Two weeks ago, I was sitting on a panel at the Wine Writers' Symposium (moderated by our own Alder Yarrow) when the inevitable question popped into the Q&A: ‘How do you break into wine communication?’
My fellow panellists, Stacy Buchanan and Dr Monique Bell, were in favour of self-publishing. This has worked very well for both of them. Buchanan writes about the overlap between metal music and wine – a niche that would be difficult to place within a traditional wine publication – so he self-published his Blood of Gods zine. Dr Bell, who noticed a distinct lack of research on diversity and inclusion in the wine industry in 2020, has since self-published two iterations of Terroir Noir: Study of Black Wine Entrepreneurs.
But, unless you’re doing something fundamentally unique (like Buchanan) or that will immediately be recognised as necessary (like Dr Bell), it’s going to be challenging to get eyes on your work, especially if your self-publishing medium happens to be a blog or a Substack.
So, my advice, whether you choose to self-publish or pitch to your local news site, is to start entering wine writing competitions and applying for fellowships. While winning one of these would be nice, in my opinion, winning is not actually what it’s about; it’s about being invested and making connections. As soon as the competition begins publishing entries, or publishes the shortlist, start reading/listening/watching other people’s work. Reach out to the people whose work you like, tell them what you like about it, ask for advice on how they did it or why they chose to do something the way they did. Reach out to the judges, thank them for their time, ask if they know of other opportunities. It’s true that everyone is short on time, but most people like connecting and helping. Just don’t ask someone to edit your novel ...
So start submitting!
Wine writing competitions, fellowships and mentorships
(listed in order of submission dates in 2025)
Guild of Food Writers Awards – submission window typically opens early December and closes end of January. Publisher must be primarily UK-based.
Fortnum & Mason – submission window typically opens early December and closes end of January (you can see the 2025 terms of entry here). Publisher must be primarily UK-based.
IWSC Emerging Talent in Wine Communication – submission window typically opens end of November and closes end of January.
Field Blends Trip Awards (for media) – open only to US residents currently residing in the US; submissions generally accepted first week of February.
Allen Shoup Memorial Fellowship – submission window typically opens end of January and closes end of February.
The 67 Pall Mall Global Wine Communicator Awards – submission window typically opens end of January and closes beginning of March.
Drinkclusive Inclusivity Incubator – submission window typically opens end of February and closes end of March.
The International Association of Culinary Professionals Awards – open for submissions 6 February–17 April.
JancisRobinson.com Wine Writing Competition – open for submissions 24 April–23 June. This competition is only for work that has not been previously published.
Spurrier-Winiarski Wine Writer-in-Residence Award – submissions window typically opens end of September and closes beginning of November.
James Beard Media Awards – submission window typically opens end of October and closes end of November (you can see all categories and entry requirements from 2025 here). Publisher must be primarily US-based.
Wine Writers' Symposium Fellowship – bi-annual; next fellowship is in January 2026. Submission window typically opens mid August and closes early September.
Writing advice from a pro
Journalist Jonathan Miles offered some excellent advice for attendees of this year’s Wine Writer’s Symposium. These tips apply to any sort of writer, amateur or professional, and to all types of communication.
- Always read your work out loud.
- If you’re stuck, write (or talk) to a specific person. ‘Alison, I feel old. Last weekend it was sunny in Portland. Walking back from the grocery, I spotted a group of brunching young women, the sun glittering off their cans of hard seltzer …’ This is, more or less, how I introduced my Wine of the Week last April. I started writing by bellyaching to my auntie.
- Read work from your counterparts who cover other industries. If you’re a wine critic, read music criticism. If you write profiles on wineries, read profiles of politicians. Don’t limit yourself to reading about wine – locking yourself in an echo chamber will not benefit your writing.
Did we miss a competition or fellowship opportunity? If so, please let us know at news@jancisrobinson.com.
Image at top by Moor Studio via iStock.
