Monday, July 10, 2017

The HoseMaster of Wine™ Short Listed for a Louis Roederer International Wine Writing Award


On the rare occasions I read wine blogs, I usually wonder what motivates the person behind the blog. Notice I avoided using the word “writer.” It’s a word thrown around far too casually in the wine world, much like sommelier, or authentic, or award-winning. None of those words seems to have any real meaning anymore. It’s painful to read most of the wine blogs out there if you love the written word, or love wine. I recently read a blog that seemed to be aimed at being funny, but was tragically witless. Then I realized it was mine. So what motivates all these folks to review utterly contemptible commercial crap they get for free and rave about it? Why do they think it would be interesting for us to join them on their “journey to discover wine?” They’re the dullest companions imaginable, why would I go an a journey with them? Do they hit “Publish” and really believe they have influence outside of their little circle of other crappy blog owners? 

Or do they publish a blog for the community they find online? I think that’s probably the answer for the majority of folks. It’s a perfectly lovely answer. Over the years, I’ve met dozens of bloggers. Most of them don’t like me. Maybe because when they tell me they write a blog, I reply, “No, you don’t write a blog, you type a blog.” I confess, I’ve never been a wine snob, but I am a tiresome writing snob. The human need for self-expression is a wonder to behold, but few possess much talent. But if their self-expression leads to community, that’s a powerful drug. It’s an emotional Opioid (which I mistakenly thought was a rectal problem for a young Ron Howard).

I’m something of a recluse. My idea of a good time is knowing that others are not having a good time. I’m uncomfortable with groups of people. I live in my head, which makes sense if you’ve seen my body. (I found it on AirBnB. It’s a dump, but it’s cheap.) I write because I love wandering around the place where I live. I think it’s pretty obvious that I don’t write in order to find a community. As painful as it is, as personally challenging as it is, as utterly worthless as it is, I love to write comedy and satire. Yet despite my best efforts, through writing this blog, I found a community. Just stop and think about how frightening that is.

Last year, I won a Louis Roederer International Wine Writers Award. Out of nowhere. It meant a great deal to me, for personal reasons having to do with my late mother always wanting me to be a writer, not a worthless sommelier (is there any other kind?). Over the Fourth of July weekend, I learned that I am again on the short list for a Roederer Award as the Ramos Pinto (without question the finest producer of Port) Online Communicator of the Year. I’m thrilled, and humbled. It’s a short list of great wine writers. And me. Last year’s win, for me, represented satire being given a seat at the wine writing table. This year, I feel the shortlisting on a more personal level. It’s more about acceptance.

I don’t expect to win. Look at my fellow shortlisters: Tim Atkin MW, Julia Harding MW, Richard Hemming MW, Andrew Jefford, and Wink Lorch, who I thought was a game show host. I’d say that I’m happy to be on a list of wine writers with these five talented people, but, hell, they’d all say they’re happy to be on a list with four talented people, and a clown. I want to win, I want to win very much. The Roederer I won last year looks so lonely when I set it down in front of me wherever I go. I need one for my other hand. But I won’t win, and I’m perfectly content with that. This is the first list I’ve ever been on with five people whose work I can honestly say I admire. Not that they give a Trump what I think about them.

We love to give awards. Boy, do we love to give awards. I always try to remember that awards are for the people giving them, not the folks receiving them. That was hard to remember when I won a Roederer last year, which didn’t make it any less true. I’ve toyed with giving HoseMaster Awards, but it’s sort of what I do anyway. A black eye is a kind of award, I think. If there were awards for awards, I think the Roederer, at this point, might win the award for best wine writing award. I tell people that the Roederer International Wine Writing Award is the MacArthur Genius Grant of wine writing—if you ignore all three of those words. There are the Wine Blog Awards (the Poodles), which are a joke and utterly worthless—the Barefoot Moscato of wine writing awards. I think I’m the only person left in the restaurant and wine business who hasn’t won a James Beard Award. Honestly, I think the number of Beard Awards would have embarrassed James Beard. That’s sort of sad. Yet it speaks to our love of awards, ingrained in us as children, symbols that we are loved when we so often doubt it. Winning an award is reliving childhood moments when a parent expresses pride in your work. You glow, you feel loved, you gain self-esteem, and then you ask if there’s money attached to it.

What amazes me the most about the entire experience of writing HoseMaster of Wine™ is that I sit in my room in my rented house in Sonoma County, all alone, in front of the hated blinking cursor, gazing out at a vineyard, writing the kind of foolishness and dreck that I used to write all alone at a typewriter for eight hours a day when I was young, which almost no one would read. Now, because of the astonishing existence of the internet, at least fourteen people instantly read what I write. There’s an entire generation that takes the internet for granted, who don’t know life without it. It changed my life in ways I don’t completely understand. But the most amazing change of all is that because of the internet and this stupid blog, a recluse found community. I didn’t think that was possible.

The winners of the Louis Roederer International Wine Writing Awards will be announced on September 12th in London. Wish me luck.

21 comments:

Bob Henry said...

Ron, as The Pythons sing: "Always look on the bright side of life."

Fourteen instant readers in base ten is . . . 112 brave souls in base three. A whopping 1110 in base two.

You are so money!

Unknown said...

Most appropriate Ron as you are the Champagne of bottled (blogged) bullshit
Good luck!

Unknown said...

I'm happy to be among the fourteen

Unknown said...

Can I be fifteenth?

Ziggy said...

"Emotional Opioid"- A Genuine HoseMaster Classic !
I fell out of my chair ROTFLMAO. Where's the AED when you really need it?

Zig (still gasping for air)

PS: Am I in the Top 20?

Paul in St. Augustine said...

So, are you going to London to accept your award?

Ron Washam, HMW said...

Bob,
Well, I'm about as base as you can get, so thanks for that.

Andrew,
Really, all the fun is watching the bullshit being disgorged.

Carole,
It's an honor to have the Tribidrag Queen as one of the fourteen! I hope our paths cross again soon. It's always fun to see you!

Bryan,
When one of the others steps out of line to take a leak...

Ziggy,
Yeah, that's a stupid throwaway joke that I like, too. I leave those in for my own benefit, so I'm glad someone else thinks that sort of crap is funny. Go to the head of the line!

Paul,
I'm way too much of recluse to go to London. I didn't go to London last year and I did win. Why would I jinx it by going? Besides, I'd feel uncomfortable because I don't speak the language.

Rocky Volcanics said...

USA! USA! USA!

Goddess of Wine said...

I can honestly say that no other blogger consistently makes me spit my morning coffee (that's a good thing - most blogs are tedious). Keep up the good work, Ron!

Unknown said...

After over a 10 years...I can post this without the permit. We who know you long enough...proud to see the little child inside of you is real alive and well....

So here is a core Ron/ran....domed...into the house of purity....

E mail from 2006 from the Somm. who had style and .../grace...if you believe me../ than...already.
"Hi George,
 
Well, I'm off to Sonoma County to be Wine Director for Mayacama Golf Club in Santa Rosa (www.mayacama.com)!  My last night at PDC, the end of an era, is Monday August 7.  Lots of change in the air, lots of stress, but all good.  Can't wait to be living in wine country!
 
I'll still see you once a year in SF.  And when you get to Sonoma County come and visit us, I'm sure we'll have a guest room filled with wine.
 
Thanks for all of your friendship and support over the years.  It's tough to leave my friends in LA, but this is just too good an opportunity to pass up.
 
Ron"
So give Him a few more medals....I know.... He does not deserve them...but more than the rest...Salute to: Washme 2 Ron

Unknown said...

I am fucking outraged that I wasn't nominated!!! I've had my blog/website up for months now, for some laughs read how I got booed out of a theatre for taking on Anthony Bourdain in the Napa play section.. I remember cracking up a chef in Seattle when I told him what happened.. and he said, well, at least you had the stones to take him on.. plus my Kentucky Derby coverage is fun too in the same section. You may think it's PR junk, but as I say in my bio I've interviewed movie, sports and rock stars, and believe me, they are deadly dull and morons. I'd rather interview a chef or winemaker any day. And it's not filled with eye-glazing scores,tasting notes, soil types etc.. I try to make it fun and readable.. p.s. I remember cracking up an actor on the train down to Seattle doing my best imitation of that pompous asshole James Lipton interviewing Madonna on her four Golden Raspberry Awards for worst actress.. be happy to submit that for a guest column if you like.. anyway, check out my site and subscribe at www.napasonomainsider.com

Jim Caudill said...

I think it's more like 15 or 16 if I get counted twice when I log in from different computers. And luck you don't need, you're a shoo-in.

Ron Washam, HMW said...

George,
I never understand a word you're saying. Or writing as it turns out. Which makes you my favorite wine person.

David,
Well, did you enter? Wine awards are like grapevines--self-pollinating. And I don't usually allow plugs for websites, but you're a long time common tater, so you get grandfathered through.

Jim,
I'm more like a shut-in.

Aaron said...

"I recently read a blog that seemed to be aimed at being funny, but was tragically witless. Then I realized it was mine"

ROFLMAO, Ron, as always, your wit and not being afraid to give yourself a little punch in the foot makes for very enjoyable reading. Congratulations on being on the shortlist. You keep writing, I'll keep being a very common tater! ;)

Unknown said...

Thanks Ron.. I didn't e4ven know to enter.. haha. .next year.. hope you win.. Cheers,

Charlie Olken said...

All those English writers to compete with. You beat them once--and they claimed that the Russians threw the election. When you beat them this time, they will have to stage their own Brexit and move out of Jolly Olde in shame. Good luck. You will love not going to London again.

Ron Washam, HMW said...

Aaron,
Thanks! I can't make fun of everyone else if I don't make fun of myself. This is Comedy 101. Thanks for being a common tater.

David,
Hey, not to late to enter the Born Digital Awards! Check it out.

Charlie,
Yeah, it's not fair that they write in English, into which I translate poorly. I have it on good authority that lawyers for Andrew Jefford are asking the Russians to dig up dirt on me and put it on Wikileeks. Not Wikileaks. Wikileeks is a part of The Onion. And you're right, I've never had a better trip than the one I didn't take to London last year.

Unknown said...

congrats Ron, you deserve it.
You're one of my favorite writers on the internet, wine writing or otherwise.
Thanks for all the wonderful content.

Ron Washam, HMW said...

Gabe,
Thanks. You're one of my favorite common taters. I hope you win an award.

Aaron said...

Ron, you should create your own Common Tater awards for commenters you see on wine blogs (yours and others). Least Insightful, Most Useless, Silliest, Best Snark, stuff like that :)

Alfonso Cevola said...
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