The end of WA as we know it?

JonB · Post by **JonB** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 4:15 pm

http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2 ... bombshell/

JonB · Post by **JonB** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 4:20 pm

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... &mg=id-wsj

AlexR · Post by **AlexR** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 4:27 pm

It was only a matter of time....

I wonder who the new guru will be in the coming years?

I can see people specializing in one or two regions, but no one publication and/or critic having a much power again across the board.

Although, apparently, much credence is given to what the Wine Specatator says...

Best regards,
Alex R.

AlohaArtakaHoundsong · Mon Dec 10, 2012 10:51 pm

Isn't one of those wine-fraud dudes from Singapore? Or was it Indonesia? Shadowy investors, indeed.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 11:05 pm

So He Who Shall Remain Nameless has sold out?
Lucky thing I didn't send in my renewal!

Claudius2 · Post by **Claudius2** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 2:29 pm

Guys
Well I am in Singapore and believe me I had nothing to do with it.

Now, what's the phone number of those young hedge fund guys.....

Well the days of speculators, arbitragers and hedge fund cowboys is on us.
I feel sad indeed.
At least Parker had some integrity.

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 1:35 am

My guess is that that things will not change radically in terms of the content we're used to. I suspect Parker retains a controlling interest. I think he wants out from under the administrative drudgery and is handing that, along with some power and control, to Lisa Perotti-Brown. Suspect Asian investors' $$ go more towards expansion in Asia than into Bob's pocket, at least for now, with ultimate goal of increasing the value of TWA by expanding readership into Asia. Writers to be brought under tighter control regarding COI by converting them from independent contractors to paid employees under contract. Suspect the only impact from my own perspective will be availability of a PDF version, a welcome change. Hope it includes the reviews and articles that are currently published exclusively online. Hope it also gives Bob enough time to write more retrospectives on older wines. Will be interesting to see what develops.

JonB · Post by **JonB** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 2:21 am

While maybe WA started out to be a passion, it turned into a successful business (that he was passionate about) and I don't begrudge RP for taking some money off the table. I'd guess his influence will wane over time as he loses editorial control, but maybe the publication will improve since we'll be getting reviews of the wines being made in Asia? Maybe tea and sake reviews as well.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 12:41 pm

I think I'm going to sell BWE to Singapore investors for one miiillion dollars.

stefan · Post by **stefan** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 3:04 pm

Good idea, Jim; you can throw one helluva party with some of the proceeds and have enough left over to start another wine board.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 7:59 pm

I don't know how many quality wines I can get with $5 though stefan.

Claudius2 · Post by **Claudius2** » Thu Dec 13, 2012 3:26 pm

Jim
Well I don't count as a Singaporean investor.
having my hands full with investments in Australia.

The end of WA as we know it?

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