Buckle your seat belts!  Things just got interesting.  In everyone’s lifetime there is a movement that most look back and say, “God, I wish I was apart of that.”  For those of you, like myself, who wish to dedicate their life to the wine industry… THIS IS OUR TIME!  Murphy-Goode has officially accepted the support of VinTank which has expanded their original and very generous offer of $100K of free marketing support.

 

“We are pleased that VinTank reached out and extended its offer to whomever we select to be our Wine Country Lifestyle Correspondent,” said Mark Osmun, spokesperson for Murphy-Goode.

“We thank Murphy Goode for accepting our offer of support and look forward to working together as well as helping all our candidates raise awareness for the brand and learn wine online” – VinTank

 

Fantasy Becomes Reality!

I feel like I’m on a hit television series with an all-star cast and we just aired our season finale… a cliff hanger!  A new figure head emerges (VinTank) with a goal of improving the wine industry on a global scale and hand picks eight people to spearhead the revolution.  Sure, sounds like the next Hollywood blockbuster, but its true!  Yesterday, VinTank announced their top four candidates: Hardy Wallace, Rick Bakas, Ashley Bellview and Todd Havens. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

However they have also selected the Vintank 4+.  These are additional candidates who have the necessary skills to succeed and have stood out in this campaign by sharing the dream.  I congratulate my peers Ed Thralls, Alina Brown and Eric Hwang.

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Alina Brown’s video will be available June 10*

 

EVERYONE’S A WINNER!

VinTank has also extended the same offer to ANY WINERY that hires anyone endorsed by them after the competition ends on July 21, 2009.

“With all VinTank candidates we will be working closely with them to help them run their campaign and help others learn about wine, social media, and Murphy Goode.  We will be giving strategic guidance, business development support, and tactical assistance so they will be well versed in wine online.  They are all pioneers and we are confident that all of them will be excellent employees for wineries for digital marketing positions.”

- Vintank

Last night I had the honor of being a guest on Andy’s Real Goode Life blog and I must say it was a real goode experience!

Thanks again, Andy.

Love your work.

This one goes out to my pals Paul Mabray and Hardy Wallace.  Heard you guys were having a drink in my home town so I would like to invite you to explore one of my favorite wineries Jessup Cellars in Yountville.  I just opened a bottle with my fiance Anita and boy is it to die for!

Cheers Boys!

 

I am pleased to discover Vintank, a web based social media group.  Their labor of love has produced a Study for the wine industry and the tools awaiting them in the future of Web 2.0.   Wine advocates will lead the movement with their Blogs, Facebook and Twitter pages and will usher wineries into the next phase of social marketing.

I’m especially happy for the small family wineries that now have a media centerpiece to bridge the gap between their new customers who see the internet as the only go-to source of information. Good families producing great wines in the middle of the most competitive wine valley in America can now compete with the big dogs.  With this knowledge at their fingertips, small wineries can now take full advantage of the Internet.

IT GETS EVEN BETTER!  To show their support, Vintank has started their own competition following the footsteps of Murphy-Goode.  They will be selecting four of their favorite candidates and if the Murphy-Goode winner is one of their four selects, Vintank will give that lucky person $100K worth of their strategic consulting services for FREE!

I would like to congratulate Hardy Wallace and Rick Bakas for making the list and wish everyone else the best of luck on this journey.