Pinot Noir Taste Off – Episode #221

April 20, 2007

Wines tasted in this episode:

Gary Vaynerchuk and four different wines made from the Pinot Noir grape.

Having trouble seeing this video? Click here for the Quicktime version

168 Responses

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April 20, 2007

UncleJosh
Maybe, just maybe, I like Sideways because it made everyone hate Merlot, a grape I like very much.
April 20, 2007

brooklyni
QOTD: I’m not necessarily angry at sideways at all. I’m angry at a lot of people who went out and bought anything with “pinot noir” on the label and drove prices up. so many people are so scared to think for themselves, in life and in wine. so, they see this movie and then went nuts over california pinot noir. oh well. more inexpensive other wines for me.
April 20, 2007

LPapi
not working… my gravatar…
April 20, 2007

flavasauce
My girlfriend is taping the Oprah Winfrey show today! She just IMed me that she just met oprah!!! OK I know it’s off topic just had to share. Her company is sponsering the Greenfest there so all you Vaniacs in Chicago should check it out this weekend. (And say hi to my gf at the sustainlane booth. She’s the Brazilian girl with the curly hair.) Also there’s tons of organic wine producers giving free tastings.
April 20, 2007

LPapi
Oops! here we go.. New Gravatar!!!
April 20, 2007

LPapi
New Gravatar!!!
April 20, 2007

LPapi
Like a good Pinot… try Jeff Fink’s Tantara… from Bien Nacido Vineyard in Santa Barbara County mmmm delissh… However thanks to hollywood it has gone up to a point where it’s no longer a bargain. They make a killer Chardonnay too…

QOTD: I’m going to take Sideways as a life lesson. With Hollywood, you kind of have to play a guessing game. Take this scenario:
If Hollywood is filming a movie with an influencial actor.. Lets say Al Pacino. Movie takes place or revolves around vineyards and wine. Then he mentions his favorite wine is Rioja and how he hates Tempranillo. If the movie is a hit, guess what.. prices will take the symmetrical direction of his character’s “fictional review/enjoyment”. I guess the lesson is to watch or guess if the next wine movie will be a hit, then pay attention to the main character’s current obsession and buy as much of it as you can before prices skyrocket. (I’m pretty sure there wont be another Sideways type of influence through Hollywood though)
April 20, 2007

TagWorld Brian
KenP, thanks for the link BTW. I’m going to geek out on that site, soon as I get some downtime.
April 20, 2007

TagWorld Brian
Also, an interesting factoid that I learned this week. I didn’t realize there’s a difference between the words varietal and variety. “Variety” is a noun, it describes a type of grape: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Merlot, etc. “Varietal” is an adjective; it describes a wine that is made from the particular variety. So Elke is a varietal, made from the Pinot Noir variety. Confusing? I dunno. Just thought I’d share.
April 20, 2007

E
I’m not mad, except for the fact that it really made me want to go have a glass
April 20, 2007

KenP
Here’s a great site to well illustrate TagWorld Brian’s #57 post: http://www.winesciencenews.com
April 20, 2007

TagWorld Brian
I loved Sideways. I saw it before I was into wine, so I can’t speak to the price increase issue. But it definitely inspired me. And it’s just a fun, breezy movie to watch. (By contrast, if you want to see a crapola wine movie, check out “Year of the Comet” from 1992. I taped it by accident and watched it last night. I’m sure you can find it on Netflix and IMDB.)

Another thing: words gets around blindingly fast on the Internet these days. People learn quickly about good wines. So I’m sure that Pinot Noir varietals would have become more popular anyway, because they can be great and they deserve the attention. Sideways surely helped, but I think it helped across the board. From everything I’ve read and heard, wine popularity in general has exploded in the US over the past 5 years. A rising tide lifts all boats. Yeah, maybe that raised some prices, but it has probably also helped more people get access to many more types of wines than before. So it’s all good.

BTW, had a Duckhorn Goldeneye Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2004 the other night. Wow! Before that, I hadn’t really given thought to the Anderson Valley, but I’m singing a different tune now.

Pinot is keen-o.
April 20, 2007

NewbNamedRay
What’s with that Cubs logo?
Cuck the Fubs!
Go White Sox!
April 20, 2007

FTboomer
Hated the movie. Can’t wait to hear & read about the Chicago dinner\tasting.
April 20, 2007

mbannon
Not angry at Sideways at all (loved the movie). It forced me to move on to other types of wine. I’ll come back to Pinot after the hype dies down. Or rather, after the hype moves on to another varietal.
April 20, 2007

GottaGoDrink
QOTD- I still can’t figure out how a basically depressing movie with unlikeable characters sparked such an interest in Pinot. My buddy keeps trying Pinot on me because he loves the stuff, but I’ve liked maybe one of the dozen or two I’ve tried. Anyway, it’s too bad it raised the price for all the old time Pinot drinkers.
April 20, 2007

waibeans
QOD wasn’t into wine when I first saw sideways, although I did come to share Mile’s sentiment towards merlot.. fancy that.
April 20, 2007

Winodontist
Enjoyed the episode. I have been drinking tons of Pinot Noirs in the last year and anybody who says they suck or are lame just has not tried the right ones. I used to think they were just watered down, funky tasting wines, but no more.

QOTD: I am glad Sideways hyped Pinot, before that I had not been drinking any good ones and it opened my eyes. Bummer on the price elevation though.

Enjoy Chicago, eat at Frontera grill for the best gourmet Mexican in a nice atmosphere.
April 20, 2007

waibeans
ello guvnah!

beware of the Vay Ner Chuck Norris!!!
April 20, 2007

KenP
QOTD: I loved the movie Sideways. One of my favs. Went for a bike race last year near Buellton. Stayed at the Windmill. Odd little town.
April 20, 2007

JumboJ
Can’t say i don’t like pinot noir… but the price tag on them makes me pazzz everytime. They aren’t very reliable wines either.
QODT: Not that angry at all. I thought the movie was funny.
April 20, 2007

Tahmedee
Exactly how do you know what Christina Aguilera tastes like? I’d love to hear that story sometime.
April 20, 2007

Andrew
I loved Sideways, I was already into Pinot before the film but it made it fun to talk to people about it as it became more popular. Anything that gets more people into wine is cool. PLus I love the total irreverance of drinking a ‘61 Cheval Blanc in a diner from a styrophone cup! Top notch baby!!
April 20, 2007

Fiorentina!
Hey Gary!

Thanks again for the wrist bands!
QotD – To be honest, I’m a bit indifferent when it comes to ‘Sideways.’ Sure, it really make Pinot Noir sales sky rocket and took a shot at Merlot sales, but it really gave a boost to the wine industry. Still, don’t worry because Merlot is going to be making a comeback! A book called ‘The Merlot Murders’ has just been released and is being advertised as the next ‘Sideways.’
1992 called and said that Merlot is back in the game!
April 20, 2007

Greg B.
Ok now we are talking Hollywood. Come on over to the dark side Gary. I’m in LA waiting for ya. Nice job yet again. QOTD- Before Sideways I knew very little about Pinot, but that feels like years ago now. Ya canâ€™t be mad at the Movie, because remember we drink “all wines”. The buzz on Pinot will go away and so will the over pricing. So, in the meantime. Open up some Merlot, I know, I know, No freakin Merlot you say, but just like the stock market or real estate when everybody is out, you should be in.