What is this thing called blog, and why do we do it?

I attended a wine industry event last night and had an interesting conversation with a fellow wine guy.  He owns and operates his own winery with his daughter.  It's a smallish operation.  He and his daughter do everything out of their location - crushing, fermentation, bottling, etc., etc., etc.  The topic of conversation was all about the idea of starting a Lodi Wine blog.  He got my attention!  He asked me because he knows I write, and enjoy it, and am, presumably, pretty good at it.


I certainly got me to thinking, "Why not!"  closely followed by "how?"   Both easily answered questions, I think.  The next question I got to thinking about was, "Why do I do this blog thing anyway.  And how do I get a following of readers?"  There are undoubtedly a plethora of wine bloggers out there already.  How do I/we get people to learn about and follow the Lodi Wine Blog? 


Let's begin with "Why do I blog?"  I blog because I can.  No. Really.  I like to write (oddly enough, my oral musings tend to be far more succinct than my written tales).  I blog because I need that creative-not-so-journalistic approach to telling my story and saying what I have to say.  Sometimes I need to be silly, other times I need to be factual.   Blogging affords me both options.  And the requirement of not having a fully plausible topic is appealing, too!  Am I reaching a ton of readers?  I don't know.  For this blog, I'm not even sure it matters much!  It's my outlet and you are all the lucky(?) recipients of my crazy thoughts.  For the proposed blog, it's essential that we capture an audience.


As for what this thing called blog is about, that I don't know if I can answer.  There is the official definition of a blog being 'a website containing a writer's or group of writers own experiences, observations, etc., and often having images and links....' and 'a single entry or post to such a website.'
It's a shortened version of the word 'weblog'.  Is it journalism?  Maybe, but probably not.  Personally, I feel like it's more like public journaling.  Got something to say, a journey you want to share, a review of a book/movie/song, a rant?  Blog about it! 


And so it goes, be on the look out for a Lodi Wine blog....from me and other bloggers looking to express their views and experiences about Lodi wine.  I know a photographer or two who take some pretty cool wines shots, too, so there may even be some great shots!  I'll be looking for any other bloggers who want to join our crusade...hit me up at dlgage@Comcast.net.