Ryan O’Hara is the US wine blogger behind The Fermented Fruit website.
With a formal education in aviation and an accounting-oriented day job in Washington DC, O’Hara has, since starting his blog back in 2013, entered the circle of recognized figures of the wine blogging world. More importantly, he loves “drinking wine and sharing in the experiences that wine has to offer”.
Having met Ryan at the 2016 Wine Bloggers Conference, I much appreciated on a personal level his friendliness and humility when it comes to wine. I also enjoy the approachable style of his wine blog and his story-telling skills.
So you too can get to know Ryan, in a quick Q&A interview, I’ve asked him to tell us a little bit more about himself and his wine blog.
Meet Ryan O’Hara of TheFermentedFruit.com:
Q: Can you summarize who you are and what your wine blog does?
A: First and foremost I’d like to make it known that I don’t consider myself a wine expert. I’m just a guy who can’t stop thinking about wine. My blog is my creative outlet, allowing me to share with readers which wines I’m most excited about at the moment.
There is nothing more thrilling than an incredible wine discovery, especially when it’s one you can actually afford to drink. But I also relish the opportunity to taste those highly sought-after limited-production wines that might not be so wallet friendly, but that many of us wine lovers are curious about.
Q: When did you start your wine blog and why?
A: My friends suffered through my wine rants for years before suggesting that I begin my own blog, and I finally made it official in January of 2013. While it has only been 4 years, it has already been quite a journey and I can’t wait for what has yet to come.
Q: What topic(s) does your blog cover and how do you generally describe the angle to your writing?
A: I believe a lot of people are intimidated by wine, and as a result they don’t venture out of their comfort zone. In an effort to combat that and to demystify wine, I have posted guides ranging from covering basic wine tasting etiquette to bringing your own wine to dinner. But the focus of my blog is mostly about highlighting a specific wine or winery itself, and the unique story behind it.
While some blogs focus on a particular price point, I write about wines across all price points, and have recently began a “Cult Wine” section where I feature wines that I believe will become future cult favorites. I try to write from a more consumer-oriented perspective, so that novices and oenophiles alike can find my posts useful when the time comes for them to make a purchase themselves.
Q: What are your favorite wine events? In other words: if fans would like to meet you in person someday, where are they sure to find you?
A: Hmm. Dinner with a winemaker over his or her wine would probably take the cake, but I definitely have a weakness for great events hosted by wineries themselves. If you’re on the lookout for me, you might spot me at one of the release events hosted by Seavey, Vérité, Larkmead or Stone Edge Farm to name a few. Trade tastings are also great opportunities to sample a wide array of wines and meet the passionate people behind them.
If you see me at a tasting, please say hi!
Q: What are your favorite social media channels, the ones you like most to exchange and engage around your content?
A: While I regularly post to Facebook and Pinterest, it’s Instagram and Twitter that I find by far the most engaging. The best way to keep up with my wine adventures is to follow me on Instagram, where I’m usually posting about something I’m excited about or having fun with an Instastory.
Q: Finally, what do you do to relax outside of wine?
A: Pretty much anything outside. I love playing tennis, cycling, driving with the windows down and being around the water. One of my favorite things to do is to take a break from my desk and go on a hike (or as we call it, an adventure) with my three girls in the park near our home. We always come back sweaty and covered in dirt, but with great stories and big smiles.
Read more about Ryan O’Hara on his wine blog TheFermentedFruit.com
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