Seasons Change: Winewaves Is Over (for now)

Regular readers of Winewaves have noticed the slowing pace of new pieces in 2007. For the first 2 years I tried to keep a daily pace of providing new pictures and reviews here. Winewaves began in February of 2005, but it's over. At least for now.

Like many other well-intentioned bloggers, I simply cannot afford to provide the quality of content that I would like to. Other paying work occupies my time. The opportunity cost of the effort I've invested in Winewaves has been great and the benefits have been scarce. My balance sheet unfortunately fits on a Post-It note. Being that I don't have deep pockets, something had to give.

Thank you to those who tuned in, found themselves checking out Winewaves, and especially to those who have sent me supportive e-mails over the past 3 years.

And go figure. No other wine created the stir that Bitch Barossa Grenache has over the last 3 years. For all those who are looking for it, I DON'T KNOW where you can find it. Which brings to my mind a pet peeve. When there is an ocean of Grenache (or at least red wine) in Australia, and when so many people are looking for "Bitch" in America, and when the people who want it are not expecting the highest standard of gustatory excellence, why don't they bottle more of it? What's wrong with giving the people what they want?

Of all the lessons learned from Winewaves, the foremost one is that I wish I could be selling wine. That's because most people who have come here thought that was the point of the site. It's so frustrating that Tennessee state laws prevent a would-be entrepreneur like myself to add value to a marketplace. Most people don't see the value of great wine label pictures, except as a way of merchandising, which I am prohibited from doing. At least for now.

Lastly, if anyone has any ideas as to how to revive Winewaves, I'm all ears.

Comments

[Ken]

Jerry,

Thanks for the time that you have put into "Winewaves" and all of your reviews. While I did not always agree with your reviews, you provided a fresh perspective and I have always found "Winewaves" to be a good source of some nice QPR wines. In the meantime, is "Winewaves" going to stay on the 'net in an archived fashion? If not, I'd like to know so that I can copy down some of your past recommendations. Thanks again and good luck.

[Dr. Debs]

I will miss your internet voice, your great advice, and your photos. I hope that your inspiration to write will return one day and that we will see you back here in the blogosphere. Until then, take care of yourself!

[Steve Y]

I'll miss the blog - being just a little south of you in Huntsville - I'll miss the perspective of someone from the South.

[Steve in Columbus]

Jerry,

A note of personal gratitude for generously contributing to the greater good for as long as you have. There are givers and there are takers. Those of us who have enjoyed your writing for these years have been squarely in the latter benefiting directly from your simple, honest advocacy. Best of luck on your endeavors and may all your vintages be classics.

Cheers!

[Dave Chouiniere]

Your blog has been a great source of wine information for me. I will miss your great reviews, style and photos. I hope all goes well with you.

Thanks for a great blog!

[Autoproxy]

Thanks for all your efforts and for being an interesting/fun read these past few years. I certainly hope (and expect) that you won't stop enjoying trying new and/or good wines after you stop blogging about them. Best of luck in all that you do!

[Rich Mirandi]

Your site was one of a kind. You went into intelligent detail about wines to satisfy the layman and the wine Einstein. You saved us allot of time and money on fine wines with your input. We (your readers) yet to see info on wine regarding not only taste,it's proof, price, if it's corked,screw cap, aged in oak vs. steel, on most wine sites. Most important you were open minded. What I'm glad most of all is that you learned what your strength's are through your site.Take care Jerry.

[Jerry]

Thank you to all who have left such nice comments. You make it hard to step away from this project. I will miss having you as an audience.

I'll leave the archives in place for some time.

And I really do hope to be able to step back into the wine blog arena again in the future.

Merci et au revoir par maintenant!

[dabardi]

I will certainly miss your writings and photographs. Hopefully you will reappear, refreshed and bursting with more wonderful wine opinions and photography. You are very talented. I'm so sorry at the loss of your cat. I know how you feel.
c.a.

[Gene]

Jerry, Thanks for a great blog! I hope your day job will enable you to return to your art. Maybe Tennessee and many other states will see the light. Gene - Seattle Wine Blog

[Jimmy]

Dear Jerry,
Thanks for all of the amazing work you have done, it has been a pleasure checking in on your site. You have taught me and I will continue to keep coming back for reference as long as the site stays up.
Sincerely,
Jimmy

[Rhonda]

Jerry,

Just found this site, and it was very helpful to me in my search for a particular wine I tasted at a gourmet wine shop. It occurs to me that you should partner up with a wine lover like yourself who lives in another state and have the commerce part of the business run through him (I say him because I have someone in mind as a likely sort of candidate here in CA). Let me know if I can help!

[Sonadora]

I'm really sorry to read this. You were one of my first inspirations for blogging and I have always enjoyed reading your thoughtful reviews.

[Andrew]

Jerry,
Your effort is not wasted. Thousands of readers have benefited from your work in the past 2 years. I am one of these readers who you have inspired to write. Your unique view into wine will be sorely missed (for now).
Good luck and I hope you will return someday with a bang!

[Karen Spencer]

My husband and I live in Arrington and loved your video you made for our new Winery here in Arrington. We have friends from New York to Florida, and I'd send your video advertising this winery and they could also get a wonderful view of this rural area we live in. I miss this video very much. You did a wonderful job. Sorry to hear everything did not go as planned. You are in our thoughts, if we can provide you with a means to get you back on track, you'll be hearing from us again.