Editorial Policy + Disclaimer

Editorial/Comment Policy + Disclaimer

• Please note that anyone commenting on this site does so under the knowledge that bad language, abuse and unsolicited spam (or even spam-looking) comments will be deleted. However, the site owner (ie me) takes no legal responsibility for the moderation of any other comments (and also wants to encourage free-flowing dialogue).
• Some of the links on this website are “affiliate links” or paid links. This means if you click on an ad and purchase an item, I/we will receive an affiliate commission. The policy is strictly ‘review first, insert affiliate links later’ and the sheer volume of very negative reviews with affiliate links should indicate that there is no link between product reviews and availability.
• Most products are supplied as samples, provided for by producers/PR companies/distributors etc. Otherwise, they are tasted at dinners/tastings or occasionally from the cellar. I’ve never guaranteed a review, let alone a positive one, of any product, and I would never under any circumstances accept payment from a winery or producer for a positive review. I don’t even allow producers to place fixed banner ads.
• On advertising the other key advertising, you will see on this site are Google Adwords ads. I do not control who advertises in these ad units, and they are matched to both content and you, the user. These ads give me enough income to pay for hosting (but not much else). Again, I do not control who advertises and how. Ethically this is the best way, as there is no potential for bias of any kind.
• When products are tasted as part of a trip paid for by producers, I will disclose this within the review. I try not to accept trips from individual producers as this creates potential bias, but for major winery events (like super verticals) it is often necessary. If the trip is paid for by a region, I’m a little less worried, as covering off an entire region is like covering a school subject – you need to do it. Again, I’ll always declare these trips.
• I also have a rather diverse suite of businesses which I write paid articles for, though again I’ll never put my name to an ‘advertorial’. Some articles are a little more lifestyle-focused than on here, but I’d never compromise myself and talk about things I don’t like. Not worth it. I also run a wine events company and write for all sorts of people, but again I’d never put my name to anything that I’m not 100% behind. If you see any perception of bias call me out straight away, but I’m quite comfortable with how the arrangements work – ie if you see my name, it is my unbiased opinion. No bullshit.
• Ultimately this site only works through me being (occasionally brutally) honest. I’ve realised that while I’m writing for myself, I don’t need to write for producers. That means that this site is not a promotional vehicle for drinks companies, and I do not need to regurgitate press releases. In the longer run, I’d prefer to call out an average wine or a shitty beer and have the producer not send me anything again (which happens all the time) than feel like I had compromised myself. That said, I’d like to think I’m still sympathetic with how hard it is to be a producer, especially having made my own wines, and I approach every wine with the thought in the back of my mind ‘this will be good’. It’s much more fun this way, although some may accuse me then of being less critical. Read a bunch of my reviews and I challenge you to call me uncritical.
• Beer/spirits/RTD reviews use slightly different scoring but the sentiments are the same.
• Donations are greatly accepted and go towards the cost of hosting and keeping the lights on.