otherwise.
On that note, I wonder if that’s why few people bother writing stuff on blogs anymore? Because they get nothing back? It certainly doesn’t pay very well…
Next up then, a word of thanks. Thanks to all the good people who point up my spelling mistakes for one (the perils of self editing). Regan, Jime et al, I appreciate it greatly. Thanks to Sumith for all your help with my tech, thanks Chris for your logo work and thanks to the Balgowlah Hts Post Shop for being good people and holding on to mounds of wine boxes for weeks when I go away.
Further, a very big thanks to all the wineries and PR peeps who send samples, provide winery information and more. Thanks as ever for your patience especially with crap local couriers. I couldn’t do this job without you either.
Again, a massive thank you also to everyone who regularly reads and interacts with this website. In the immortal words of that great intellect Jeff Fenech ‘I love youse all’.
Finally then, here’s cheers to ten years of Australian Wine Review (or ozwinereview for short) and to ten more!
Now, I’ve got a plane to catch.
(The image up the top of the page is from exactly six years ago, taken near the Dookie College Vineyard. I had some great times at Dookie, and learnt a lot. It was a long road to finish my degree, however, much like how the last ten years. You can’t see in the photo but there are some rude dips in the road too even though it looks straight. Life is like that, eh).
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22 Comments
Well done Andrew, really enjoy reading your reviews. And in particular the everyday language that does buck the system a bit!
Most readers like reading what they can readily understand I am sure, and you deliver.
My only comment is preferably to stay a bit more with the wines people can see in wine shops and easily recognise etc., rather than the too obscure ones ( again probably against the view of main critics).
Also, I have mentioned in the past, the lack of info regarding fortified wines ……. probably a dying art. l still love to play with and blend Port and Muscat in my barrels. Never run short of friends with these.
Congratulation on your 10 years and good to see the well earned success you have achieved.
All the best,
John
Thank you John!
I understand what you’re saying about more obscure wines – it’s a trap that so many of us fall into as we get excited by wine geek wines.
Oh and fortifieds – I’m hearing you! I haven’t done a fortified focus in ages.
Great site, well done. Would happily pay to access it if you went to a subscription model. Couple of things caught my eye in your post:
1. Given that you’re apparently based somewhere in the Balgowlah area can you recommend good independent bottle shops on the northern beaches/north shore of Sydney ? I know of a few but I bet there’s more I don’t know about.
2. “crap local couriers”. You wouldn’t be talking about Fastway by any chance ? I’ve reached the point where I won’t buy from any winery that uses Fastway for deliveries.
Thanks Simon and appreciate the kind words so much.
Now, questions:
1. I get beer from Porters at Balgowlah or Beer Cartel in Artarmon but otherwise I only buy wine wholesale these days. The Beaches bottleshops are a constant disappointment…
2. Fastways is so dependent on your driver. My local Fastways guy is great, and leaves it on the doorstep every time. Courier Please does my head in though and DHL are just as bad. I had one case that was just left in the middle of the driveway.
Happy birthday OWR (and to the 10th anniversary of your “first born” AG).
Behind the keyboard is a lonely art, I get ya. And I hope that the times sitting around a table with family, friends, fellow scribes etc can offer a little compensation for what can be a lonely farrow ploughed.
All the best mate (where’s that plane to?)
Thanks Stu, I’m off to Beijing to judge Concours Mondial. My firs time in mainland China and I’m looking forward to much duck and dumplings.
Massive congrats AG, it feels like I’ve been following your site almost from the beginning. It’s still sits in my RSS feed, getting checked off every morning as I prepare for the day.
Even better has been the chance to catch up on occasion. Enjoy the dumplings, look forward to catching up again when you’re in radelaide.
Sam
Thankyou mate. It has been an age since I’ve seen you as well. Must get down to Radelaide soon.
Keep up the great work Andrew, I love reading your posts. Cheers
Dave
Congrats on 10 yrs it’s a big milestone in the blogging world ! I hear what you are saying & reccently closed my wine events club in Sydney connecting wineries with peeps in the corp world after 7 years. I loved running the events but it was lots of work. I never ran it on a commercial or profit basis but as a wine loving advocate. A move to the Hunter Valley prompted me to review it. Ultimately you really need to do & focus on what you love. I really enjoy your reviews, so I hope you keep it up but life is short. Cheers.
Andrew, well done on your big anniversary – you have been very diligent, focussed and hope your health woes conclude.
You’ve pointed out many wines to try – and buy- (plus some to avoid), given helpful backgrounds too; always much better than bare tasting descriptions and your writing is full of nuance and variety- keep it up!
Good work mate.
Andrew,
look forward to your reviews and have added some new makers to my humble cellar, keep up the great work and let your suppliers know that without your tasting notes a lot of plonk will not find the bottom of a glass… and stay healthy!
Happy to subscribe to subscription model….like the no B/S reviews
Keep up the insightful work. It really is good to be challenged as (hopefully) it leads to the sort of improvement where everyone benefits. Cheers to good wine and great times.
Well done Andrew!
As a fellow wine lover with variable health that sometimes gets in the way of wine I know the ride well. Drink well on the highs, and rest up and in the lows is how I try to live it.
Thank you for your efforts. They keep wine, and its evolutions, top of mind and help me shape my own views of what is ‘worth a glass’ or ‘worth a bottle’.
Very best, Travis.
Congratulations on 10 years!
I certainly enjoy your reading your no nonsense reviews!
Very Refreshing!
Cheers!
Marc
Happy 10th anniversary Andrew, great website, full of valuable information and always great reading for the people who care about fine wine made from Australia, seeing through the marketing haze that often blurs and dulls the sharp contour lines of our still emerging great Australian terroirs!
Great work Andrew – OWR is probably my preferred source of reviews / critiques for wines, love your style – back vintage verticals you have done always help too when selecting from the cellar or buying on auction.
A semi aspiring wine blogger myself @thesocialswirler on instagram – keep it going!
Well done Andrew!
Really enjoy reading your reviews and your pursuit of what goes into making the best drink on the planet. Hope you health improves enormously and wine becomes the everyday pleasure it should be. As them frogs say…Santé indeed.
Cheers,
Andrew
Congratulations Andrew!
I enjoy the honesty in your writing, it’s something that the mainstream is missing, big time.
If it’s RA that you are fighting, live in hope, mine is in remission after 7 years……good luck.
Please keep writing, we appreciate your work!
Thanks Shane – it’s PsA for me. Seven years is fantastic. Great!