tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28926252983778012542024-02-08T10:22:44.968-08:00Sommelier of MarketingBetter ideas through fermentationSommelier of Marketinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076732588869791895noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2892625298377801254.post-89630295678488614722009-05-12T07:23:00.000-07:002009-05-12T07:23:34.337-07:00A Creative Approach to Sales<a href="http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/231831-A_Creative_Approach_to_Sales.php">A Creative Approach to Sales</a>: "Taking a cue from another New York boss decades before, WCBS New York Presi..."Sommelier of Marketinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076732588869791895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2892625298377801254.post-10979654635295308692009-05-03T09:23:00.002-07:002009-05-03T09:29:58.159-07:00Yummy Wines/Good ReadingReally been drinking some incredibly great burgundies--such a kick! Marcassin Three Sisters Vineyard 2002 Pinot, Kosta Browne/Kanzler Vineyard 2005 & 2006, such incredible wines that did so well with the food and the company. Which is the perfect storm in every way!<div><br /></div><div>Some good books to note: <b>The Science and Art of Branding</b> by Giep Franzen and Sandra Moriarty. Another book to add to your collection and really good insights is <b>Ads to Icons: How Advertising Succeeds in a Multimedia Age</b> by Paul Springer.</div><div><br /></div><div>Been buying a lot of Oregon Pinot's for the cellar--I think dollar for dollar, so good, priced right and really go well with good food!</div><div><br /></div><div>And my friend, Brad Berens, always wants to know the right books to read--well make sure that all of you get and devour: <b>Brand Immortality: How Brands live long and prosper!</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><i>Promise to right more, in fact am doing a Top 50 of Must books for your Kindle/library in the advertising/marketing business.</i></b></div>Sommelier of Marketinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076732588869791895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2892625298377801254.post-58764882476245414702009-05-03T09:23:00.001-07:002009-05-03T09:23:29.228-07:00Yummy Wines/GoodSommelier of Marketinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076732588869791895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2892625298377801254.post-87848329526998446472009-04-08T05:14:00.001-07:002009-04-08T05:14:38.439-07:00Catalyst:SF wins Del Monte Foods digital account - iMedia Connection<div style='width: 300px; max-height: 234px; padding: 8px; margin: 0 auto auto 2px; overflow-y: auto;'><div style='float: right; width: 113px; height: 100px; padding: 0; margin: 0;'><a href='http://www.share-server.com/view/content/d4a84684-2436-11de-4b93-c75400000000'><img src='http://share-server.com/view/post/d4a84684-2436-11de-4b93-c75400000000'/></a></div><div style='font: 12px Tahoma; color: #2f2f2f; padding: 0; margin: 0 123px 0 0;'/><div style='font: 11px Tahoma;padding: 0; margin: 8px 0;'><a style='color: #005cff;' href='http://www.share-server.com/view/content/d4a84684-2436-11de-4b93-c75400000000'>View >></a></div></div>Sommelier of Marketinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076732588869791895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2892625298377801254.post-25080337496699321372009-03-04T05:22:00.001-08:002009-03-04T05:22:50.461-08:00Go Out And Buy Some Newspaper Imps Today - iMedia Connection Blog<div style='width: 300px; max-height: 234px; padding: 8px; margin: 0 auto auto 2px; overflow-y: auto;'><div style='float: right; width: 113px; height: 100px; padding: 0; margin: 0;'><a href='http://www.share-server.com/view/content/8f498450-08bf-11de-a09c-c75400000000'><img src='http://share-server.com/view/post/8f498450-08bf-11de-a09c-c75400000000'/></a></div><div style='font: 12px Tahoma; color: #2f2f2f; padding: 0; margin: 0 123px 0 0;'>iMedia Connection Blog: Go Out And Buy Some Newspaper Imps Today</div><div style='font: 11px Tahoma;padding: 0; margin: 8px 0;'><a style='color: #005cff;' href='http://www.share-server.com/view/content/8f498450-08bf-11de-a09c-c75400000000'>View >></a></div></div>Sommelier of Marketinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076732588869791895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2892625298377801254.post-40800682089141720282009-02-25T07:25:00.000-08:002009-02-25T07:25:50.458-08:00The Republic Project Puts Musicians in Control of Their Content<a href="http://mashable.com/2009/02/25/the-republic-project/">The Republic Project Puts Musicians in Control of Their Content</a>Sommelier of Marketinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076732588869791895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2892625298377801254.post-8631755799717257392009-02-16T09:57:00.000-08:002009-02-16T10:07:58.756-08:00Champagnes for Mardi Gras!As one of the best days coming, FAT TUESDAY, thought i would share some champagnes for that day and evening! And if your going to fast during LENT, go out in style:<div><br /></div><div>(Abridged from <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">FORBES LIFE)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div>The Party Boy: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Marques De Gelida 2004 Cava Brut</span></div><div>The Sure Bet: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Roederer Estate NV Brut</span></div><div>The Sweet Tooth: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Zardetto 2007 Prosecco</span></div><div>The Wild Card: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Majella 2005 Sparkling Shiraz</span></div><div>The All-American: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Schramsberg 2005 Blanc de Blancs</span></div><div>The American Artisan: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Soter 2004 Brut Rose (Oregon) this is so friggin yummy</span></div><div>Going Green: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Pommery NV Blanc de Noirs</span></div><div>The New Kid: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Bollinger NV Rose</span></div><div>The Keeper: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Dom Perignon 2000, </span></div><div>THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST: KRUG 1996</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Thinking ahead and enjoy the day and end up with Krug, if you have to go dry go out with style!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Happy Monday</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>Sommelier of Marketinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076732588869791895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2892625298377801254.post-51007760729760331212009-02-14T02:02:00.000-08:002009-02-14T06:14:35.063-08:00Interesting Reading/Fascinating WinesWell it is the weekend, many things going on right now, wanted to share some good wines, good books and some good thinking:<div><br /></div><div>Ken Roman's book, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The King of Madison Avenue: David Ogilvy and the making of Madison Avenue. </span> Good reading, highly recommend!</div><div><br /></div><div>Pamela Sweet, Jonathan Weisen, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Selling Modernity: Advertising in 20th Century Germany.</span> Saw this on Amazon and like whatever and when I got it, could not put it down, interesting perspective on the history of advertising in a country that I have visited many times.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you can score some Blue Mountain Chardonnay from Vancouver/BC, damm you will think me so good.</div><div><br /></div><div>Read the above books with a good bottle of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Ladera</span> on Howell Mountain, always a rich ruby red wine, like the people and the product. Join the club and you will thank me, I am not a big joiner of clubs but Ladera and Phelps, the only two! (have to get Insignia at release prices)</div><div><br /></div><div>A very challenging time in the ad business and I think the wine business is as well. Evidence is that i am going to be on the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Sine Qua Non </span> allotment, and that has taken 3 years.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hope you have a good three-day weekend and drink some good wine!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Sommelier of Marketinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076732588869791895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2892625298377801254.post-34619292379456358882009-02-13T15:57:00.001-08:002009-02-13T16:02:37.593-08:00Great ReadingSome new books crossed my desk in the last couple of weeks, and wanted to get them in front of you for consideration.<div><br /></div><div>Roy Spence of GSDM in Austin, Texas fame, has a damm good book, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">It's Not What You Sell, It's What You Stand For: Why Every Extraordinary Business is Driven by Purpose.</span> This is good reading, did it on a plane back from iMedia in Florida.</div><div><br /></div><div>Grab it and drink with some good Italian wines, hmmm how about our friend, Pao Bea, and his Sagratino (you will so think me for this recommendation!)</div><div><br /></div><div>The other book is by a good person in the SF market: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Digitial Engagement</span> by Leland Harden and Bob Heyman. Bob is a great guy in this business!</div><div><br /></div><div>Hope you get to taste some good wines, for Valentines always Merlot is a good bet! And how you can not have any Champagne, for the best value right now, Bollinger Grand Annee Rose 1999 for under 80.00, friggin awesome!</div>Sommelier of Marketinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076732588869791895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2892625298377801254.post-88089691341869736492009-02-08T19:56:00.000-08:002009-02-08T20:01:08.376-08:00A South Florida Wine and Marketing Weekend<div><br /></div><div>Well it has been a good weekend, a great wine dinner with some really fine wines and even better company--drinking <a href="http://www.freemanwinery.com"> Freeman</a>, then Rochiloi and some Dolce for dessert. Awesome wines but some members of my company and Real Branding!</div><div><br /></div><div>I am here in South Florida for the iMedia conference about Brands in this digital environment. It is going to be a good conference. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you get a chance, check out Jim <a href="http://www.oldestliving.com">Nichols blog </a>, a great way to think about Catalyst:SF. Fascinating time to be in the advertising business right now.</div><div><br /></div><div>Cheers!</div>Sommelier of Marketinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076732588869791895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2892625298377801254.post-86490007219511950762009-02-01T20:17:00.001-08:002009-02-01T20:21:56.271-08:00Quick and Dirty on the Super Bowl<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">wow, what can I say, the Game was good, damm good, all the way to the end! Good finish, wish the Cardinals had won, but it was good.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">1. NBC must have run some 300-400 GRP to promote their own properties (Hulu was good, and the Olympics only 374 days away)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">2. CareerBuilder, Teleflora, Dennys were some of my favorites, but most were lame. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">3. If you want to check out the ads from <a href="http://adage.com/superbowl09/article?article_id=134136">Ad Age </a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">4. Budweiser spent a lot of energy promoting that they were an American legend, is this the beginning of the influence of InBev...too mushy for my taste!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">So the big question, was the ROI on $3,000,000 worth it! your thoughts. Also check out Bob Garfields witty video on AD AGE...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Cheers</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>Sommelier of Marketinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076732588869791895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2892625298377801254.post-28817079420843790602009-01-31T18:46:00.000-08:002009-01-31T18:52:52.306-08:00I saw this on WINE <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">CRUMUDGEON</span>, which is a really good wine email, this is interesting and wonder what is happening to prices at restaurants, "Wines that built their business on wine lists at exclusive restaurants are in trouble. They need to find new markets" wonder if that will bring the prices down on some of the California over-priced wines, some of these wine lists just suck!<div><br /></div><div>No wonder we want to bring our own! did that recently at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Mortons</span> in San Francisco, brought a bottle of Sine Qua Non 2001 Shea <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Pinot</span> and a 1996 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Quintessa</span>, it was so awesome, the wine <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">sommelier</span>, had never had either and was loving the tastes--made sure the waiter tasted and the service and food that night was so good, a belated holiday dinner!</div><div><br /></div><div>Wine lists and wine gouging, I am so over! will send along some good books in next post!<br /><div><br /></div></div>Sommelier of Marketinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076732588869791895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2892625298377801254.post-24333698722589423832009-01-31T08:57:00.000-08:002009-01-31T08:59:04.427-08:00Back in the SaddleJust a short note to my friends, that the wine posts are coming shortly, have many to write about<div><br /></div><div>sorry to have been away, but back in the saddle and ready to write and share wines and books--</div><div>so many!</div><div><br /></div><div>happy new Year!</div>Sommelier of Marketinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076732588869791895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2892625298377801254.post-72906904120539196922008-12-24T00:39:00.001-08:002008-12-24T00:39:26.560-08:00Branding Strategies in an ever-changing digital world, David Pugh-Jones, Creative Strategist, MSNCheck out this SlideShare Presentation: interesting perspective, watch this with a good glass of Veuve Rose, and some asparagus! good stuff!!!<div style="width:425px;text-align:left" id="__ss_864625"><a style="font:14px Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;display:block;margin:12px 0 3px 0;text-decoration:underline;" href="http://www.slideshare.net/IABHellas/branding-strategies-in-an-everchanging-digital-world-david-pughjones-msn-presentation?type=powerpoint" title="Branding Strategies in an ever-changing digital world, David Pugh-Jones, Creative Strategist, MSN">Branding Strategies in an ever-changing digital world, David Pugh-Jones, Creative Strategist, MSN</a><object style="margin:0px" width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://static.slideshare.net/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=imc08davidpughjones-1229940443243535-1&stripped_title=branding-strategies-in-an-everchanging-digital-world-david-pughjones-msn-presentation" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><embed src="http://static.slideshare.net/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=imc08davidpughjones-1229940443243535-1&stripped_title=branding-strategies-in-an-everchanging-digital-world-david-pughjones-msn-presentation" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><div style="font-size:11px;font-family:tahoma,arial;height:26px;padding-top:2px;">View SlideShare <a style="text-decoration:underline;" href="http://www.slideshare.net/IABHellas/branding-strategies-in-an-everchanging-digital-world-david-pughjones-msn-presentation?type=powerpoint" title="View Branding Strategies in an ever-changing digital world, David Pugh-Jones, Creative Strategist, MSN on SlideShare">presentation</a> or <a style="text-decoration:underline;" href="http://www.slideshare.net/upload?type=powerpoint">Upload</a> your own. (tags: <a style="text-decoration:underline;" href="http://slideshare.net/tag/creativity">creativity</a> <a style="text-decoration:underline;" href="http://slideshare.net/tag/online">online</a>)</div></div>Sommelier of Marketinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076732588869791895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2892625298377801254.post-2028319303759040622008-12-24T00:36:00.001-08:002008-12-24T00:36:41.280-08:00History of AdvertisingCheck out this SlideShare Presentation: really fascinating and some perspective on our business<div style="width:425px;text-align:left" id="__ss_864556"><a style="font:14px Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;display:block;margin:12px 0 3px 0;text-decoration:underline;" href="http://www.slideshare.net/Tugce/history-of-advertising-presentation?type=powerpoint" title="History of Advertising">History of Advertising</a><object style="margin:0px" width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://static.slideshare.net/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=ad-history-1229939866891115-1&stripped_title=history-of-advertising-presentation" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><embed src="http://static.slideshare.net/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=ad-history-1229939866891115-1&stripped_title=history-of-advertising-presentation" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><div style="font-size:11px;font-family:tahoma,arial;height:26px;padding-top:2px;">View SlideShare <a style="text-decoration:underline;" href="http://www.slideshare.net/Tugce/history-of-advertising-presentation?type=powerpoint" title="View History of Advertising on SlideShare">presentation</a> or <a style="text-decoration:underline;" href="http://www.slideshare.net/upload?type=powerpoint">Upload</a> your own. (tags: <a style="text-decoration:underline;" href="http://slideshare.net/tag/advertisinghistory">advertisinghistory</a> <a style="text-decoration:underline;" href="http://slideshare.net/tag/ads">ads</a>)</div></div>Sommelier of Marketinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076732588869791895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2892625298377801254.post-88127838846267160632008-11-25T21:47:00.000-08:002008-11-25T21:51:51.938-08:00My wines/Thanksgiving 2009Good evening, hope your ready for the weekend!<div>My wines for the holiday weekend:</div><div><br /></div><div>1994 George Latour BV</div><div>2000 Paradigm</div><div>2004 Hope & Grace Pinot</div><div>2004 Freeman Wines</div><div><br /></div><div>Champagnes</div><div>1990 Krug</div><div>1996 Bollinger Grand Annee</div><div>1996 Louise by Pommery</div><div>1985 Salon</div><div><br /></div><div>a big Thursday and Friday-- hope you have a special holiday weekend</div><div><br /></div><div>Many thanks to my friends and readers!</div>Sommelier of Marketinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076732588869791895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2892625298377801254.post-73224903688659704762008-11-23T07:07:00.000-08:002008-11-23T07:13:14.458-08:00Yum Yum, big Saturday!When it is good friends, business associates and wine, good food, what a great evening. Had one of those and the ones were all incredible.<div><br /></div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Shafer</span> Hillside Select, 1998 Cab, not sure it could have got any better. But what a great bottle of wine, shared with wine novices and cork dorks together!</div><div><br /></div><div>The opener was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Sonoma</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Cutrer</span> Les <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Pierres</span> 2005, a great balanced white wine goes with anything and just great in everything. I always thought their complexity in whites was worth it. But last night, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">damm</span> fine!</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">OK</span>, a tad bit later will send some great Thanksgiving wines for you to have on the table to drink!</div><div>The conversation was all about the ad business and how challenging it is right now--but the place we all had dinner was packed, so <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">hmmmm</span>!</div><div><br /></div><div>Took my MBA class (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">USF</span>) for a bit of retail therapy and an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">academic</span> experience in Union Square San Francisco--the 25 students had their eyes open, always a great Saturday, what a hands on way of truly seeing marketing by walking around.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lots of sales, truly deep discounts, no bags bad service and hell it isn't even Black Friday!</div><div><br /></div><div>Cheers!</div>Sommelier of Marketinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076732588869791895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2892625298377801254.post-81084163030362066902008-11-02T09:26:00.001-08:002008-11-02T09:34:51.484-08:00The 25 Hour DayOne day a year, we get that extra hour, that time to reflect, sleep and think about something/nothing.<div><br /></div><div>For me it has been catching up on some great wine blogs. My friend Steven Comfort just got the word that his <a href="http://stevenc.vox.com">blog</a>, was one of the Google Top 100 wine blogs. Congrats. A true friend, great wine geek and guy, his blog is such good reading and he makes a hell of a pinot!</div><div><br /></div><div>Tuesday is a very special day in our country- the election finally, my absentee ballot took me some 20 minutes to finish, so many ballot propositions, but will be good, what will you be drinking, I am opening Diamond Creek 1997 Volcanic, rich and full-bodied and will go down to wire in good taste and some of the questions in California will be just like that, down to the wire.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanksgiving is upon us, what are you suggestions for your holiday wines, send along and I will post.</div><div><br /></div><div>Good reading: Paul Arden, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">It's Not How Good You Are, its How good you want to be.</span> Funny solid tome that gets you thinking.</div><div><br /></div><div>Make sure you vote, drink good wine and check out this wine blog: <a href="http://chateaupetrogasm.com">Chateau Petrogasm.</a> Good cool and interesting reading.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Sommelier of Marketinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076732588869791895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2892625298377801254.post-52910927884196067132008-11-02T04:52:00.001-08:002008-11-02T05:07:45.017-08:00A Pinot Crazed timeBeen a while, i know, but in this interim, been doing a lot of reading, traveling and enjoying fine wines.<div><br /></div><div>Well for the wines, it has mostly been <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Pinot</span>: Freeman (so yummy!), Williams-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Selyan</span> 2000 Russian River, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Rochioloi</span> (so classic) and a real sleeper, CASE by Robert <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Talbott</span> (1999), yes all of his wines are named after children and family, go figure!</div><div><br /></div><div>If you really want a good meal, get a pizza and a bottle of <a href="http://www.freemanwinery.com">Freeman.</a></div><div>Hits the spot, even from a decent pizza, just so fun and good!</div><div><br /></div><div>As to a book or two, let me suggest Robert <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Brunner</span> and Stewart Emery's <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.doyoumatter.com">Do You Matter: How Great Design will make people love your company.</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>A great article from the October Harvard Business Review should be on your reading as well</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">"The Contribution revolution: Letting Volunteers Build your Business" by Scott Cook, </span>yes the same Scott Cook from Intuit.</div><div><br /></div><div>My friend Eric <a href="http://www.porres.com"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Porres</span></a> sent me a great quote that I will end up, on this day of 25 hours:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"Bottles of wine aren't like paintings. At some point, you have to consume them. The object of life is to die with no bottles in your cellar. To drink your last bottle of wine and to go to sleep that night and not wake up." Jay <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">McInerney</span>.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Have a great 25 hour day! November 2,</span></div><div><br /></div>Sommelier of Marketinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076732588869791895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2892625298377801254.post-23270051211126336582008-09-27T23:12:00.000-07:002008-09-27T23:19:07.668-07:00Dodgers/Giants and Diamond CreekWhat a Saturday night, baseball at it's best-the ultimate shit show--the Dodgers/Giants in AT&T for the final homestand. The Giants going nowhere and the Dodgers in the show! But the real show was in the bleachers--drunk Giants/Dodgers fans, normally don't sit in the bleachers, but tonight it was worth it. What a game, LA won, but I am in tears reflecting on humankind at the game! The women in front of me were priceless!<div><br /></div><div>Now as to wine, what a way to celebrate with Riley, Quinn and Matt with a Diamond Creek/Red 1997 from my cellar along with some 2006 Groth Sauviginon Blanc--yummy wines for a great way to cap an evening!</div><div><br /></div><div>Got my <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Communication Arts, Interactive Annual</span> today in the mail, great creative and interesting ways that people are using digital---strongly suggest that you buy a copy!</div><div><br /></div><div>Again Baseball and Diamond Creek, what a Saturday night!</div>Sommelier of Marketinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076732588869791895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2892625298377801254.post-47945595714502910272008-09-21T19:15:00.001-07:002008-09-21T19:21:04.341-07:00What a Book and Two Very Strong WomenReally enjoying this new book, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">1001 Wines: You Must Taste Before You Die</span>. Fascinating type book where they do 1001 of different things! I went through and counted that I had drank 817 of the wines, not sure i agree with all of the assessments!<div><br /></div><div>Well I just returned from the iMedia Brand Summitt and saw many wonderful friends and made some new ones. But this past Saturday night, my business partner, his wife, our team working for a client and two women from iMedia had dinner. i brought out the big gun Napa winemaker, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Ann Colgin and her 2002 Table red</span>. holy merd! it was good! damm good!</div><div><br /></div><div>And then one of my favorite ladies, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Merry Edwards with her Pinot and Sauvginon Blanc</span>, such great wines from two classic producers!</div><div><br /></div><div>Well will be catching up and writing more often, thanks Josh from Imedia for the plug.</div><div>Got a request for holiday wines, let me know!</div><div><br /></div><div>Must put in a good word for a new book: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Relevance: Making Stuff that Matters</span> by Tim Manners. Fascinating little tome! good plane reading</div>Sommelier of Marketinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076732588869791895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2892625298377801254.post-74841040165515739342008-08-17T08:47:00.001-07:002008-08-17T08:57:57.094-07:00Some good books with that wine!<div><br /></div><div>My friend Brad Berens, always challenges me to share my reading list with fellow marketers. I combine my wine interest with good books.</div><div><br /></div><div>Some I would recommend for you, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">How Did We Get to Be the Bad Guys: How Advertising Lost Consumers Trust And what it must do to get it back. </span>Tom Wneks, great little tome that really does address some key questions. Read this book drinking a bottle of Veuve!</div><div><br /></div><div>Also, let me suggest, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">YES: 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive</span> by Goldstein, Martin and Cialdini---a really good book on persuasion. This is my kick this summer along with some great French burgundies. (had to get the wine in there!)</div><div><br /></div><div>To paraphrase the old "must see tv", the must read book of the summer is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Value Creation: The Power of Brand Equity. </span> This book by Bill Neal and Ron Strauss is so powerful in thinking about how brands, even "direct" brands build that equity. I read that book in one setting with a great bottle of Corton-Charlemgane, one of my favorite style of burgundy. It was a Oliver LeFlaive 2000. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the wine vein, this was a good book, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Wine Politics: How Governments, Environmentalists, Mobsters and Critics Influence the Wines We Drink, </span> Tyler Colman. This is a damm good book, a good plane ride and one you will enjoy. Suggest you pair up with Ladera Howell Mountain 2004. I did and it both hit the spot.</div><div><br /></div><div>I tend to use <a href="http://www.bn.com">Barnes & Noble</a> for my on-line book ordering--I like what they do and love their delivery options.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Sommelier of Marketinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076732588869791895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2892625298377801254.post-38494103626758304102008-08-16T16:31:00.000-07:002008-08-16T16:44:25.960-07:00A Northern Rhone ExperienceMy wine group had their bi-monthly tasting this past Thursday (8.14.08). What a great evening and a learning one for me. We even traveled to Walnut Creek in the east bay, I normally do not do east bay, but what a surprise that was--stars, moon, warmth, so suburban! The host, Rich <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Johnson</span> class act member of our club. <div><br /></div><div>It was all northern Rhone--a region and wines that I am so pitiful in my knowledge and appreciation. Check out our evening from viewing the notes from the scribe, Steven Comfort! Check out <a href="http://www.comfortwinery.com">www.comfortwinery.com</a>. This will give you a great perspective on the wines that we have been having at our <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">different</span> events through the years.</div><div><br /></div><div>What an evening and what a learning experience. We drank back to 1959. My personal favorite was a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Jaboulet</span> vertical 94.96.98.</div><div><br /></div><div>Will be trying some more of these wines. A special shout-out to Quentin George who as a bi-coastal member of two clubs gave our table a special education with his tour notes in the northern Rhone, it added to an even great evening. We also added anew twist to the group--some members just chipped in and the host went out and bought some older library vintages and added to the special night!</div><div><br /></div><div>New wines, east bay <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">dammm</span> 2 big treats in one week! Lucky in wine and knowledge. Got to get some good book knowledge. I have been reading up a storm since I have been traveling a lot and school is coming up.</div><div><br /></div><div>This book is solid: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Power of Persuasion: How we're bought and sold</span> by Robert Levine. This is a really good book on advertising persuasion appeals. It is so marked up now and only four days old. </div><div><br /></div><div>As always drop me a note, post or let me know what your thinking. </div>Sommelier of Marketinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076732588869791895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2892625298377801254.post-1320325563506393022008-08-16T16:23:00.000-07:002008-08-16T16:31:44.994-07:00A Pop Culture WeekendWas in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Las</span> Vegas last weekend for the Jerry <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Seinfield</span> show at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ceasar's</span> Palace. What a great show it was, he is truly the best in comedic timing, I have ever seen.<div><br /></div><div>But what struck me as unusual is how truly branded everything is in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Las</span> Vegas and this from the ultimate ad brand slut. From the moment you land, all foods in the crappy United terminal, to the magazine choices (what started the whole pop culture thing), was this woman <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">asitting</span> next to me, apologizing for reading People and Us Weekly. She said the only time she ever reads this "crap" is when she is coming to Vegas, she feels like shoe should. Those magazines so define our culture at the moment.</div><div><br /></div><div>Starbucks, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Cinnabon</span>, Burger King, the hotels and their intense branding efforts, and the stores in the Forum and the Mall are so over the top in the over the top city in America.</div><div><br /></div><div>Have to put in a word for the dinner choice though--<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Bouchon</span>, it is such a favorite of mine, in the Venetian, had some of my favorite <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">pinot</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Kosta</span> Browne (2005)</span>. But alas, that was the step out of the norm for me in the pop culture weekend.</div><div><br /></div><div>I drank some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Fetzer</span> Chardonnay, Jordan Cab, so <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">proletariat</span> in my mind! But alas, it so fits!</div><div>And then had the ultimate flight home on the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">definition</span> of pop--Virgin America. But go to tell, you ten times better than United. what a great airline, might be getting the nod. I talked to the flight <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">attendant</span> and he told me the wines they usually serve were small producers in California.</div><div><br /></div><div>Well will be sending several updates yo you in the next couple of days. Even my reading that weekend was pop: the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Bourne</span> series new book, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Bourne</span> Sanction!</span> Not even any business reading, </div>Sommelier of Marketinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076732588869791895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2892625298377801254.post-45560350969682753732008-07-19T15:45:00.000-07:002008-07-19T18:04:20.810-07:00Oh my God, i have died and gone to Pinot heaven!one of my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Durham</span> lines when drinking <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">pinot</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">noir</span>! And it was over <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Alfaro</span> wines in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Aptos</span>/Santa Lucia area. But last night in <a href="http://www.bouchonbistro.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">BOUCHON</span> i</a>n <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Las</span> Vegas, the bottle of all bottles, the 2004<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=188256">Covert Fingers by Sine Qua Non </a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> Check this wine out if you can find it, buy it, and thank me.I have been furiously all over the web today trying to find bottles. This was a remarkable wine. i am a burgundy fan and this hit it! </span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>And speaking of an incredible find, please go buy this book and thank me later, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">A History of Advertising</span> by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Stephane</span> Pincas and Marc <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Loiseau</span> (<a href="http://www.taschen.com"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Taschen</span></a>). A great book about the history of our business. Really enjoyed this book, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">oriented</span> towards <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Publicis</span>, but still very engaging book.</div><div><br /></div><div>Let me know if you find and sample this great wine and what you think of the book. It is always fun reading books on the history of advertising--fascinating perspective!</div>Sommelier of Marketinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076732588869791895noreply@blogger.com2