Locals win third place in Wine Spectator video competition
Update Sept. 15, 2014: Wine Spectator announced today that a group of locals placed third in its annual video contest. Producer Joel Peterson’s “The Wine Dude” tied for the prize with “Tips to Save Water” by Marc Mondavi. Second place went to “I’m a Winery Dog” by John Beck. The first place winner will be announced Tuesday.
“The Wine Dude,” a video by Paso Robles resident Joel Peterson, is one of nine finalists for the Wine Spectator’s video contest. Voting ends Sunday.
Locals hope to win Wine Spectator video competition
For the third time, Joel Peterson of Paso Robles has a video he produced in the finals of Wine Spectator’s video contest. This year he worked with friends Eric Roth and Drew Ross to create “The Wine Dude.”
“My friends and I had a blast making this three-minute spoof video about the magical power behind wine,” said Peterson, who directed and produced the short film. “If you liked ‘The Big Lebowski’ and our past videos, I think you’ll enjoy this one.”
The video includes Roth as The Wine Dude, Adam Montiel of the Krush 92.5 as himself, and cameos by Paso Robles winemakers Sherman Thacher and Alex Villicana. Ross filmed and edited the video. Peterson, Roth and Ross co-wrote and conceptualized it. The video includes music by One Time Spaceman, a local band, singing their hit “Bobby Fox.”
According to the Wine Spectator, this year’s videos range from laugh-out-loud parodies to forgotten grapes and beautiful storytelling. There are nine final videos, where viewers will learn about winery dogs, wine dudes, cellar hands, vineyard pests, college food and wine pairing and tips for saving water.
To watch the Peterson’s video and to vote, go to http://bcove.me/8fgopgoz. Twenty votes per IP address are allowed. Judging for the contest ends Sunday. The second- and third-place videos will be announced on Monday, Sept. 15 and the winner on Tuesday, Sept. 16.
“Who knows if I’ll win,” Peterson said. “It’s fun just to be a finalist.”
The winner will receive a pair of tickets to the weekend-long Wine Spectator Wine Experience where the winning video may be screened as part of the official program. Each finalist has won a pair of tickets to a Grand Tasting or Grand Tour event.
Peterson’s first video in 2010, “Wine Is,” took him to Paso Robles winemakers asking them what wine is to them. In 2011, the video “Paso Wine Man” by Juice Media won. Peterson said was in the 2011 video, which was first in a series of Paso Wine Man videos that are still continuing. His second video, “Napoleon Wynomite,” made it to the finals, but did not win.
While he said he used to work in the film industry, Peterson is now a local wine public relationship and marketing consultant for Solterra Strategies with Stacie Jacob, executive director for Visit San Luis Obispo County. Additionally, he is a board member of the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District, the Paderewski Festival, and was recently appointed by the Paso Robles City Council to its Tourism Collaboration Committee. He said he makes videos because is something he enjoys doing and can incorporate it with what he does — wine. Solterra Strategies focuses on the wine industry, so Peterson is surrounded by wine on a daily basis.
