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The Weinnotes newsletter is written by A.J. Weinzettel, a wine journalist and podcaster who has written about Oregon wine country since 2019. Each issue tells the story of a winery and the people behind it, mostly in the Willamette Valley.

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Dispatch · Saturday, February 10, 2024

Introducing Block 55

The Bear, Earl Jones' memoir, and the big reveal: Block 55, a reservation system built for wineries, and why A.J. made it.

Did you notice that I didn't send out a newsletter on the first Saturday of the month last week? I certainly did. I'm not one who enjoys missing my own imposed deadlines, but I have a larger deadline looming for myself, more on that in a bit.

Have you watched "The Bear" yet on Hulu? I know it isn't directly related to wine, but if you haven't seen it, put it on your list. I watched Season 1 and 2 again with my daughter, and she might have had a little tear running down her face at the end of Season 2. I have never seen her shed a tear while watching a show.

Let’s dive into the links for the last month before deadlines are discussed.

Earl Jones of Abacela wrote his memoir.

Did you know Cho Wines is opening it’s winery this Spring?

This is a great list of winemakers to follow. Do you recognize some of them?

Here is a great article on Aaron Lieberman, former podcast guest, on the LGBTQ Community.

Here is some more info on the whiskey Patty Green is producing.

There is a lot of talk of putting an ingredients list on the wine bottle. Sokol Blosser is getting ahead of the eightball on this.

Did you know there is a Valentines Wine Loop?

2020 is a four letter word for red wines in Oregon. Looks like there is some research being to protect grapes if this happens ever again.

Wine By Joe has a new General Manager.

Have you heard of the Rustle-Prayer Rock Vineyards? Neither have I. Learn more as I did.

Oregon is popping up more and more for Wine Collectors around the world. Here is some info on the subject.

This is more of an event, but mark your calendars for April 20th for Malbec in the City.

Getting back to deadlines and newsletters. For newer subscribers, I started this project in July 2019. I would write about one winery a week and, for the most part, I was on it like clockwork. Visiting all these wineries, listening to their stories while getting to know the people behind the label, made me fall head over heels for the industry. In January 2022, I started the podcast to further expand on telling these stories. I wanted you, the reader, to hear and see these amazing people tell their stories. Both of these projects have filled my heart to the brim, and don't worry, they are not going anywhere. In August of last year, I needed to take a little off my plate. The weekly newsletter moved to a monthly newsletter to broaden the scope of how the stories I adore are told. Last month I shared a name, Block 15. Unfortunately, there is an Oregon Distillery with the same name. I had to pivot a little to a new name, Block 55.

I knew what feeling I wanted to invoke with this new venture, and here it is.

In the heart of every vineyard lies a special block, a parcel of land steeped in legend. For generations, this block has been revered for its exceptional grapes, each vine telling a tale of tradition, care, and the magic of nature. It is here, amidst the whispers of the vines, that the inspiration for Block 55, the reservation system, was born.

Designed exclusively for wineries, Block 55 is more than just a booking tool; it's a portal into the soul of the vineyard. As customers use Block 55 to plan unforgettable experiences, they are not merely planning a trip; they are embarking on a journey through the rich tapestry of stories that each vineyard holds. From the legacy of the vines to the artistry of winemaking, Block 55 weaves these tales into an engaging tapestry, ensuring that every guest falls in love with the winery before stepping foot inside the tasting room.

Block 55 represents the harmony of technology and tradition, a bridge connecting the ancient allure of winemaking with the modern world. Each reservation is an invitation to explore, to experience, and to be enchanted by the timeless beauty of wine captured in a glass.

In the world of Block 55, every visit is more than an appointment; it's a passage into a realm where each grape, each vine, and each block has a story to tell. And in the heart of this realm, Block 55 stands as a testament to the enduring romance of the vineyard.

So, what exactly is Block 55? It is a system where winery customers can book wine tasting experiences and events exclusively for wineries. The "exclusively for wineries" piece is crucial. There are needs such as enhancing digital hospitality before customers set foot in the tasting room, follow-up emails to join the wine club, sell wine, or just to simply continue the digital white-glove hospitality treatment with a simple thank you.

One example of enhancing the digital hospitality is a video for customers to watch about the winery once a reservation has been confirmed. There is also an option to send a personalized video to a customer before their visit. Another important feature is accessibility for the winery. For the winery, I created an App for the iPhone and iPad. Many hats are worn throughout the winery, and unfortunately, a reservation modification or adding a new reservation needs to be completed at the drop of a hat. Being able to pull out your phone instantly makes life all that much easier. In order to pull off this level of hospitality for the customers, my number one priority has been to make everything as easy as possible for the customer and the winery.

I have been working on Block 55 for over a year. There have been many times I started over. The code wasn't right; it didn't flow correctly, but I have finally reached a point where Block 55 is ready to see the light of day. You will get the chance to preview Block 55 before anyone else by visiting this link. Please know this is a test winery I created (I hope Bryan and Laura are okay with me using Hazelfern for all of my testing) and these are not live reservations. The last thing I need is someone thinking they made an appointment for a live tasting. As you go through the process, you will notice there are free and paid tastings. Do not put in a real credit card data. Everything is in test mode, and you can use 4242-4242-4242-4242 as a credit card number (all of the other CC info doesn't matter).

What do you think of the process I created to make a reservation? Was it easy, hard, or something else? I would appreciate any and all feedback.

I am more than happy to sit down with anyone who is interested in seeing a live demo. I would include a link to the App Store to download the App yourself, but I am going through the process with Apple to get the App approved.

The really cool thing I like about Block 55 is the fact a winery can download the iPhone/iPad App to add their events to the Block 55 website and it will automatically go into my bi-weekly Events Newsletter for free!

I am beyond excited to get Block 55 off the ground, and it feels weird talking about my stuff in the newsletter instead of my normal story, but this is how I scale telling all the stories of the incredible people I have encountered over the years. I am launching Block 55 during the Oregon Wine Symposium. Please stop by to say hi next week, and if you are not going to the Symposium, take a minute to respond to this email and tell me your thoughts. In either case, the next time you see me, let me know “A.J. sent me!”

With Heartfelt Gratitude,

A.J.

P.S. - I would appreciate any and all follows on the Socials for Block 55. Here is Instagram, Threads and the latest greatest BlueSky.

P.P.S. - I also have to mention the podcast. There have been some killer interviews so far this year with Kate Ayres of Penner-Ash (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube), Jason Wise the guy behind the SOMM movies (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube) and the latest is Hundred Suns (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube).

P.P.P.S - Next month will be back to regular scheduled newsletter content

A.J. Weinzettel

Wine journalist & podcaster covering Oregon wine country