As I continue to catch up on all the happenings from last week, Alder of Vinography (one of my favorite wine blogs) offers nice commentary on the James Beard Writing Award nominees for 2005.

It is certainly great to see an Internet writing category…and I share Alder’s hope that maybe blogs will get a sub-category some day. I’m not going to hold my breath…I think we’re still seen as "renegades" in a way…because we don’t have a "real journalist" serving as an editor…but no blogger I know would ever want it any other way.

Personally, I think it’s great that none of the major wine publications have any nominees

As you’ll see in his post…he challenges wine writers in particular to raise the bar on the overall quality of wine writing in the world. I’ll accept that challenge. I agree that there needs to be an infusion of passion back into professional wine writing. Maybe the fire has waned for full-time wine writers…so it’s up to those of us that do it either part-time or for fun to pick up the slack.