Last week, Ted of The Drunken Cyclist won Monthly Wine Writing Challenge #23 (#MWWC24) and just like all previous winners of the Challenge, his “reward” was to choose the theme for the following Challenge (in this case #MWWC24).

A few of us started the Monthly Wine Writing Challenge a couple of years ago with the desire to promote more creative wine writing. The thought was that we get caught up in tasting notes, winery visits, and the occasional food porn and we soon forget that part of the reason we put in all the hours that we do on these silly blogs is that we love to write!

I am sitting here in the Santa Rosa Public Library between wine appointments trying to get some writing done before it is time to head off to Jordan for an afternoon tasting. I guess like most public libraries, there is a rather eclectic collection of characters here. I am probably now one of them. Why? Well, as I was searching for a little word art for this month’s theme, let’s just say that more than a few racy images also popped up on the screen.

I did not really expect that, but I didn’t really think about it either. When Ted sent me the theme, I really did not read all that much into it, but it’s certainly a word that runs the gamut of interpretation, from the rather banal to the clearly erotic.

Yeah, I said erotic.

Not that I am encouraging any risqué writing this month, but it will be interesting to see who among you go beyond the most obvious aspect of the word.

So without any further titillation, here is this month’s theme:

A quick recap of the rules:

The rules

1. The Challenge is open to anybody and everybody. It helps if you have a blog, but that is certainly not a requirement (contact me if this is the case).
2. Write a post based on this month’s theme: “PLEASURE”.
3. The post should be at least tangentially related to wine (after all, it is the name of the challenge).
4. The post should be more or less around 1000 words (I routinely violate this rule, so it is just there as a “guide”).
5. Include the Monthly Wine Writing Challenge badge (above) that was designed by the very first winner, The Armchair Sommelier.
6. Remember to vote!
7. Once you post on your blog, please do at least two of the following and I will be sure to include a link  on all subsequent posts about this month’s challenge:
   1. Include a link back to this post in your entry.
      
   2. Use the hashtag #MWWC24 somewhere in your post.
   3. Tweet, using the #MWWC24 hashtag and include a link back to your post.
   4. Send me an email: jeff(at)thedrunkencyclist(dot)com

The all important dates:

Deadline for submission:  Monday, April 18th, 2016

Voting Begins: Tuesday, April 19th, 2016

Voting Ends:  Monday, April 25th, 2016

Winner Announced:  Tuesday, April 26th, 2016

Previous winners:

If you’re looking for some inspiration here are the links to the previous winning posts:

MWWC1 – Transportation

The Armchair Sommelier

MWWC2 – Trouble

My Custard Pie

MWWC3 – Possession

The Wine Kat

MWWC4 – Oops

Confessions of a Wine Geek

MWWC5 – Feast

The drunken cyclist

MWWC6 – Mystery

The SAHMmelier

MWWC7 – Devotion

The Sweet Sommelier

MWWC8 – Luck

The drunken cyclist

MWWC9 – Fear

The Sybarite

MWWC10 – Value

Dracaena Wines

MWWC11 – Friend

Armchair Sommelier

MWWC12 – Local

Talk-a-Vino

MWWC13 – Serendipity

Duff’s Wines

MWWC14 – Tradition

Cheap Wine Curious

MWWC15 – Success

JVB Uncorked

MWWC16 – Finish

The Wine Raconteur

MWWC17 – Epiphany

Wayward Wine

MWWC18 – Crisis

Traveling Wine Chick

MWWC19 – Choice

Frankly Wine

MWWC20 – Variety

JVB Uncorked

MWWC21 –Pairing

L’Occasion

MWWC22 – Second Chance

(Un)Common Grape

MWWC23 – New

The Drunken Cyclist

Please contact me if you have any questions: jeff (at) thedrunkencyclist (dot) com