I was one of the naysayers when Twitter first exploded onto the scene, assuming it was too frivolous and fleeting to permeate the zeitgeist with any significance. A few years later its been instrumental in everything from the Arab Spring and the downfall of American congressmen to becoming a direct line of communication with celebrities and icons and the initial way we learn breaking news. Back in January of 2011, Family Guys Seth MacFarlane (@SethMacFarlane) tweeted, So is the way this works that we all now have to tweet for the rest of our lives? Yes, apparently it is.
The wine industry is no different from the rest of the world. Twitter offers an opportunity to be exposed to previously unheard-of wines, a tool to stay up to date on industry news or a way of keeping engaged with winemakers and grape-growers whether theyre in BC or the Barossa. This week Im sharing a handful of my favourite wine folks who offer a constant pulse of Vancouvers wine scene.
Robert Stelmachuk (@ChambarWine) is the sommelier of Crosstowns popular Chambar restaurant and an industry veteran whos currently working toward his Master Sommelier status, a pinnacle of vinous academia that is shared by less than 200 people around the world. His prolific tweets offer tasting notes of new wines on his list or recent favourites hes found on his own, with descriptions that are often quirky and surreal. In no time youll learn that Ferret Pouilly Fuisse is a storm of river stones, citrus lightning & hazelnut spice, or that Jakoby Pur Riesling is like a box full of kittens. Playful, expressive & determined.
If youre a fan of tasting notes that harbour that crisp imagery and err toward hilarity, youll also want to keep up with Tyler Dawson (@tythewineguy), the long-time manager of Park Royals Liberty Wines who not only passes along great deals in the store, but shares nuggets like describing Thornhaven 2011 Gewürztraminer as a citrus bong... bursting with ruby red pink grapefruit and lychee. Hit it!
Also on the retail side of things is the owner of the West Ends Marquis Wine Cellars, John Clerides (@MarquisWineCell), who is not afraid to speak his mind on our outdated liquor laws or, frankly, anything else. One of the good guys whos always fighting the good fight, Johns Twitter feed is a stream-of-conscious expression of his colourful personality which, like many a great wine, is unfined and unfiltered. Whether passing along tips on unsung wine regions, challenging local politicians, riffing on current events or giving Vancouver traffic updates (yes, really) he utilises Twitter for all its worth. Its Johns world, we just live in it.
To keep current on much of the regulatory business regarding local wine and liquor laws, from mark-ups and shipping to the implementation of BYO in our restaurants, monitor local lawyer Mark Hicken (@MarkHicken) whos a self-propelled lobbyist when it comes to bringing our regulations into the 21st century, or the latter part of the 20t, at the very least. An amiable guy the industry is thankful to have on our side, he helps decipher breaking news on the booze front and has been influential in a call to arms or two that have been instrumental in much-needed change.
Veterans and activists aside, we would be nowhere were it not for the many restaurant servers and retail clerks who keep Vancouvers industry strong with their passion and care. Justin Everett (@Drunkinitsyouth) spent a bunch of time around town over the last few years, learning the tools of the trade everywhere from Kitsilano Wine Cellar to Bao Bei. He now finds himself serving at Wildebeest, Gastowns newest dining hotspot. Offering a wide-eyed, hungry and youthful approach, Justin acts as your man-on-the-ground, sharing everything from favourite sips, delicious bites around town, reading recommendations and a keen handiness with Instagram.
And, last but not least, I wax on about pretty much everything over at @KurtisKolt, while @WEVancouver tirelessly paints the town red. So log on, click Follow and say hi!
