Home Wine Business Editorial Expert Editorial Turning the Tables on L.M. Archer

Turning the Tables on L.M. Archer

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By Carl Giavanti, Carl Giavanti Consulting

Turning the Tables – Interviewing the Interviewers” is a Q&A series profiling Wine Writers. We hope you’ll discover more about the wine writers you know, and learn about many others. The objective of this project is to understand and develop working relationships with journalists. They are after all, those that help tell our stories, review our wines and potentially provide media coverage. You can do this by learning their wine and writing backgrounds, story and personal interests, palate preferences, writing challenges and pet peeves. This is part of an ongoing series that will be featured monthly by the Wine Industry Advisor.

LYN ARCHER, aka L.M. Archer, FWS | Bourgogne + Champagne ML is a fine wine writer specializing in Burgundy, bubbles and emerging wine regions. Her works appear in numerous domestic and international publications, including Meininger Wine Business International, Wines and Vines Magazine, South Bay Accent Magazine, Oregon Wine Press, Palate Press, France Today, and Winesearcher.com. She is also a former video correspondent for Foodable Network. A member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, TASTE Awards’ Academy of Media Tastemakers, and International Wine Writers Alliance. She received a prestigious 2017 Professional Wine Writers Symposium Fellowship, and holds designation in French Wine, Bourgogne and Champagne Master Level from the rigorous Wine Scholar Guild. You can find her @lmarcherml on Instagram/Twitter, and at www.lmarcher.com.

Professional Background

How did you come to wine, and to wine writing?

Wine via access to an unlimited expense account in another lifetime, allowed for tastings through the high end of wine lists, thereby helping inform my palate. A trip to Burgundy in 2009 sparked my passion for the region; a love of history informed my insatiable curiosity about the topic in general, as wine really is the story of civilization.

Writing called me at the age of eight. However, pragmatism led to a corporate career, with stints writing for in-house and trade publications. In 2008, I attended a writer’s workshop to help me re-spark creatively; the program director allowed us to choose our final project topic. I chose wine, and realized this was what I wanted to write about full-time. However, it took me until 2012 to find the courage to make that leap of faith full time.

After leaping, I wanted to understand my chosen field more completely, and so began by studying Wine Fundamentals through the International Guild of Sommeliers. As I progressed, I realized that French wine proved a touchstone for me, and so opted to specialize in this area, earning designations first in French Wine, then Bourgogne Master Level, and finally Champagne Master Level, through the rigorous Wine Scholars Guild program.

What are your primary story interests?

Burgundy, bubbles and emerging wine regions. I discovered that Champagne is the ‘flip-side’ of Burgundy – same varietals, totally different expression. And emerging wine regions specializing in Pinot Noir and sparkling wine often look to Burgundy and Champagne as reference points, but ultimately seek to express their own, unique terroirs, and cultures. Exciting, and endlessly fascinating.

Are you a staff columnist or freelance? What are the advantages of both?

I have done both. Staff writing provides certainty and rigor; freelance writing allows creativity and freedom.

Personal Background

What would people be surprised to know about you? 

Until late 2015, I suffered from acute shyness. This proved especially painful at the outset of my wine career, as I attempted to learn more about the business of wine making through tenures at a few tasting rooms, and video storytelling. A difficult experience, from which I learned a great deal about myself, and the industry.

What is one thing you’d like your readers to learn from your writing about wine?

As a writer, I understand the journey of the artist, including winemakers; however, as a professional, it’s important to never lose sight of the fact that winemaking is also an exacting, grueling business.

If you weren’t writing about wine for a living, what would you be doing?

Writing historical fiction. My first historical novel, based in WWII German-occupied Burgundy France, is currently in revisions.

Writing Process

Can you describe your approach to wine writing and/or doing wine reviews?

Each story varies, but all involve extensive research, quote verifications, and editing.

Do you post your articles on social media? Why is that important?

Social media broadens the audience, and dialogue, worldwide.

Working Relationships

What are your recommendations to wineries when working with journalists?

Hydration stations and spit buckets, please!

What advantages are there in working direct with winery publicists?

Publicists provide essential communications and logistical links during tours and interviews, as well as collateral materials and samples. It helps that most appear to love their jobs, and remain unfailingly upbeat, regardless the situation.

Which wine personalities would you most like to meet and taste with (living or dead)?

George Saintsbury, A.J. Liebling, Henri Jayer, M.F.K. Fisher.

Leisure Time

If you take days off, how do you spend them?

Getting out of my head – exercise, catching up with family and friends, ‘forest-bathing’ in nature.

What is your most memorable wine or wine tasting experience?

A private tasting and tour at Maison Joseph Drouhin in Beaune, FR. with Véronique Drouhin while I was in town covering the 2017 Hospices de Beaune wine auction. Véronique Drouhin proved utterly charming, funny, graceful – generous in spirit, spirits, and Burgundian savoir faire. So much history under one street!

Pick one red and one white to drink for the next month with every dinner.

Mercurey Village rouge and Oregon sparkling blanc de blancs wine, of course!

Read more stories in the series “Turning the Tables – Interviewing the Interviewers.”

Carl GiavantiExpert Editorial
by Carl Giavanti, Carl Giavanti Consulting

CARL GIAVANTI is a Winery Publicist with a DTC Marketing background. He’s going on his 10th year of winery consulting. Carl has been involved in business marketing and public relations for over 25 years; originally in technology, digital marketing and project management, and now as a winery media relations consultant. Clients are or have been in Napa Valley, Willamette Valley, and the Columbia Gorge. (www.CarlGiavantiConsulting.com/Media).

 
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