South African wines – Episode #218

April 17, 2007

Wines tasted in this episode:

Gary Vaynerchuk takes the advice of over 20 viewers and does South African wines today!

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159 Responses

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April 18, 2007

Marius
Gary !!!
Thank you for the wine you donated to the WebOpen / Web 2.0 Expo. We had a great time drinking the wine and making fun at the Viddler guys running around with there cameras. The need a couple of girls in skirts, would have complimented the wine perfectly.
Thank you for supporting the Web 2.0 movement.

Marius
April 18, 2007

aaronT
I had never been exposed to Pinotage before… I’m intrigued! I think I’ll seek some out!

I like the QOTD, although I’m going to take a slightly different approach to answer it. Let’s think about the community of WLTV, vayniaks and lurkers alike. In general, anybody commenting here:

1) has the means to not only acquire the bare necessities, but has enough extra to enjoy a luxury like wine on a regular basis.
2) has been gifted with an education, and can read and write.
3) has a computer with access to the incredible wealth of the internet, (or at least access to one).
- etc. -

When you look at it from that perspective, we are all very lucky. With the senseless carnage of VT as a backdrop, your true priorities should come sharply into focus.
April 18, 2007

Justmarsh
Hey GV,

I’m pretty lucky. I got flooded out of my basement apt this week with that nor’easter. The only boxes I had to move all my stuff with was… WL shipping cartons. Thank goodness for Wine Library!
April 18, 2007

Jon B
At Woodbridge I got to participate in a quality control tasting for a batch of corks. They take a sample of, say 100, corks and put them in a “neutral” wine, such as Sauvignon blanc, and let them soak for a period of time. Any faults in the cork are extracted by the wine so you can determine if you want to buy the larger lot or send it back.

What usually struck me in a corked wine was an aroma similar to what you get in the produce aisle of your grocery store when you pass the banana display. Check it out sometime.

The real issue with corked wines are the ones you can’t really smell or taste as corked. TCA tends to dampen many fruit and other aromas and tastes in an insideous way, in that the wine just isn’t very exciting. You could try another bottle from the same bottling and you are blown away by how great it is, but if you don’t have access to that other bottle, you’d just write off the wine and perhaps the winery.

QOTD: There’s a fair amount of luck just in making wine. This includes the weather and issues with fermentation. The industry has come a long way in controlling many of the variables, but not all of them. Frankly, I hope we never can control all of them, because we are often very pleasantly surprised!
April 18, 2007

LeatherPalate
QOD: Healthy friends and family says it all my man.
Great-great-great-great show.
April 18, 2007

Lawrence Leichtman
I am extremely lucky. My daughter was a “Hokle” graduating in 2004. she took classes in Norris Hall in French and German. Many of her friends as well as my youngest son’s friends are grad students there. So, do I feel lucky, yes and very sad for all of the parents and children affected. Even at another college it could be your child. Every student was affected and will always be. I was present in Austin (UT grad 1969) going to summer school in 1966 so I know the feeling losing two of my friends in that shooting and will never forget that as long as I live.

That said to comment on this tasting. I have had a hard time warming to SA wines for the most part because they give flavor profiles as you have described that are not my cup of tea. Pinotage gives me flavors I can pick out instantly and dislike. Many of the Chardonnays I’ve had from there have had weird tropical flavors that I didn’t like so I’m generally not looking to SA for my wines unless I find flavor profiles more to my liking.

One nitpicking thing. The word Meritage is pronounced the same as heritage from which it is derived. I have heard the same pronunciation you use often but it isn’t correct.

Thanks Gary for the sensitivity to mention the tragedy we all feel in our hearts. Do care for those around you. Time is fleeting.
April 18, 2007

Fiorentina!
Hey Gary-
Fun episode! I’m completely overjoyed that you tasted a Pinotage! Personally, I think that pinotage is not only a unique, but wonderful wine that people should definitely try….however, in my area there are A LOT of wine snobs that consider pinotage “a dirt wine” & simply won’t drink it. Still, my family push for wine education and adventure, so we have people who say they dislike pinotage “because their friend told him/her” try pinotage blind….the end result is that the customers like the wine and are shocked! But I think that my family is really lucky that our customers are willing to try wines other than Chard, Cab, or Pinot Noir. Moreover, I think that I am truely blessed to have such a wonderful family, great friends, & an amazing fiance!
April 18, 2007

Chris From NY
Gary you said ST rated the kanonkop a 95 then you said you would one up him and you gave it a 91, whats up with that? Am i wrong?
April 18, 2007

Larry Bartram
Gary:

Ya blew it on the Kanonkop Pinotage. You said you thought Tanzer “nailed it” with a 91, but early on you said he gave it a 96! What did he give it? What do YOU give it?

PS. It is one of my favorite wines on earth. You should also taste Kanonkop’s Paul Sauer Cabernet.
April 18, 2007

Autumnfox
QOTD: We are so lucky, aren’t we? I love life and try to cherish it every chance I get.

Pinotage was actually the first grape I tried after strawberry hill as my parents had spent some time down there and got hooked. I love it and I have to try this one you showed!
April 18, 2007

E
I’ve had mixed results with Pinotage. I think it’s something of an acquired taste, but then I’ve never had one above the budget-jones level.

Do they still use the term Steen to refer to SA Chenin Blanc?
April 18, 2007

Tammi Daniel
Interesting review as I haven’t had much luck with SA wines.

QOTD – I feel lucky to wake up every morning.
April 18, 2007

Tom T.
Me and the family are all in great health so I consider myself very very lucky. Thanks for another great episode. We are all lucky that you take the time to do this service for us.
April 18, 2007

Andy
REALLY ENJOYED THIS EP GARY. NICE WORK. We all should feel lucky to live in this great country with all of its freedoms and the things we can all do if we work hard. Love the S African wines especially Chenin Blancs. Cheers to all…..
April 18, 2007

Spacejay
QOTD – Very lucky, offerred a trade to obtain A. Soriano, got rejected, he got hurt.
April 18, 2007

Suzanne
Nice show today.

QOTD: We are very lucky. Sometimes we need to remember that every day we’re still here is a gift.
April 18, 2007

Badger Ann
Gary – thanks for featuring SA wines. We are indeed lucky and very fortunate here in the US.
April 18, 2007

Luckybecky
Hey, Gary, great ep! Thanks for doing the South African wines.

QOTD: I’ve always known how lucky I am (hence the name) to be blessed with a wonderful husband, two beautiful kids, and a loving extended family. But events like VT remind me not to take that luck for granted and to enjoy every moment. Whether it’s a little thing like enjoying the flowers in my back yard or a sunrise, or big things like looking forward to celebrating my 20th anniversary in a few weeks, I’m reminded to enjoy all the blessings I have every day in life.

Great job on the ep and helping to remind us of that as our hearts go out the the VT victims.
April 18, 2007

Jon B.
Great episode all though I will agree it was a little disjointed. just kidding keep up the good work.Bannana nose on the pinoptage I’ll have to give this a try(interesting)…Qotd Two wonderful healthy daughters, 2 and 4 ,a wonderful wife,and in laws, incredible family,and wine in the celler it honestly gets no better. Thanks GV, Eric and all of wine library staff.
April 18, 2007

Peter May
Gary, glad you enjoyed the Pinotage.

(C-BusWineMofo – Pinotage isn’t a hybrid, its a vinifera cross.)
April 18, 2007

KC Dan
Great intro Gman my heart also goes out to all from VT . Qotd VERY LUCKY !!!! I must try that pinotage . Keep up the good work .
April 18, 2007

geespot
I went to the store and immediately (well, a few hours after) bought a box of Sugar Smacks. See, Gary can sell anything! If Gary likes Smacks, I want Smacks. How about a cereal tasting/rating episode? Okay, joking aside, since you mentioned it, I recalled I used to love it as a kid and had to taste it again.
April 18, 2007

carnyc
Glad you mentioned the tragedy at VT. My thoughts and prayers go out to those who are suffering from this senseless act of violence and hate. It really does put things in perspective doesn’t it? Take the time to appreciate those who you love and love you, and be thankful for all the privileges we are afforded each day.
April 18, 2007

Rob F
I am so very lucky.Everyday I drive to work in Newport Beach, Ca.,I say a prayer that goes as follows:
Rob ,count your blessing….Lord,Father almighty,bring me wisdom , and solace.Blessed Mother ,come to me in my dreams with your desire for my future.
Blessed Father watch over my Loved ones with a readied sword, and whisper to them as they sleep,I live only to hold them once again,and that all else is dust and air.Keep them safe as long as they breathe.Blessed Father, I honor you, and will try to live with the dignity you have taught me……..AMEN
I see people with disabilities,etc.,and I DO count my blessings.All it takes is one event to change your life.

Don’t want to get too deep…….Be Gentle, Love Life, and Take Care of Eachother.-Rob
April 18, 2007

YoungDave
Great S. African Ep., and you KNOW I’ll be waiting for the VALUE S. African Ep. soon!

CEREAL: Football shaped and a FROG is involved? It’s deffinitely SMACKS!!! No doubt.

QOTD: Yes, I’m stressed about final projects. Yes, I have to start making plans to move to LA in the next month. Yes, I have to FIND A JOB in LA in TV within the next couple months. Yes, I miss my family and friends from home while at school. Yes, I have to work nearly full time plus classes in order to support myself and pay for school…
BUT- I am fortunate enough to be at a great school, studying what I love. I’m also just staring the rest of my life, regardless of the stress it may bring. I may miss my family, but I’m one of the luckiest people alive to have grown-up with my wonderful siblings while being raised by two of the most loving parents. I miss friends…but hell- at least I have a few! As for work- I am EXTREMELY fortunate enough to be able to say that I love my job. I love making recommendations for food and wine pairings to my customers all night, and I’m DAMN FORTUNATE to be able to come home after it all and enjoy a glass of vino while learning about wine with BIG. G.
We all have stress, and difficult issues to deal with in our lives, but there’s no doubt that we are all lucky to have friends, family, wine, and WLTV to keep us enjoying the lives we lead each day.
Thank you, Gary, and I wish everyone and their family well in this “family” we have at WLTV.