Awards and citations:


1997: Le Prix du Champagne Lanson Noble Cuvée Award for investigations into Champagne for the Millennium investment scams

2001: Le Prix Champagne Lanson Ivory Award for investdrinks.org

2011: Vindic d'Or MMXI – 'Meilleur blog anti-1855'

2011: Robert M. Parker, Jnr: ‘This blogger...’:

2012: Born Digital Wine Awards: No Pay No Jay – best investigative wine story

2012: International Wine Challenge – Personality of the Year Award




Friday 28 August 2009

Jim's Loire – a year on

La Loire@Roanne – a distant glimpse by the houses in the centre of the photo

This time last year we launched Jim's Loire. I'm not sure what our expectations were at the time but 652 posts later we have certainly been very pleased to have attracted nearly 50,000 visits* in the first year and to have a number of regular readers. On weekdays visits average out a little over 200 a day, dropping a little over the weekend.

It is difficult to know exactly how many first year visitors we have had as we didn't put the sitemeter on until the end of September – now recording a total of 48,348 visits. The sitemeter recorded 2002 visits in October 2008, the first full month, but would be surprised if Jim's Loire had attracted 2000 visitors in its first month when there was no meter.

La Loire@Pouilly-sur-Loire – the halfway point

It has been great to get comments and feedback. The site has given me an opportunity to write about producers that I could never cover in a magazine and in a way that just wouldn't be possible. My sole regret is that I am still behind in writing up some of the visits that I have made.

* Update: my sitemeter recorded the 50,000 visit on 4th September.

La Loire@Saint-Thibault, near Sancerre

To celebrate the first year I have chosen some pictures of the site's heroine – La Loire. Running downstream.



La Loire near Ussé

Sunrise@Saumur – the first photo posted on Jim's Loire

La Loire@Ancenis

19 comments:

Colin Thorne said...

Happy Birthday! If only every wine region had as dedicated a scribe as yourself. Such priceless info for free is truly a thing of greatness. All the best for year 2!

Jim's Loire said...

Colin. Many thanks. Now that the blog is is established we will be looking to get some advertising during the coming year.

Abbé Henri Proust said...

We have visited and indeed bought from both Foreau in Vovray and Joguet in Sazilly based on you sketches; thanks for these tip-offs - there are so very many small producers to pick from that the advice is very useful. Good luck for year 2!

David McDuff said...

Happy bloggy birthday, Jim. Your site's really proved a great resource and an always enjoyable daily read over the past year. I only wish I could be as prolific! Keep it coming....

Peter VH said...

Hi, I discovered your blog only recently. Great to have such useful informations on the wines of the Loire region. Keep up the good work!

Anonymous said...

Am here everyday after horse stuff outside! I have learnt so much even if far away.

Bob.

Jim's Loire said...

Many thanks for all of your kind comments. We intend to do our best to keep it coming ...

Jim's Loire said...

Henri. Glad to hear that the recommendations have been useful. Suggest a visit to Jérôme Billard (Domaine de la Noblaie) when you have time.

Weston said...

you almost have to read every day or else you get behind like 20 posts, Next year post one per day hah

Jim's Loire said...

Weston Thanks but there is a lot going on in the Loire.........

Wink Lorch said...

Congratulations, Jim! The energy/discipline you put into writing posts nearly daily I can only describe as enviable. I also think you've shown with Jim's Loire that blogs are a really good way for a wine writer with a particular specialist interest to share all his research and photographs and this makes it a really fantastic resource. Keep up the great work!

Micaela and Sue said...

Joyeux anniversaire!

Full respect Jim you have really brought some good attention to the Loire Valley and it's wines. Here at La Grande Maison we are regular visitors to your blog and enjoy the updates & news you provide which we often share with our guests. Bravo!

Jim's Loire said...

Wink, Michaela and Sue: thanks for your kind comments. I have greatly enjoyed the first year and am looking forward to the second – hopefully starting with a good 2009 vintage for those who have been spared from the hail.

Anonymous said...

I think Wink brings up a really good point. This place is a tremendous source of info. I live here in Alberta and getting on in years. I do not think many more visits back home so I can only reflect and dream!!

Bob

Jim's Loire said...

Bob Thanks. I hope you will still have the opportunity for some more visits to the Loire.

Unknown said...

Having recently visited the Loire and now being a fan of cabernet franc, your blog has inspired me to taste more widely and, thanks to the quality of your writings, more knowledgeably.

Jim's Loire said...

Thanks Colin. Glad to hear that Cab Franc is giving you pleasure.

Anonymous said...

I can only echo the comments of others above. Your diligent blogging, full of hard information, useful tips and delightful photographs are a wonder. As Weston says, it is hard to keep up the reading - so how much more demanding must it be to keep on writing. I think you can feel assured that we all forgive you if some posts take a little while to get together. Keep up the good work; I only wish I was going to the Loire this autumn to try some of the wine and meals you so splendidly describe,

Graham

Jim's Loire said...

Thanks Graham. Hope you get back to the Loire soon. Jim