You heard it correctly, a wine sample policy. It’s the craziest thing, I’ve always purchased the wine and other products I wrote about in my blog and never gave having a sample policy a thought. Well I am now getting offers and requests and when I reached out to several other wine reviewers and bloggers, I found that I am not alone and many found having a policy in place to avoid any misunderstandings became a necessity. So I have pieced together the following from the best of what other reviewers use.
I happily accept wine samples and wine-related products to feature and review in my blog. All reviews will be my personal unbiased opinion therefore, I do not guarantee a favorable review, nor do I grant prepublication editorial rights. All I promise: my reviews will be completely honest and I will publish my reviews promptly and in the order I receive the sample and the request.
I also enjoy wine-related travel. If you would like for me to come visit your winery and share my experience with my readers, I will be very happy to do so. You may contact me at rminto@bigsky.net . If it’s not too far from Missoula, MT or I can arrange it around another existing trip I am happy to do it at my own expense, however if you want me to go to Argentina Israel or France, etc. (not holding my breath) we may need to discuss the cost.
I am still trying to figure out where to put this in my Website to make it most conspicuous, any ideas will be appreciated.
Bottle Ink
Poor Robert
Poor Robert's (Wine) Almanac 
I suggest making it a new page. Then people would find it under your menu. I enjoyed reading it.
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How wonderful that you are getting these requests, Robert! Yes, I agree with michaelzeebroek’s suggestion to put it in an appropriate spot in your sidebar. You may already be aware of this, but in case you aren’t, I suspect that what is true for bloggers who are given books or products to review is true for bloggers who receive wines to review as well: If you receive such products, you may have to include their value on your income tax form in some way. Also, you DO have to include a disclaimer in the review post about having received the product for review.
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Good for you and I think you do need to post it. I have never needed such a posting, as I think the wineries are happier that I don’t mention them.
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I know a few of those as well.
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Hello, I suggest you put it in your menu next to the wine reviews so they definitely can see you have one ! I am happy you also get the offers for free samples, mine recently got out of hand and I had to set a hold on it cause it took up all the spaces ! You asked me on my blog if I would like to write something as a guest blogger, and I would be honored. Would you like to discuss this through this comments or some other form?
Thanks Mike !
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Michael — I am happy to discuss guest blogging on-line as my readers seem interested in the blogs direction. I would love you to author a guest blog((s) on some wine region in your part of the world that you find particularly interesting. I host a monthly feature (guest blog) by somebody on the ground about “Wine Regions of the World” (about 1000 to 1500 words with pictures to accent). Given your location makes this feature a perfect fit. That said, I will send you a link making you an author on the site and would be happy with just about anything you would like to write that’s wine related. If you would post your e-mail to me at rminto@bigsky.net, I’ll make it happen.
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I enjoy reading your blog, I also enjoy an occasional glass of wine. If I could learn to tell a good wine from others, I would join you in telling the world. For now I will just sit back and enjoy.
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Well that is a nice compliment to you! Quite impressive sir, I hope this goes well for you and you are able to travel to new places.
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It is I suppose, but I like you write for the love the written word and somehow this now takes on a whole new responsibility. We’ll wait and see.
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