You got me. I have been lurking for a while and love your honest opinions.

I would like you too extend your free shipping to the State of Wisconsin when the Packers beat the Jets. The Packers are a State team. I do agree the Bears suck.

When will wine library put together a mix case of your selections with special pricing? You could put together theme cases for wine tastings, Sunday football, Halloween, Thanksgiving, etc.

Looking forward to the next edition, Marc

OK, this is a waste of a post.

I just want to see if my Avatar made it!

Dan (In Houston)

Gary,
Another great show. If I could only visit one winery it would be Château d’Yquem. These wines taste like ambrosia

Thanks For Everything
Jonathan

Gary V,
Muchos Kudos!
Love the new look. I, too, would like easier access to archived videos.
QOD: I’ve never been to a vineyard and I wouldn’t even know where to begin. My hubby is more into beers and a suggested trip to any wine country makes him turn up his nose.
If I could convince him, where should a week long domestic trip take a “beer drinkin’, city hatin’ man” and his nature-babe, wine lovin’ woman?

Leonetti. I used to teach graduate courses for UW in Walla Walla forty years ago, well before the vineyards went it. Leonetti is pricey and haven’t had any, but I’d like to see if the taste matches the hype.

Gary,
Another great episode AND I have to admit, I’m one of the trolls. I DO watch EVERY SINGLE episode, and have found that I too can be, like you once said, a “comments crackhead”. Unfortunately I don’t always have a chance to watch everyday (although I’d love to be close to a computer in the late afternoon everyday). I will sit down and watch 2-3 episodes at a time (my boyfriend calls it the WLTV mini-series) hence, I don’t leave comments on prior episodes. I’ll have to make a better effort. I would agree with some of todays comments with regards to redesign of the comment section and I’m sure that will come in time – I appreciate that you can’t tackle everything at once.

BTW, do like the facelift AND love your “artwork of the day”. I happen to be as big of a Yanks junkie as you are a Jets junkie. I had made a request once before for something baseball/Yankees to be included on your set so, Thanks. Now, to answer your QoD: I’ve visited several vineyards, unfortunately not enough, so to select where I’d go for my last ever vineyard vacation is tough…there’s so much I’d still love to see all over the world – Portugal, Spain, Hungary, Germany, NZ, Africa, Australia, South America, Canada – not to mention all that we have here in the US…talk about a round-the-world airline ticket. Maybe I’d do just that, purchase a round-the-world airline ticket for the “final vacation” and do them all. To narrow it down to one: I’m with Jonathan B. (#78) Chateau d’Yquem…make the last trip, perhaps, one of the best. Tough question, but a really good one….see you in a few hours when you post episode #83!
Rebecca

thanks for answering my question gary! I agree that the most rewarding episodes are when you turn the viewer onto something new instead of letting the sheep lead the shepard. For instance, I now have a new white wine (Godello) on my list of things to try.
QOD: Torii Mor in the Wilammete Valley because I could happily drink Pinot everyday for the rest of my life, it was quite peaceful, and the people there were really cool.

Hi Gary,
Thanks for the introduction to Godello. I’ll check it out. CGF’s reply mentioned Torii Mor winery, and reminded me that I tasted a Torii Mor Pinot Blanc the other day that was fantastic. Incredibly aromatic nose, great flavors and acidity, and food friendly. Yum. However, if I was to go to one place it would have to be to Wehlen in Germany to visit the JJ Prum winery owned by Manfred Prum. Why? To see those steep hillside vineyards right on the river, and to taste the sublime and heavenly Wehlener Sonnenuhr auslese’s, beerenauslese’s, and trockenbeerenauslese’s (say that 3 times fast!), along with wines from Zeltingen, Bernkastel, and Graach.
Thanks for the continuing education.
How are we supposed to get the pictures up for our replies and comments? Jim

Jim V-

re: Avatars

If you go to the “Gravatar” website (www.garvatar.com) you can upload your photo. I *think* it is then associated with your e-mail address (The photo is vetted for appropriateness).

But as you can see, I do not have mine loaded yet.

Dan (in Houston)

Hey Gary,

Here is a comment to stroke your ego.

Oh yeah, since I heard what you said about DA BEARS I wonder what you have to say about the Eagles, the only team that really matters.

I bet their second and third string are still going to pounce the Jets on Friday. GO EAGLES!

Hi Gary,

I’ve been watching since the day one. Love the new format!

Mary

Hi Gary,

The winery I’d like to visit would probably be Latour, Margaux, Petrus, Cheval Blanc or any other traditional Bordeaux chateau. I feel it’s the top of the top. I guess it’s like the Louvre of museums, St. Peter of cathedrals, Golden Gate of bridges. A good second on an design level would be the new “architect” wineries in Spain. Frank Gehry’s new Marques de Riscal (http://www.arcspace.com/architects/gehry/riscal_winery/riscal.html), Santiago Calatrava’s new Ysios (http://www.arcspace.com/architects/calatrava/wine/index.htm/)…

This is my first comment. And a tough one for you.

I love your “show” and the energy you bring to the wine industry. I think it’s really important to slowly help to educate us all into all the wines out there. Keep it up!

But one thing that bugs me (and take this as a way to improve your segment), and an important aspect of wine education, is your pronunciation (or should I say “butchering”) of foreign languages on names, wineries, grapes and regions. I know you are a really busy guy and don’t have much time left for other things, but maybe you could try to find the time to at least get the names right the first time. I know that if we get them wrong the first time then we will always say it wrong. Come on, at least all the languages from most wine producing countries (French, Spanish, Italian, German…) are spelled fonetically. So if you know the few simple rules of that particular language you would know exactly how to pronounce each and every new word. That way your following will also get it right, and that’s important too.

I hope you take this comment positively. But I have a pretty good idea on what your response is going to be. 🙂

Cheers!

Carlitos

OK…I’m a day late…I’ll get into your slamming da Bears tomorrow!!!

But: I’ve never put much thought into a particular winery I would like to visit, obviously, going abroad would be great…Burgundy and Italy is high up there. But I’d really love to visit Dominus, mainly because I’ve seen pictures and I’m really intrigued by their cobble-stoned encased by mesh building. I just want to see that up close.

Go Bears and Your Jets are going down!!!!
T

long time watcher second time blogger. I was in Napa some time ago and was impressed with both Beringer for their wines available only on site and Joseph Phelps winery, great wines along with a beautiful winery. At the time I knew little about wines and thinking back the information given at most wineries was just a blessing, that of course was pre WLTV. Thanks for all the great info keep it coming.

Darioush – they have a great lineup of wines,
a nice Chardonnay, an absolutely wonderful Viognier, the best I’ve ever tasted,
and some really nice red wines with the Shiraz on top and the cabernet and merlot not far behind.
Everything is topnotch!!

GO JETS !!!!!!!!!

Gary,

Great meeting you at the Wine Library on Saturday. I must say I was ashamed to admit during our conversation that I opted for dinner out and had missed the previous night’s Jet game. My Jet blood was not nearly as Green as yours. However, when I learned that you had not missed a SINGLE PLAY OF JET FOOTBALL since 1990, I am sure there are a ton of Jet fans that pale in comparison to you. You are an animal! Long live the “Sack Exchange”!

Thanks for bringing out the Almaviva this episode. I think a lot of WLTV viewers can easily recognize Baron Philippe de Rothschild’s influence outside of France with Almaviva and Opus One. But have you ever given any thought about an episode devoted to the Rothschild-Lafite influence around the globe (Caro, Los Vascos, Carmo)? I think the Rothschild-Lafite name is a reputable one, and making the connection for WLTV viewers to these other wines in Argentina, Chile and Portugal may open up new doors…and at reasonable prices. I’m interested in getting your take on these wines.

Chris

Hey Gary,

I just watched your next to last episode and here is why I haven’t posted thus far. I am busy and I usually end up watching 7-10 of your WLTV episodes in one sitting to catch up. I figured that if I posted to an older episode, you would never read it.

QOD: My favorite winery to visit is Boudreaux Cellars, a small winery near Leavanworth in Washington State. Why, Rob Newsom, the winemaker and owner, is wicked cool. He makes really nice Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. I think he makes a Chardonnay, too. My wife and I visited there last year and we had a blast with Rob. He lives on Icicle Canyon Road and it is an awesomely beautiful area in the Cascades. You might try his wines some time. I think he really has promise and he’s wuite a character. I believe he said he learned winemaking from Rusty Figgins.

– JayZee

Gary,

I’ve been traveling for the last week, so I’m just catching up on back episodes. Today was a good episode. Thanks for turning my attention to Montenovo.

Given that I am really at the nascent stage of understanding wines, let alone specific vineyards, I would be stretching to identify a particular vineyard I woud like to visit. I think I would prefer to identify regions to tour–Rhone, Barosa Valley, Napa, etc.

While I was traveling in my home town of Kalamazoo, MI (Go Lions!!!) I stopped in a few of the wine shops. The shops had a pretty good variety of wines, but beyond the standard commercial shelf fillers, I didn’t recognize most of the vineyards. This leads me to a question. In addition to speaking with the staff in the store, how is your suggestion for chosing wine when you don’t know any of the vineyards or producers? Thanks.

Gary… there are currently zero Godello’s on the WL site. I was trying to follow your instructions and give one a try. Any chance you’re getting any more in? Thanks!

Hmmmm….Tough QOTD. But it’s gotta be Chateau Lafite. Their grounds are gorgeous, they make great wine, not that I would make it out of their cellar at all.

Here we see (i think) the first mention of “lurkers” (although at this point most people are referring to themselves as trolls). Also Sue Z posts ‘Watching the Vaner-nod would be ten times as much fun in-person’, which is the first i have seen of the Vayner-things to come.

QOTD: Chateau St Jean. I would get to taste several different styles each time and I like their commitment to quality. I have never had a bad wine from them.

Qotd: Chateau Haut Brion – because I would want to leave the country, and if you’re going to pick a winery – how can it not be a First Growth.

In America I would visit Ridge – first winery I collected wines from.