Looking back on a year of blogging

Today marks the one-year anniversary since I’ve been blogging on this site!  Okay, it's not exactly one year "today" (March 2nd), it was actually two days ago while I was in Napa, hence the tardiness... but then again I have always been notoriously late for celebrating birthdays (even for my own blog).  So, better late then never right? 

This year came and went so quickly!  I started this blog with the intention for it to be a place for me to share what I had learned about wine while I was studying for the Court of Master Sommelier Certified Exam.  I did not take any kind of prep course for the class. I was on my own.  Therefore, I wanted a place to document things I had been learning during my studies.  It evolved to much more than that.  I found that I preferred writing about not only things I had learned, but also sharing new wines I had recently tried, recipes I make at home paired with specific wines, events, and experiences from travels.  After passing my test I kept going because it became a creative way to journal many of my wine, food, and travel experiences.  

Along the way some of those highlights included:

• Starting a wine tasting study group.
• Taking and passing my Court of Master Sommeliers Certified Exam, where I shared the fear and anxiety of that long awaited day.
• Running my first ½ marathon, and the wines (and beer) I celebrated with after crossing the finish line.
• Started eating mass amounts of meat after buying our first smoker.
• Shared many of my favorite recipes that pair with various wines.
• Went to the wine bloggers conference and some of the highlights of the weekend.
• Started up my own wine education and consulting company Vindulge!!!
• And many others. 

 

As I start my second year here I have many exciting projects I am working on and news to share (coming soon), and I hope to continue using this blog as a platform to to share all things wine, food, travel, and lifestyle… well, until it is just not fun anymore.  That’s why I kept it up it in the first place, for the fun of it.

I want to extend a special thank you the wonderful folks at Northwest Palate Magazine, who invited me to be a guest taster on their wine tasting panel throughout the year, for helping me better train my palate while learning from some of the most experienced experts of Northwest wines here in Portland. 

And I sincerely thank all of you who read this blog, comment on it, and especially to those who subscribe to it.  Keep reading!  Cheers

Comments

[Ben]

Congratulations Mary - what a big year indeed!

[Cristina Pineda]

I love your blog, and how much interesting information you pack into your posts. Fulfilling reading!

[@nectarwine]

What an awesome year for you! Bloggers like you are an inspiration. Keep up the great work in the Portland area. I hope to meet you soon.

Josh