I always consider myself lucky that when it comes to the Internet in my life; Iâve had the best of both worlds. My childhood stretched from the mid 1970âs through the 1980âs, which I sometimes feel was the last era to have grown up in a simpler time. But then my adulthood began in the early 1990âs and Iâve been able to enjoy all of the conveniences and distractions that being online offers, from being able to Google anything for research to hilarious kitten videos on YouTube.
In the wine world, naturally, I canât imagine having a career without the Internet as a resource and hub for information and news. Iâm by no means bemoaning the advantage and value of good, old-fashioned books (Jake Skakun recently did a great post on wine tomes here at My Wine Canada), but thereâs many a time and place when the ânet prevails.
In saying that, here are five of my favourite wine-related websites that I use for resources, news, or simple entertainment:
WineFolly.com
Madeline Puckette, a Seattle-based sommelier, is the content producer and host of this invaluable stop for both novices and trade looking to expand their wine knowledge. Whether through traditional blog posts, witty video content or the siteâs ever-growing stock of downloadable infographics, Wine Folly has everything from guides to the best glassware to info on the intricacies between various clones of Pinot Noir, all with a cheery tone.
AbleGrape.com
Itâs pretty much the Google of the wine world. Enter a wine, and it not only directs you to the wineryâs website, but the search results are also broken into sections like reviews, articles, glossaries and ordering information.
Not only does the Times wine columnist have a great voice, but he also posts great multimedia components like slideshows and video. My favourite part is his ongoing âWine Schoolâ series, where he lays out a particular wine style every so often, and gets readers to partake in a virtual tasting with him, offering their comments and perspectives. Lively discussions and debates ensue!
WineBusiness.com
Yep, the site looks like itâs straight outta 1998, but donât let its dry appearance fool you. Wine Business is an excellent place to get all the latest news on the North American wine biz, whether itâs winemakers jumping ship, crop reports or canât-miss events. Dig around, thereâs lots in here.
Decanter.com
Simply put, Decanter is the most widely-respected wine magazine on earth, and the websiteâs no slouch.
