Last week Exel Wines released a project they had been working on for months. According to Exel Wines it was a painstaking project involving extensive algorithms and methodologies to determine the Top 100 Most Influential Wine Blogs of 2015! The list is thorough and impressive, filled with wonderful wine writer with great knowledge and skills. Somehow I made the list! I am feel deeply blessed and truly honored to be among such great company; however, I feel overwhelmed and humbled by the support YOU, my readers, have provided me. You are the reason I made the list! Some have objected to list others basking in its glory; I simply feel it provides a great opportunity for me to thank you!
I would like to thank each of my blog followers and subscribers for your loyalty and dedication to my wine ramblings. I would like to thank each of you who shares my articles into the virtual world through the band of icons at the end of each of my blogs. I would like to thank each of you who follow Rockin Red Blog on Facebook, @Fiery01Red on Twitter, Michelle S on Pinterest and Rockin Red Blog on Instagram. I would like to thank each person in my Google circles and if I ever figure out how to use Google+ I promise to interact with you more. I would like to thank my Dallas Wineaux posse and Soul Sisters for continued friendship and support. I would like to thank all the wonderful friends I have made in the virtual world; it is always so fun to meet you in person and I hope to continue to meet more of you! (FYI, Twitter wine peeps are awesome!) I would like to give a special thank you to Cairdean Estate and Piattelli Vineyards for being the first two wineries to provide me wine samples for review on a blog that was not even live at the time. Your trust still means volumes to me. I would like to thank Suzanne of A Pug in the Kitchen for inviting me to collaborate with her on a wine and food pairing article on her wonderful and delicious blog. I would like to thank the fabulous Sean Munger of SeanMunger.Com for inviting me to collaborate on his summer Reading/Live Blogging series with wine! It was a blast! I would like to thank my fellow Italian Wine Food Travel bloggers, Wine Pairing Weekend bloggers and French Winophile bloggers for inviting me to journey through the world of delicious foods and wines with you each month, as well as for your continued support to share my articles with your audience. I would like to thank Anna’s Friends for inviting me to contribute articles from time to time. I would like to thank Snooth for being the first wine publication to invite me to contribute as an author on my own article as well as part of the monthly wine writer round up! I would like to thank Pogo’s for being my number one Dallas wine shop and their continued support. I would like to especially thank all the PR firms, wineries, distributors, importers, wine clubs….the list goes on and on, for the wonderful media samples you continually offer me that allows me to produce my content and the educational and entertaining virtual tastings I am always so honored to be a part of. And I would like to thank Consorzio Tutela Vini Valpolicella and the wonderful Federica Schir for my first media tour to Italy to learn first hand about your beautiful region and wines!
Rockin Red Blog began in May 2014 as a hobby and a way to keep my “writing muscle” in shape upon completing grad school. I had no expectations and no real vision other than to share my passion for wine with the world. Starting a blog is like a tree falling in the forest; if no one reads it does it really exist? Well each of you have come and read and keep reading in droves! Sean Munger recently shared his blog reached a million views on December 1, 2015. In that article he wrote, “A good blog is really a community.” Sean is exactly right and if you are reading this you are part of the Rockin Red Blog community! Thank you!
I encourage you to read the list of the Top 100 Most Influential Wine Bloggers of 2015. After the list please scroll down through the “their stories” section to read my short Q&A with Exel Wines.
It is my hope that over the winter break (meaning while my daughter (aka web designer)is home from college) to give Rockin Red Blog an exterior face lift while I continue to strive to provide you good content. The winds of change are blowing in my life and 2016 looks to be a fun and exciting wine year for me. I will share what I am able as it is appropriate but I promise to keep my ties to you, my dear readers, and our mutual passion for wine. Cheers!
