Just got this from Rod Phillips, a good Canadian wine writer who's launching some new publications you'll want to know about. WinePointer, frankly, looks like it's mostly of interest to Ontarians with its strict focus on LCBO offerings; but the monthly Worlds of Wine ought to be a keeper for international wine geeks.
Here's his post:
This is to let you know about my new wine web site and new wine newsletters.
In addition to these new ventures, I will continue to write my weekly wine column for the Ottawa Citizen, I will write the 2009 and future editions of The 500 Best-Value Wines in the LCBO, and I will continue to contribute to the wine media. (Forthcoming articles include one in Vines (Canada) on grappa and another in Fine Wine (UK) on the aging of the wine market.)
I no longer contribute wine reviews to Winecurrent newsletters but, as you will see, I will review the same range of wines one of my new newsletters.
My new web site is http://www.rodphillipsonwine.com and it replaces worldsofwine.com as the platform for my electronic wine writing. The new site will carry archived copies of my Ottawa Citizen columns, information on my print publications (books and articles), archived copies of my newsletters, and reviews of new books on wine.
I’m launching two newsletters, and you can subscribe to either or both of them at http://www.rodphillipsonwine.com
The new newsletters are Winepointer and Worlds of Wine.
Winepointer is aimed primarily at wine consumers in Ontario and it will be distributed every two weeks, in advance of each Vintages release. (Vintages is part of the LCBO, Ontario’s provincial alcohol retail system.) Each newsletter will include reviews of wines in the release, wines in future Vintages releases, new wines/vintages in the LCBO General List and Vintages Essentials, new wines from Ontario wineries and winery retail stores, and wines available by private order.
In other words, Winepointer is a comprehensive survey of new wines available in Ontario. (Readers outside Ontario will find many of these wines available in their markets, too.) Wines reviewed in Winepointer are scored on a 5-star basis, and you’ll find the reviews distinctive, critical, and to the point.
Worlds of Wine is a monthly newsletter of more general interest. It will comprise short articles (usually with wine reviews), based on my travels to wine regions and wineries around the world, tastings I attend and competitions I judge in, and my meetings with winemakers, principals and others in the world of wine. It will also include critical articles on wine trends and issues.
You can count on the Worlds of Wine newsletter to show difference without deference. The articles will be critical and analytical, unlike wine-writing that is so deferential and uncritical that it might as well be written in marketing departments. The first issues will include pieces on the Finger Lakes region of New York, wineries of Napa and Sonoma, grappa, cognac, wine descriptors, terroir, interviews with winemakers from Chile and France, and tastings of wines from Australian regions, Ontario, California and Chile.
The first issue of Winepointer will be distributed before the March 1 Vintages release. The Worlds of Wine newsletter will be distributed at the beginning of each month, starting in March.
I look forward to having you as a subscriber to one or both of these newsletters. If you have any questions or comments, please get in touch with me. And please feel free to pass this information on to anyone you think would be interested.
Cheers,
Rod Phillips
Wine Writer and Author
Wine Columnist, Ottawa Citizen
Publisher, Winepointer Newsletter
Publisher, Worlds of Wine Newsletter