A basic list of views and policies to know when reading anything published on Aanab News as of Jan 1st, 2025
I do not believe that politics can be separated from food & wine. However, I am not a trained historian, scholar, or connected journalist so most of what I write is about what I’m learning. I am an eternal student connecting the dots. I advocate for a free Palestine.
I do not allow for anyone I interview or feature to read drafts before publishing or give approvals on what I write unless it is a matter of expertise and scientific accuracy or ensuring their safety when addressing sensitive topics. With that said, I do my best to not cause harm and I am not in the business of writing exposés.
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
While I can write tasting notes and reviews, I choose not to. I don’t like rankings or scores. Drinking wine is a subjective activity and I don’t want to engage in turning these products into vehicles for consumption/capitalism. If I recommend a wine, it’s because I enjoyed it but that’s not a guarantee that you will. I prefer to recommend wine based on what the person asking likes to drink.
If I do mention any wine I’ve had, I will indicate if the bottle was gifted to me by wineries or others. I appreciate that receiving free bottles saves me some money since that part of wine education is expensive, particularly if you’re doing it alone. However, getting freebies doesn’t happen a lot; it’s mostly when I’m visiting a winery which I’ve done less and less after the pandemic. I tend to re-gift them at gatherings because I don’t need to have lots of wine on hand unless it’s a bottle I’ve never had or it’s a special vintage. I only re-gift those when I know I’ll get to try it once it’s opened. Because what I write is rarely about the wine itself, I don’t need to solicit free bottles for my work. I drink on my own dime out of curiosity for what’s out there and I’d rather do so by-the-glass in order to try more new things. I prefer to be incognito while I’m doing this exploration.
I do not write promotional posts, advertorials, or paid profiles on wineries or wine personalities unless it will be to highlight a project, initiative, or new approach. I have written general profiles (mostly for other publications) in the past but I don’t enjoy the nature of it. It always feels like an ad which is fine (and sometimes necessary) but it’s just not the kind of work I’m into.
After reading the above, it’s probably no surprise that I don’t get invited to wine events and fancy tastings. I don’t mind this but I do miss being able to widen my knowledge and palate without the cost or time needed to do so on an individual level. I find the pomp and performance of it all rather exhausting though.
I’ve been asked to weigh in on wine-related topics informally and this is part of the job to a degree. I don’t like having my brain “picked” for free though and will draw the line if I sense this happening. Sometimes I don’t have to sense it, it’s said outright and I will suggest scheduling a consultation call (cha-ching sound implied). I have yet to have any calls since I started presenting that alternative.
For collabs, I am very selective when it comes to who I attach my name to and who I work with. We need to be in alignment with regards to the goal, the direction, and even our worldview. I have worked with Kalei Coffee Co for one wine event in September 2023 before shelving it because of the genocide in Gaza and I have teamed up with Malfoof for a night about olives and the South. Both were perfect pairings. I have also commissioned work from artists and photographers that I admire and paid them what I can. I am not accepting any pitches for Aanab News at this time.
I will not use artificial intelligence/generators for any artwork. All work is properly credited and is created by myself unless otherwise indicated.
For commissioned work, it’s not always about the pay although this does play a role. I will not write for free. However, the bigger determinants are the publication, its history of coverage on the region, their funding, the timeline, and editorial direction. I will also ask my writer friends how they feel or what their experience has been.
Lebanon is very limited in terms of access and diversity (both of wines and of wine folks). I love the idea of traveling for wine but it’s not my priority when booking flights which I haven’t done much of because writing is a tough gig financially. Lately, travel plans have revolved around where my dear ones live more than where my heart desires to go. Perhaps those things will intersect in the future. If wine can be part of the itinerary in some way, great. But overall, it’s people over palate.
Aanab News is a subscription-based publication that is independently-operated and free of ads and sponsorship. If a sponsor is to supplement the subscription fees in the future, they will be wine-adjacent (like a cheese brand or a wine storage company, for example) rather than a winery.
I have no stakes in any wineries or wine shops nor do I consult with any at the moment. There are a few Lebanese wineries that subscribe to Aanab News. Being a paid subscriber doesn’t get you any favors but less than 3 are paid subscribers, as far as I know.
If you have any further questions or you’d like to commission me to write for you, please reach out via my email: farrahberrou@gmail.com