At about this time every year, I take a look back in time and cringe.
That’s because it’s officially the twelfth birthday of this website, Australian Wine Review, which means I am required by law to reread these terrible posts from the early days…
Seriously though, I’m glad that I kept writing. This website has been an important part of my life, opening up doors and opportunities around the world.
Of course, it didn’t start that way, as I founded Australian Wine Review (ozwinereview for short) because I needed a place to keep my tasting notes and everyone was blogging back then. Over the years the website has evolved, but the key outlook and style has remained the same – honest opinions on wine, delivered unfiltered. My writing still includes an excess of brackets and overly long sentences too – I think another wine writer even called my grammar ‘subpar’, which I’m wearing as a badge of honour.
This time of year is also the right time to say thanks. Thanks to my long-suffering partner (hi Jime), to my diligent sub-editors (cheers Reags) and everyone else who comments, donates (love the donations), emails me and more. I love hearing from you! Especially because wine writers are a dying breed, and for the large part, it’s a lonely existence where I sometimes feel like I’m shouting into a vacuum. So please keep your feedback coming.
Further, thanks to the wineries/producers/distributors/regional associations etc who send samples and fly me around the world to taste wine. Legends, one and all.
As for the future? Who knows. Life isn’t slowing down, despite the weirdness of a COVID world, and curiously I’ve never received more samples in my life (so clearly someone reads my posts).
Here’s cheers to another 12 years!
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