Comments on: 93 Point Wines Are They Worth It? – Episode #103

By: John J.

John J. — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:56:56 +0000

qotd: I totally agree with manonthemoon with his answer. I’m the wine steward in my restaurant, and I’m going to make wine my profession, but I have absolute contempt for wine snobbery.
Like manonthemoon, I know what it’s like in those liquor stores. I’ll go in on my day off in a t-shirt and jeans, and I’m in my 20’s, and look a little young for my age. So quite often I get all the employees, most over twice my age, staring at me and/or following around the store. Everyone will come up in succession asking if they can help, because they are suspicious of my age or that I might steal since I’m looking at the nice wines. So, only when they behave that way, will I start asking them wine questions they can’t answer. Or questions about wines in their own shop they can’t answer. Or seeing if they can order me a wine, and I’ll tell them what distributor to look for in the beverage journal, and if they quote me a high mark up, I’ll ask why, since I know how much they are buying it for.
That’s probably the worst snobbery I see and hate.
The one that sticks out for me as far as me dealing with guests, was a lady I was going to serve wine to about 2 years ago. A real Mrs. Howell type from Gilligan’s Island. She asked for a glass of chardonnay, and I replied I’d be right back with a real nice burgundy. I’m sure you’ve dealt with this one Gary, lol. She says, “No, I want a chardonnay.” I politely try to explain that that IS a chardonnay. She doesn’t want to hear it, tells me I’ve made “an egregious faux pas.”, and gets very frustrated and decides she doesn’t even want any wine at all now.
My question for you now Gary. I’m looking for something I’ve never seen you do before so, will you do an episode on vin jaune’s? And for something a bit more laid back, can you do a tasting episode on different charbono’s?

By: manonthemoon

manonthemoon — Sun, 25 May 2008 00:46:17 +0000

QOTD: I tend to get a first hand account of “wine snobbery” the first few times I go into most wine shops because I am in my mid 20’s and tend to be a t-shirt and blue jean type of guy, even though I do decently well for my age group. I always tend to get the usual questioning look or they point out the lower level wines that they are trying to push on people. But luckily after talking to most of the people they either realize I have a decent amount of wine knowledge and they engage me in a equal minded approach. And if they continue to talk down I just do not purchase from the store, thats the best way to show displeasure with service.

By: thefanjestic

thefanjestic — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 22:13:35 +0000

Qotd: I’m a liger.

Qotd 2: The biggest wine snobbery is from myself unfortunately. I had tried this Australian shiraz (whose name escapes me) in the bottle and was blown away at it’s quality for $6 a bottle.

I then told another friend about it and a few days later he said he went to the liquor store and it was only a box wine. I was pissed, thought he was messing with me and refuted the idea that this wine I had been so impressed with was a box wine.

Well, it was. My friend and I had a huge laugh about this later on because we were both telling each other we were wrong and getting frustrated with the other person. I then went on to tell the person who had suggested the bottle to me that it was a box wine and the argument began all over again.

I was ashamed to have enjoyed a boxed wine – I thought I was better than that, but now I know – the best things in life are free! Or at least very very cheap!

By: yathink2

yathink2 — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 03:32:10 +0000

Hi ya Hawk, I am an otter. I really loved your last few episodes. Still working my way up to get caught up. Keep up the good work and never mind all your business nay sayers. You are providing a great service and I am learning a lot. Thank you

By: David Canada

David Canada — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 17:37:10 +0000

QOTD – Hmmm….had a person I know who is way into wine tell me that he only buys Bordeaux in good years, that he only has 45,61,70,82, 90, 95, 2000 in his cellar and that buying Bordeaux any other time is like flushing your money away…..

By: Brandon M

Brandon M — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:29:27 +0000

Couldn’t stand it sitting at 99…i know I’m type A

By: JayZee

JayZee — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 03:12:54 +0000

By: Roberto

Roberto — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 15:06:06 +0000

I like it thank god you are not liking that Brunello.

By: good old ludwig van

good old ludwig van — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 04:48:41 +0000

My brother in law told a great story about (misguided) wine snobbery. He was at a company party with an open bar, and a woman walked up and ordered a *Beringer* white zinfandel . . . as if no other brand would do for her sophisticated palate!

By: Julia

Julia — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 20:01:19 +0000

Hey, Stallion: Try being a *girl* and going to a wine shop, if you wanna see books judged by covers. Actually, a lot of the staff I talk to these days seem kind of pleased I know anything. Things are changing, of course. Best story I heard about wine snobbery was experienced by friends dining in Paris…an American couple were there to eat, and he sent the wine back because it “wasn’t expensive enough.” However *do* we get the reputation for being Ugly Americans???