[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_post_title meta=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” locked=”off”][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Sending a bottle does not guarantee coverage. Neither is an invitation to an event, a press trip, or a collaboration proposal. What I write about is determined by what I find genuinely interesting \u2014 not by who asks.<\/p>\n
Most of the wines I cover, I buy myself. When a producer, importer, or PR contact sends a sample or extends an invitation, I note that in the relevant article\u2014every time, without exception. Receiving a sample does not influence my assessment, nor create an obligation to publish.<\/p>\n
The three categories I work with:<\/p>\n
No producer has editorial control over what I write. Copy is not shared for approval before publication. A positive relationship with a producer does not produce a positive review, and a critical note does not disappear because someone asks nicely.<\/p>\n
Occasionally, I work with brands on commercial projects \u2014 sponsored event coverage, branded content, or collaboration campaigns. These are always clearly labelled. I comply with Dutch advertising standards and EC Directive 2005\/29\/EC on commercial communications.<\/p>\n
A partnership can look like this: a producer sponsors an event I’m covering, or commissions a branded content piece published with a clear sponsorship label. What it never looks like: paying for a positive review, requesting changes to a tasting note, or buying guaranteed coverage. Those conversations end quickly.<\/p>\n
For information on collaboration options, see the\u00a0Collaborate<\/a>\u00a0page.<\/p>\n Producer claims \u2014 vintage yields, harvest dates, ageing periods \u2014 get checked against publicly available sources where possible. Scores are final at the moment of writing, but I revisit them when a wine develops significantly in the bottle. If a re-taste changes my assessment, the article gets updated with a note explaining the revision and when it happened.<\/p>\n For full details on how I taste and score, see the\u00a0Tasting Methodology<\/a>\u00a0page.<\/p>\n Wines are tasted at controlled temperatures using ISO-standard glassware, with no food, coffee, or fragrance in the hours leading up to it. For a full breakdown of the evaluation process, see the Tasting Methodology<\/a>\u00a0page.<\/p>\n When a factual error makes it into a published piece, I correct it promptly and add a dated note directly in the article:\u00a0“Correction [date]: [what changed and why].”<\/em>\u00a0The original incorrect text is not silently removed. I’d rather show the correction than pretend the mistake didn’t happen. If you spot something that needs fixing, the\u00a0contact page<\/a>\u00a0is the fastest route to me.<\/p>\n Last updated: March 2026<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sending a bottle does not guarantee coverage. Neither is an invitation to an event, a press trip, or a collaboration proposal. What I write about is determined by what I find genuinely interesting \u2014 not by who asks. How I source wines Most of the wines I cover, I buy myself. When a producer, importer, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"googlesitekit_rrm_CAow1aS7DA:productID":"","_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" VinoVonk exists because I honestly find wine worth writing about. Not on behalf of a brand, not on commission from a producer \u2014 but because I believe genuine stories about wine are worth more than polished press releases.<\/p> This page explains how I work, how I source the wines I write about, and what you can expect from my reviews.<\/p> I taste wines in three ways:<\/p> When a wine was received as a sample or in response to an invitation, I note this in the relevant article or post\u2014every time, without exception.<\/p> Sending a bottle does not guarantee coverage, and it certainly does not guarantee a positive review. Producers and importers do not influence what I write, how I score a wine, or whether I publish at all.<\/p> If I don't like a wine, I say so. Or I don't write about it \u2014 but I never write something I don't mean.<\/p> Through the\u00a0Collaborate page<\/a>, I work with wine brands, importers, and wine regions on paid content, event hosting, and related projects. These partnerships are always clearly labelled as sponsored content, paid collaboration, or advertisement \u2014 in line with Dutch advertising standards and the European Directive on Unfair Commercial Practices (EC Directive 2005\/29\/EC).<\/p> Paid partnerships do not influence the editorial content of non-sponsored articles.<\/p> I taste white and sparkling wines chilled (8\u201312\u00b0C) and red wines at light cellar temperature (16\u201318\u00b0C). I use ISO-standard tasting glasses or format-specific glassware where appropriate.<\/p> I blind taste for personal learning, but published tasting notes are usually non-blind \u2014 the context of a wine (producer, appellation, vintage) is part of the story I'm telling.<\/p> I re-evaluate wines when in doubt or after significant bottle age.<\/p> Full details on how I taste and score \u2192\u00a0Tasting Methodology<\/a><\/p> If an article contains an error, I correct it and note the correction at the bottom of the piece with a date. I don't remove content after publication to conceal a negative assessment.<\/p>Before publication<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Tasting conditions<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Corrections<\/strong><\/h2>\n
How I source wines<\/strong><\/h2>
Editorial independence<\/strong><\/h2>
Commercial partnerships<\/strong><\/h2>
Tasting conditions<\/strong><\/h2>
Corrections<\/strong><\/h2>
Contact<\/strong><\/h2>