Fourth year at the Wine Bloggers Conference and I still haven’t tapped out of the speed blogging portion, you guys! The chaos was unbeknownst to me during my first year in 2014 and I was confused why people chose to skip the session and eat fries at the neighbouring restaurant instead.
The rules to this WBC mainstay are simple: the wine representative has five minutes to pour you wine and talk about it. At the same time – and if you’re playing the game to its fullest – one takes notes, snaps photos, and maybe thinks of something witty about the wine to tweet in that moment. There are ten rounds in total. Speed dating! If this is Tinder for wines, is there a Grindr for wines? Is that just called an online menu?
Past attempts at speed tasting:
2014
2015 – Part 1
2015 – Part 2
2016
Me: I’ve had Sauvignon Blanc from Bordeaux in a bad year that smelled like weed
Rebel Coast: hold my beer#WBC17 pic.twitter.com/yKGGpi63xA— campari-ana grande (@sommeligay) November 11, 2017
This Viognier tastes like that short moment in a Lyft from work to the Castro on a Friday evening. On its way from being structured to slutty. #wbc17 pic.twitter.com/rXcnzj9e2H
— campari-ana grande (@sommeligay) November 11, 2017
Oh. My god. There’s a @trixiemattel pairing in here somewhere. #WBC17 pic.twitter.com/EeXRigUp59
— campari-ana grande (@sommeligay) November 11, 2017
Substantial, refreshing, and weighty without being overbearing: me 10 years ago, but also this wine #WBC17 pic.twitter.com/AKOUuKcIya
— campari-ana grande (@sommeligay) November 11, 2017
So toasty that I’m drinking this all night and replacing this with actual breakfast toast 🍞 #WBC17 pic.twitter.com/shSSYctW2j
— campari-ana grande (@sommeligay) November 11, 2017
I can’t come up with a tasting note in time so please enjoy this set of emojis: 😍🍐🍑✨ #WBC17 #Lugana pic.twitter.com/TjQYXk2Gr0
— campari-ana grande (@sommeligay) November 11, 2017
“You’re perfect, you’re Mt. Beautiful, you look like Linda Evangelista, you’re a model…” #WBC17 #rpdr @AllOfValentina #chardonnay pic.twitter.com/cVOEM07Qgj
— campari-ana grande (@sommeligay) November 11, 2017
Chewy. Serve this to me instead of drunk pizza after a night of partying in the Castro and I’ll probably be satisfied. #WBC17 pic.twitter.com/rmevyBk7jD
— campari-ana grande (@sommeligay) November 11, 2017
This Sauvignon Blanc keeps talking, but it’s at a good delicious spot, like my mom at a family reunion but we end up talking about something I’m actually interested in #WBC17 pic.twitter.com/NnCnPIg84t
— campari-ana grande (@sommeligay) November 11, 2017
This tastes like Katy Perry was the winemaker, and Michael Bay picked the grapes. @ConundrumWines #WBC17 pic.twitter.com/IrLIZgmRw8
— campari-ana grande (@sommeligay) November 12, 2017
Y’all. Killer Napa Cab made by Canadians. Bathe me in this. #WBC17 @CliffLedeWine pic.twitter.com/ZmRN9tAugk
— campari-ana grande (@sommeligay) November 12, 2017
Meaty without being too exhausting. (My type in men, but also this wine 😏) @PlanetaWinery #WBC17 pic.twitter.com/ymkOuXWEyd
— campari-ana grande (@sommeligay) November 12, 2017
*Don’t* hit the road, Jack. Stay in my glass. @JackWinery #WBC17 pic.twitter.com/zc9BkoM4RY
— campari-ana grande (@sommeligay) November 12, 2017
This wine tastes like Lana del Rey was the winemaker, while Lorde was doing a dramatic reading of Beatles lyrics in the background and all the lights are off. 😍 #WBC17 @cainvineyard pic.twitter.com/X0jYguuSlL
— campari-ana grande (@sommeligay) November 12, 2017
A Tannat-dominated blend from Oregon. I have no formal notes for this. I just yelled “daddy” and I think that’s succinct enough. #WBC17 @TroonWines @CraigCamp pic.twitter.com/6kEFFYaTJj
— campari-ana grande (@sommeligay) November 12, 2017
Such deep cassis-accented fruit, with texture and finesse. This wine puts the “ass” in “cassis”, and I am 100% here for that tbh 💃🏽 #WBC17 @StSupery pic.twitter.com/y2zZ8h7yGk
— campari-ana grande (@sommeligay) November 12, 2017
Omg these wines are coming so fast. Tasting note in the form of emojis: ✨💃🏽🍷 (also why is there no blackberry emoji) @AcumenWine #WBC17 pic.twitter.com/zer1dQjEzP
— campari-ana grande (@sommeligay) November 12, 2017
An enjoyable Tuesday night wine that I want to offer to an enemy and knock it out of their hands just before they’re about to taste it. #WBC17 @rsvineyards #UpshotWines pic.twitter.com/gJkFoIDaIb
— campari-ana grande (@sommeligay) November 12, 2017
Zinfan-hell yeah? @Pedroncelli #WBC17 pic.twitter.com/r74Vr8IBPo
— campari-ana grande (@sommeligay) November 12, 2017
Like that one song where you’re like who the fuck is singing this? And you’re like oh shit y’all it’s Katy Perry and I’m kind of enjoying it? Except it’s Zinfandel #WBC17 @Pedroncelli pic.twitter.com/6D18BfpDvh
— campari-ana grande (@sommeligay) November 12, 2017