GrowSmarter's VitSmarter | The Easiest Online Vineyard Management

Google Health Predictor?

2008-11-12T15:45:00.006-06:00

Fascinating article from the New York Times...

A new symptom of the flu is a Google search... yes, in addition to coughing, fevers, and sore throats is the Google search. Take a look at the graphic!

How Obama Won It With the Web

2008-11-05T22:21:00.004-06:00

FastCompany has a great article on the effectiveness of one candidate's web-based campaign.

Both candidates used the Internet to reach voters. But Team Obama mastered the medium early and exploited it to the hilt. Along the way, it changed politics -- and perhaps government -- forever.

Vote!

2008-11-04T09:43:00.001-06:00

The United States presidential election of 2008 is scheduled for today. Aside from addressing some top of mind issues like the economy, this election marks the first time... ... two senators are running against each other; ... both presidential candidates were born outside the continental US (McCain = Panama; Obama = Hawaii); ... a woman or an African American will reach higher office; ... and possible scenarios like having the oldest first-term president (McCain) or a Catholic VP (Biden). I do expect (hope?) voter turnout will be higher... so look for a comment or two on my "user experience" at the polling booths. I also encourage you to check out some cool tools like this interactive map from CNN -or the variety of tools on Google.com including mobile, news, and a fun maps of the candidates' journeys. If you haven't already, GO VOTE!

Register to Vote Online

2008-10-06T09:03:00.003-05:00

As fans of webware, we have come across some tools to register to vote that are easy-to-use and free (we like these types of tools!):

Which one do you like?

Google Chrome Beta

2008-09-03T14:28:00.003-05:00

Surprised that Google now wants us to use their web browser? Not really. Their web-based tools are pretty cool (we use quite a few including Analytics, Google Earth, and Google Docs). We're currently testing the integration of the browser with web apps, like VitSmarter.com. We'll let you know what you find. In the meantime, click here to download Chrome.

Web 2.0 Ideas that Failed

2008-07-14T08:07:00.001-05:00

Interesting post here from Fast Company. Their summary:

With all of the hype surrounding Web 2.0 companies like Facebook, Flickr, and Twitter, it’s easy to forget that lots of Web companies still fail. Here are 10 that failed in the past year – and why.

VitSmarter Video

2008-05-28T20:29:00.004-05:00

Take a look at our promotional and instructional video. Let us know what you think!

Go now to Vitsmarter

Robert Mondavi

2008-05-19T12:12:00.006-05:00

Robert Mondavi died on friday at age 94. He is credited for having led the growth for California wines. Born in 1913, he attended Lodi High School and studied Business and Economics at Stanford University. After persuading his father to acquire Charles Krug winery, he founded the winery bearing his name in the late sixty's. The rest, as they say, is history...

In addition to great wine, the winery sponsored great educational programs that included great music acts, as well as chefs (Julia Child, Alice Waters, Paul Bocuse and Joel Robuchon);
he worked with great winemakers including Warren Winiarski (Stag's Leap Wine Cellars), Zelma Long (Zelphi, Vilafonte), Mike Grgich (Grgich Hills) and more;
Launched Opus One with Baron Philippe de Rothschild (of Chateau Mouton Rothschild in Bordeaux);
Partnered with well-known winemaking families including the Frescobaldi family in Italy, Eduardo Chadwick of Viña Errazuríz in Chile, and Rosemount in Australia;
Launched, in 2001, Copia: The American Center for Wine, Food and the Arts;
He and his second wife, Margrit Biever, launched the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts in Davis --as well as the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science at UC Davis.

Microsoft: It's About Web Services, Silly.

2008-04-23T14:41:00.003-05:00

Microsoft’s chief software architect, Ray Ozzie, wrote an interesting memo which seems to shift their mission from creating software to creating a mesh between people and devices. To paraphrase, he says the value of Microsoft’s software will depend less on what it can do on its own than what it can do with others. More validation that web-based services trump software. Read the full memo here.

Wine's Carbon Footprint

2008-04-21T14:40:00.002-05:00

Interesting read: http://www.drvino.com/2007/10/30/calculating-the-carbon-footprint-of-wine-my-research-findings/

Google Tool Searches Future

2008-04-01T19:47:00.006-05:00

Google Australia launched new functionality that allows users to search one day in advance. In other words, Google's gDay™ uses MATE™ technology to create a sophisticated model of what the internet will look like tomorrow.

How? Don't ask me. I'm still trying to figure out other cool tools like GOOG-411 and Google Earth.

I think the concept was best summed-up by a user who stated, "This is old news. I read about this announcement yesterday on Google."

UFW Black Eagle Wine

2008-03-31T10:03:00.004-05:00

The United Farm Workers' Union (UFW) announced the availability of their "Black Eagle Wines" -which they say will help bring awareness to farm worker rights.

The Black Eagle Wines website describes their 2000 Merlot, 2007 Sauvignon Blanc, and 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon.

Web 2.0 Expo

2008-03-07T06:59:00.001-06:00

The second Web 2.0 Expo San Francisco takes the pulse of the Web ecosystem and looks to its future, training a spotlight across the Web 2.0 universe to illuminate how the Internet Revolution is being created and delivered. Web 2.0 Expo is for the builders of the next generation web: designers, developers, entrepreneurs, marketers, business strategists, and venture capitalists, people who have experiences to share and a passion for learning--the hot new thing, lessons from failures, innovations and inspirations, and the practical applications of all of the above.

Click on the button below to learn more about the conference.

Amazon Wine?

2008-03-05T10:04:00.005-06:00

No, not wine from the Amazon, or wine from Hyppolyta and her crew...

...instead, plans from Amazon.com ("the world's largest online retailer") to enter the wine market.

Read full article here from the Financial Times.

SoBe Wine & Food Fest

2008-02-22T13:36:00.002-06:00

Ready for the seventh "Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival" showcasing wine producers, chefs, and foodies? It is hosted by Southern Wine & Spirits of Florida and Florida International University (FIU) to benefit FIU's Teaching Restaurant and the Southern Wine & Spirits Beverage Management Center, both located at FIU. Make sure your bring "the official card" or deep pockets!

The technology behind VitSmarter

2008-01-04T14:09:00.001-06:00

Go now to Vitsmarter

VitSmarter is here!!

2008-01-04T14:06:00.000-06:00

Smarter Vineyard Management Software

The free, online, and easiest way to manage wine growing! VitSmarter helps you increase quality. Additional benefits include greater uniformity, cost savings, and better operations. You don't have to buy new computers, install any software, or hire additional staff. We take care of the bits and bytes so you can focus on the vines. VitSmarter takes a fresh, simple approach to vineyard management. Our tools help you spend more time where it matters; in the field with your grapes. Go to VitSmarter now!

PBS | The Grapes of Math

2007-12-19T09:42:00.000-06:00

Tonight's episode of PBS' Wired Science will skim the surface of the use of technology and science in the vineyard/winery (see "The Grapes of Math" preview below). It should be an interesting program.

What do you think?

Paris Hilton's Wine-in-a-Can

2007-12-13T09:13:00.000-06:00

Here's one for the purists...

Made from the "noble prosecco grape," the sparkling wine in a can is described as the "...perfect 'starter drink' for your night or a special pleasure as a reward at the end of the day."

Full story here.

YouTube video here.

Enjoy!

WineCommune on BusinessWeek

2007-12-11T10:51:00.000-06:00

BusinessWeek profiles WineCommune. I enjoyed reading how they got their start. Read here.

Melbourne Food & Wine Fest

2007-12-10T09:11:00.000-06:00

Over 140 events are planned for the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival (Feb 22 to March 8, 2008). Billed as "the largest of its kind anywhere in the world," it promises events like the world's longest lunch... More details here.

Grape Varieties?

2007-11-21T11:02:00.000-06:00

Similar to last question; is there a definitive list of grape varieties? We appreciate your feedback as a comment to this post.

Appellation, AVA, Denominazione...

2007-10-09T15:49:00.001-05:00

We want your thoughts on the best source by country/region to define the terroir. France has the "Appellation d’origine contrôlée" governed by INAO; and the USA has the "American Viticulture Areas" approved by the TTB. Is there a definitive list of appellations, AVAs, etc? Please post your replies as comments.

VitSmarter Coming Soon!

2007-10-02T10:36:00.001-05:00

We are weeks away from the Beta launch of VitSmarter - the free and easiest way to manage grape growing online. Please contact us if you would like to participate in the Beta Program.

eSkye Sold!

2007-10-02T10:12:00.000-05:00

Constellation Software Inc., a Canadian firm that provides software and services to a variety of industries, announced on October 1 that it has completed the acquisition of the business assets of California-based eSkye Software, LLC.

See the CSI press release here.

“The acquisition of eSkye’s winery software division provides CHS and Constellation the opportunity to enter a new vertical market and apply our proven operational models and strategies” said Bernard Anzarouth, VP, Business Development of Constellation. “While not a large platform acquisition by Constellation standards we are excited that we have been able to establish a toehold in yet another interesting vertical market."