Blog Tag?

Apparently I have been 'tagged' by Sonadora at Wannabe Wino. You can see her site, Wine Outlook or Winehiker for a more detailed discussion of this tagging business.

This is my first tag, and from what I can gather it is an evolved form of the chain letter. Essentially, a fellow blogger has demanded that I answer the question: "Why do I blog?", and then tag five other bloggers.

A good question. I certainly did not set out to blog. Joe's Wine was meant to be a private site for our tasting group - a repository for the notes I would normally email after our 'grand tastings'. To date these 25 tastings have reviewed (in a competitive, blinded, panel-of-judges format) perhaps 200 of the world's best wines, properly aged and in their prime (generally). As this database grew, I decided to make it public (May 2006), and once the site was set up...well, I just kept going.

So, Why do I blog? While these 'tags' seem to take a top five format, I only have four answers to the question:

Wine! This is my hobby, my passion, my only diversion outside of work and my family. I drink wine, I read about wine, I collect wine, and I now have an outlet for discussing wine. I don't care who you are, if you want to talk wine then I want to talk to you!

Posterity! Nearly every day I have a glass of something. Joe's Wine is now a log of almost everything I taste, so when I go to my cellar to grab something I know when I last had that wine and what it tasted like. I can follow the aging, recall the pairings. Very useful.

You Read! I have received great comments from friends and strangers, alike, and I hope that somewhere along the way I have helped you to find a great bottle (or avoid and awful one). My StatCounter tells me that, in the last 24 hours, I have had visitors from all over the U.S. and Canada, as well as the U.K, Ireland, Germany, Japan, Finland, Sweden, Poland, Russia, Greece, Belgium, and the geographic coverage since I started is even broader. That is awesome.

I Learn! I have received excellent wine suggestions, pairing ideas, restaurant and wine shop recommendations, and even recipes. I have found multiple links that keep me up with industry news, and seen great debates about all things vinuous. Thanks to all!

As for fame and fortune - nope. I don't have time for that kind of effort, and I don't believe this hobby could ever replace my day job - I can't write about wine if I can't afford wine!

Thanks for the tag, Sonadora. Cheers!

PS - Consider yourself 'tagged':
Doktor Weingolb
Brooklynguy
Wino Sapien
Erin and Michelle at Grape Juice