From Mike Duffy’s Winery Website Report blog, I read the following Wine Institute survey data:
Winery websites were also found to be as popular as other wine and lifestyle websites among those interested in on-line information.
Also found in the Wine Institute’s press release:
The research confirms that wine consumers look to personal recommendations as the most prized sources of information. Trusted friends and family, followed by the sommelier or server when in a restaurant setting, are mentioned as the top information sources.
Taken together, these bits of information confirm the value of blogging to help develop word of mouth and improve winery website Google PageRank. Wine consumers are online and looking for information; when will more wineries take the plunge and add a blog to their websites?