Winery Web Sites - some good, some bad, mostly ugly
When I’m not tasting and reviewing wines, I typically work as an information architect, or information designer, or information developer, or experience designer, or assistance developer…I could go on, but I’m bored just looking at that list. No matter what I call the job itself, I spend a lot of my professional time creating and organizing information.
For example, I might design a Web site for a research group. Or I might work on a user interface for a new software application. Or I might develop the interaction model for a new consumer product. I have been doing this sort of thing for a long time; I have 12 years of Web design and development experience at this point, which is pushing the upper limit of how many years of “Web” experience anyone can really have since HTML itself is only 14 years old. I have 10 years of professional experience working in the capacity described above. I have 5 years of university-level teaching experience, 4 years of advanced research experience, and 2 engineering degrees in technical communication (including a masters degree resulting from thesis work on Web site design). So when I break rules of grammar, or style, or organization, it’s for a good reason…or else I might just be typing too fast.
I mention all of this snooty background information to make a simple point: When I look at a winery Web site, I believe I look with an extremely critical eye. I can’t help myself at this stage of my career. My training was so rigorous, I see typos and errors in places where most people don’t. I find myself pausing my TV every time I catch a typo in the fine print of a commercial, which seems to be a never-ending source of amusement for my wife. I hope.
So when I look at the Kendall Jackson Web site, for example, I typically see more than the information I was looking for. I see the way the graphics work with the text to form a cohesive organizational structure. I see how the three graphics on the home page emphasize a sense of attachment between the consumer and the winemaker, and between the winemaker and his vineyards, and between the product of the vineyards and the dining table. I think about how the content on that home page might look to members of other cultures, or how the photo of the winemaker might suggest a certain power distance relationship between the consumer and the winery.
In essence, I find reasons to criticize nearly every Web site I see. And winery Web sites are no exception.
Now, for quite a while I have thought about writing some design guidelines for winery Web sites. But there’s a big problem. I may be qualified to write such guidelines, but usually the best way to compile a list of “do’s and don’ts” is to show lots of examples of existing designs and explain why they suck. I am reluctant to do that with winery Web sites for a couple of reasons:
- The big wineries can afford professional Web design firms, so the finished product usually looks pretty good.
- The small wineries tend to produce very small, limited Web sites that do not deserve lots of design scrutiny because, frankly, it’s a miracle they have Web sites at all.
- Excellent winemakers rarely seem to be excellent Web developers too, so it’s a little unfair to judge Web sites created by winemakers using the same high Web design standards that I apply to professionally developed sites.
I have a plan, though. I am going to compile a list of all the US-based wineries that have been honored in the Wine Spectator Top 100 wines of 2006. I’ll cross-reference those US wineries with their Web sites, which will result in my favorite thing: a new spreadsheet! Once I have those sites listed, I will start visiting them all to see whether there are any consistent design decisions occurring within the sites, whether the sites were made by pro Web design shops, and so on. Ultimately, I should be able to develop a good sense for current design and usability trends within “influential” winery Web sites, and once I’ve done that I can weigh in with my professional opinion on the relative merits of each trend or design decision.
One trend I already know that I hate is the use of Flash for Web site “intro pages.” That’s so 2002.
January 23rd, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Admit it, you just want an excuse to make another spreadsheet. ;) Seriously though, sounds like an interesting project. And I concur with the “intro page” comment. Yes, I understand your vineyard is pretty. But I can see a picture combined with actual information…..
January 23rd, 2007 at 7:49 pm
Oh, I already made a spreadsheet. It’s really just a worksheet within my existing master wine spreadsheet, though. A little bit of a letdown, I know.
I did a project like this one for my masters thesis, so I’m excited to use the same idea again! Hopefully people will find the results interesting.
January 27th, 2007 at 8:41 am
Hey, maybe you can help me. I need the names of some good value ($8-$15) wines that are from non branded wineries, small or obscure wineries. California - Oregon - Washington
Any ideas?
January 27th, 2007 at 8:44 am
Hey - maybe this is your in with wineries! do their websites, get paid in wine!
I know a CPA who does just this!
Also, you can interview them and give them press on your blog -create buzz etc - all desgned to support your love of good wine!!
January 27th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
That sounds like a great idea, dge! I should identify some wineries that need some Web assistance…which shouldn’t be hard because almost every winery Web site I’ve seen is in need of fairly major information architecture assistance. That includes the big wineries too.
As for good value, obscure wineries, I’d recommend Odisea (a bit more expensive) or Badger Creek/Powers, or maybe Cowan from Eastern WA. Rulo is also good but not too cheap. I guess I seem to end up drinking wines that cost more than $15 because I don’t drink a different wine every day.
January 27th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
Thanks for those recommendations. Did you get my question about last posted comments?
BTW - My friend that is the CPA lives in CT and has some really great wineries as customers - given your taste in wine it may be a good financial move
I haven’t been dropping in lately because I’ve been so busy. First we went to FL (I told you about Wine Room? 156 Wines BTG?)
Then I had a 3 day seminar at work for a new supplier we are representing - great education and wines but it has been crazy.
January 27th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
Hey Dyan! I did indeed and I’m not sure I can get Wordpress (the blog software) to notify you when I reply to your comments. Annoying, I admit. I’ll see if I can learn more about that.
I have a history of consulting projects, both independently and with other companies as one of their consultants. I have also made Web sites for companies and organizations in the past, but I definitely enjoy designing the sites at a high level and then letting students (cheaper labor) implement the designs. So this sort of winery Web site consulting thing sounds like a great idea to me! If you have any contacts or suggestions for getting started, please feel free to e-mail me directly.
Please tell me more about this Wine Room place! That sounds very interesting…*)
January 27th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
Well, I’ve had three exciting wine events this year:
1. Premier Napa in NYC last week - estate wineries showing a special barrel sample plus 3 or 4 of their regular wines - fabulous opportunity to taste great wines, mostly Cabernets and Merlots
2. 3 day educational wine seminar at work, by a new supplier, very informative and we tasted some great wines
3. I visited the wine room while on vacation in FL - my family lives in Orlando and this is in Winter Park. http://thewineroomonline.com/
It is a retail shop where you can taste and buy wine. There are couches that you can sit on while you relax and taste different wines. They offer a selection of cheeses and meats to pick on too.
There are 156 wines available to taste in a wine preservation system. When you go in you put money on a debit card and they give you a glass. Then you walk around - they have about 6-7 stations of wine, with about 20 wines per station. You can buy the wine by the ounce or the glass. You put your card in and it will tell you how much money you have available. I tasted Lachini and DuNah. They have regular everyday value wines and lots of hard to get wines. So something by the ounce might cost $2 or $5, depending on how expensive it is.
It was great!
I am going to look into the website thing.
January 27th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
Wow, you’re off to a great start in 2007! I am impressed…the Premier Napa event sounds awesome and I wish I could go to wine seminars! I’d much prefer it to my current job…*)
I have been to Winter Park! I know exactly the part of town you mean; I had brunch there in 2003 while I was in Orlando for a conference. I have never forgotten about the mashed potato omelette that I had there…darn good. Now I have a really, really good reason to return. I can’t imagine being able to try 156 different wines in 1 place! Amazing.
Let me know what you find out about the website idea…it could be just the ticket for me.
January 28th, 2007 at 10:32 am
A small struggling winery is your best bet. Why don’t you start an llc company - get one wine client and you have yourself a reference and a story.
If you go to Winter Park there is supposed to be a good rest right next to the wine room called Luma - it is supposed to be a restaurant that focuses on wine.
I was with my daughter, Mom and sister - so too many people to really look around but I heard it was good.
January 28th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
Heh heh, I like your style! I’m sure I can find any number of small struggling wineries near Seattle, actually. I just need to start looking, and I like the idea of incorporating myself and getting a business going.
My wife has never been to Florida so when I take her there someday I’ll be sure to get to Winter Park again. I also spent some time at Rollins College when I was there, looking at their art collection and using their Internet connection….
January 28th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
OK, I figured out how to see my last comment. I go to the admin site.
I asked my husband if he would trade services (he is a lawyer). He could set you up as an LLC and you could do a web page for him. I have been after him to set one up. He’s reluctant by nature and his business is mostly corporate, so he’s not sure if a site would benefit him. Anyway - I think it is a good idea for you. You could do it while you keep your day job. Ever since you told me your new budget I have been very concerned - you need to figure out a way to try more good wine!!
January 28th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
It’s a deal!! E-mail me privately and we’ll sort out the rest. I’ll need to interview him to understand what sort of content he’d want on a Web site, hosting costs (I have a recommendation for a good Web host), etc. This is exciting!