International #PortDay

[Roy Hersh]

I have a conference call with the heads of the Center on Friday. Will be discussing 2012 efforts, plus furthering the legislation for protecting the name of Port and first learning all of the political struggles which have already taken place, which I've been told were "cumbersome" (euphemistically speaking).

[Eric Menchen]

+1 on more lead time. As for something in April, that might work, but at least in a number of cultures Port is viewed as a winter drink. Yes, we need to change that, but starting from there isn't such a bad idea.

[Al B.]

Next time, I'm finding a bar

bringing my laptop and a bunch of ports!

story telling time was definitely cut short!

Don't forget the bottle of milk!

[Roy Hersh]

I must be honest and say that I am not sure if the Center for Wine Origins would be involved in organizing this event in 2013, for budgetary reasons. If they are, of course that will be the official segue for the 2nd Annual #PortDay.

I am concerned that if they don't do so, that this brilliant idea would fall by the wayside. I am going to see if it is something they will be doing. IF NOT, I am happy to have FTLOP take point on this next year and choosing a less divisive date for the event, want to see if it is something you feel we should all get behind and continue?

[Andy Velebil]

I must be honest and say that I am not sure if the Center for Wine Origins would be involved in organizing this event in 2013, for budgetary reasons. If they are, of course that will be the official segue for the 2nd Annual #PortDay.

I am concerned that if they don't do so, that this brilliant idea would fall by the wayside. I am going to see if it is something they will be doing. IF NOT, I am happy to have FTLOP take point on this next year and choosing a less divisive date for the event, want to see if it is something you feel we should all get behind and continue?

I think it's very important to keep the momentum moving for next year. Count me in for helping to promote this next year. It's not too hard to send out some free emails and host an event.

[Derek T.]

I must be honest and say that I am not sure if the Center for Wine Origins would be involved in organizing this event in 2013, for budgetary reasons. If they are, of course that will be the official segue for the 2nd Annual #PortDay.

I am concerned that if they don't do so, that this brilliant idea would fall by the wayside. I am going to see if it is something they will be doing. IF NOT, I am happy to have FTLOP take point on this next year and choosing a less divisive date for the event, want to see if it is something you feel we should all get behind and continue?

I think it's very important to keep the momentum moving for next year. Count me in for helping to promote this next year. It's not too hard to send out some free emails and host an event.

+1

There were a number of lessons to be learned from the 2012 event that can easily be put right…

1. More notice: this event should be planned at least 6 months in advance.
2. Less USA-centric: the CfWO seemed to forget that people drink Port outside the USA
3. The date: pick something less controversial.
4. Fewer "rules": don't constrain this by making it a competition. This should simply be a day of promoting Port, not a contest to see who can put on the best event.
5. Engage the producers - a few turned up late on, probably because they read Roy's emails, posts, tweets and FB pokes. They need to be involved early and, ideally, be sponsoring and promoting events.

Derek

[Jeff G.]

I must be honest and say that I am not sure if the Center for Wine Origins would be involved in organizing this event in 2013, for budgetary reasons. If they are, of course that will be the official segue for the 2nd Annual #PortDay.

I am concerned that if they don't do so, that this brilliant idea would fall by the wayside. I am going to see if it is something they will be doing. IF NOT, I am happy to have FTLOP take point on this next year and choosing a less divisive date for the event, want to see if it is something you feel we should all get behind and continue?

I think it's very important to keep the momentum moving for next year. Count me in for helping to promote this next year. It's not too hard to send out some free emails and host an event.

+1

There were a number of lessons to be learned from the 2012 event that can easily be put right…

1. More notice: this event should be planned at least 6 months in advance.
2. Less USA-centric: the CfWO seemed to forget that people drink Port outside the USA
3. The date: pick something less controversial.
4. Fewer "rules": don't constrain this by making it a competition. This should simply be a day of promoting Port, not a contest to see who can put on the best event.
5. Engage the producers - a few turned up late on, probably because they read Roy's emails, posts, tweets and FB pokes. They need to be involved early and, ideally, be sponsoring and promoting events.

Derek

Moar Virtual Tasting channels for those to log in throughout the day!

[Roy Hersh]

Derek,

While I agree with your sentiments and elaborations, most of which have already been touched upon and also agree with Jeff that this could be far more interactive by having a variety of channels open in next year's iteration, the Center for Wine Origins was never excluding those from outside of the USA. In fairness, they are the liaison to the USA, for the IVDP. That may be why it seemed they were being somewhat exclusionary, while in reality, they DID want #PortDay to go global, but were constrained by economics first and also their sphere of influence.

And while I may have gone overboard in pushing this uphill and posting/emailing and cajoling known supportive journalists, social media wine content providers and especially the Port trade, publicly and privately, (winning over a few to participate late in the game) the key to success is beginning the planning stage early enough as was mentioned directly to the CfWO last month. In reality, it would help if this was a mission that eminated directly from the marketing department of the IVDP. That would enable the Port trade to be kept in the loop on a much broader and more direct level, rather than a non-Port-centric organization based in the USA, which has little to no clout in Portugal.

We all agree this could have been better organized, as is the case with most inaugural events. But fwiw, the CfWO efforts did achieve some global attention, get events organized and most importantly, for year one ... LOTS of attention from the blogosphere and more so, social media outlets far and wide.

As to your á point comment re: rules and the contest that the CfWO put out there from the get go, that has more to do with budgetary constraints that they were under, than anything else. I don't like to speak for them, but I am aware that they saw it as an immediate way to make a splash with the resources at hand. The email they sent out early on to importers and distributors in the USA, reached their (somewhat limited) sphere of influence in hopes of creating immediate excitement and asking for help in spreading the word to retailers and other gatekeepers. The contest was to offer up some incentive.

I heard about this weeks later when an importer brought it to my attention, so that I could get involved in spreading #PortDay personally and through . With my own limited financial resources, I also put out rules and a contest, likely for the exact same reason ... hoping that it would gain attention for #PortDay. My less limited resources: time and energy, spent in January, doing my personal best to spread the word and try to get others, internationally, as well as domestically, involved in the greater good. Hopefully, those efforts helped.

Lastly, in the upcoming newsletter you will see the results of the contest I held, which was not to gain attention for FTLOP, but instead, for creating a buzz for #PortDay. The Grand Prize winner will be disclosed and I am proud that the video produced (in order to win the week long tour of Portugal's greatest wine region) is truly one of the greatest advertisements for Port wine that I've ever seen. I can't wait for you and others to see this!

[Derek T.]

Roy,

Thanks for the explanations, but I wasn't meaning to criticizing anyone. I simply wanted to point out that this first attempt had aspects that can be improved upon to make the event more successful next time.

I am a Project Manager by trade so I suspect this just comes from some sort of natural instinct, which some might describe as an annoying personality defect

I can understand all of the reasons why things were the way they were this time, and applaud those who organised and took part, but if this is to become a successful recurring event it all needs to be bigger, better and more inclusive with each subsequent year.



Derek

[Roy Hersh]

I know. I did not think you were being critical, but did want to explain some of the things that may not have been transparent on their surface.

We are in complete agreement and I look forward to everyone being able to participate and organize cool events in 2013.

[Al B.]

My observation was that this worked very well being on a Friday evening. It was also pretty cool to be able to video-link up with port lovers in New York and California - not something that I could have done if this had been an event that happened mid-week.

[Phyllis D]

Does it look like there will be the 2nd annual PortDay in Jan 2013?

[Roy Hersh]

Officially ... it is yet to be decided. However, there's no reason why if the CfWO doesn't do it, we can't band together with other sites/forums to carry on and make it work. Will check back again in July, if you will remind me Phyllis. Thanks! :)