A Vintage Vino Hoax
by Emerson DameronFiled under: Culture Jamming and Reality Hacking, Fraud and Deception, Media Literacy, Media Pranks, Political Pranks, Practical Jokes and Mischief, The History of Pranks
You may think academics will fall for anything. But have you met any wine snobs? Here’s a hoax flashback…
“The Winning Wine List That Wasn’t”
by Dan Lewis
Now I Know
May 23, 2017
If you're a wine fan, Wine Spectator is probably on your go-to list for magazine reading. Fifteen times a year, it hits newsstands and subscriber mailboxes with ratings and reviews of various vintages and types of wine. And once a year, the magazine announces its "Restaurant Awards," an honor for - you guessed it - restaurants. Wine Spectator's website sets it up thusly: "Attention restaurateurs: If you've got a good wine list, you deserve the credibility and publicity that comes with a Wine Spectator Restaurant Award." For example, here's a screenshot of Milan restaurant Osteria L'Intrepido's honor on the Wine Spectator website from 2008:
The cuisine type, the price range, a top-line summary of the wine available, and of course, some contact information for the restaurant itself. If you're looking for a $70 dollar dinner for two while in Milan, and you're willing to fork over a moderately extra amount for the wine, Osteria L'Intrepido may be for you. With more than 250 wine selections, you're likely to find something that enhances your experience - or at least, that's what the "Award of Excellence" would imply. Read more.
