We’ve been so swamped with Barrel Tasting Weekend 1 that we haven’t had a chance to share the great news.
Last Friday, Michel-Schlumberger’s ‘Benchland Blog’ received recognition by winning the 2009 American Wine Blog Awards for top winery blog!
We are absolutely thrilled & honored for this recognition and want to thank all who voted for us as well as thank all those who inspired us to start the blog in the first place. We’d also like to send our congratulations to the other award winners: Jeff at The Good Grape, Lenn at Lenndevours, Steve at The Wine Collector, Alder at Vinography, and Frederic at Bigger Than Your Head. And it seems these awards have captured national attention — check out CNBC’s coverage here: CNBC Coverage of Wine Blog Awards.
And I’m sure all of us want to thank Tom Wark. Tom started these awards three years ago and is one of the most inspiring guys for those of us blogging. Tom’s Fermentation is really the blog that sets the standard for the rest of us. In addition, we need to send a strong thank you to Tim Elliott – our social media guru and all around top notch blogger, podcaster & consultant.
Michel-Schlumberger is one of the most stunning wine estates you will ever experience. The problem is, there is a 
good chance you won’t ever visit Michel-Schlumberger as we are located in a relatively remote location on the Western benchlands of Dry Creek Valley. Our hope, by publishing the ‘Benchland Blog’, is to give readers some insight into the ‘human terroir’ of Michel-Schlumberger. Our ‘authors’ are the employees of the Estate and each brings a little different story & perspective to what the Estate is all about. Hopefully it makes it real for everyone — hopefully it gives readers and insight to the real personal side of a winery.
I’d also like to point readers in the direction of Alder Yarrow’s post on Vinography about the awards. I think his insights on the subject are extremely well thought out, wise, and progressive. Great stuff. I’m also going to encourage all readers to bookmark several wine blogs, starting with this year’s winners. I have about 30 in my Google Reader subscriptions — and all have some incredibly enlightening commentary. This ‘new age’ of communications through blogs certainly doesn’t replace traditional media, but it sure adds a dimension…and a two-way dialogue that I for one completely embrace.
Thanks again to all who support our blog — and I’d really encourage comments on other blogs (both wine and non-wine) you enjoy reading. Please share — we could all use the information!
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Congrats to Judd and the rest of the M-S bloggers! Keep up the great work.
Cheers,
Joe.
You guys really burst on the scene, and the award is well-deserved (although the competition was right up there with you). Congratulations!
I’ve been meaning to congratulate you guys on your big award! It’s great to have another Dry Creek Valley winery win top honors. Great job and well done everyone.
Best,
Kim
I know I’m pretty late here, but I’m catching up on some 800 articles in my RSS Reader that have gone neglected on March. I often read about what made people in the industry want to start making wine, enjoying wine, etc. and just reading your blog makes me want to partake in the wine industry and I’m not even 21 years of age yet. I hope one day I’ll be able to get out there and experience the winery because it sounds like a fantastic place. I love nature and after reading about the geese coming back, the lambs being born, and seeing the pictures of your beautiful estate, it makes me move there and doing anything I can to be employed at Michel-Schlumberger. Thank you for sharing the details and day-to-day operation with everyone and keep up the amazing work.
P.S. Would love to be able to find your wine here in PA