California Zinfandel Death Match

California Zinfandel Death Match – Episode #448

April 21, 2008

Gary Vaynerchuk explores 3 very serious Zinfandels on the thunder show and talks a little more about his new book!

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“QOTD: Late to comment once again, so Im not sure how I could help book…” by Dessert Wine Nerd
“GARY:
USE A WHITE TABLE CLOTH OR A WHITE NAPKIN ON THE SET . WE COU…” by JIM
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2004 Tres Sabores Rutherford ZinfandelNapa Red Zinfandel
2005 Neyers Zinfandel High ValleyOther California Red Zinfandel
2005 Ridge Lytton Springs ZinfandelSonoma Red Zinfandel

Links mentioned in todays episode.

403 Responses

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April 22, 2008

BW
QOTD – Do some sort of buyer #x gets to be on the show with you

What to do this week :
I am looking for some good QPR Washington St reds & some good QPR Gewertriminer’s
Would love to see a show on either or both
April 22, 2008

italianwinelover
Send your book to the wineries you suggest they can sell it at the winery, sign copies and send to major media figures, what about in boutique wine stores around the country…too many than major wine stores! And of course send it Oprah although I can’t see her as a wine person…

Never can get enough champagne
or
what about Organic Wines in honor of Earth Day 2008!!
April 22, 2008

Dan McHugh
Gary,

Great episode. I was at Ridge about 18 months ago, and since have been drawn to their wines – I’m a little disappointed to hear the latest Lytton may not be up to par. Also a big fan of Neyers stuff recently. I was wondering about doing an episode with some of the “gimmicks” out there supposed to improve wine – such as the Clef du Vin and the Vinturi. Maybe select a wine that has promise, but perhaps isn’t quite ready, and see if any of these these things can help, and get your take on these types of things in general. Keep up the great work. Gotta go order my copies of the book.
April 22, 2008

M
QOTD2: Malagousia or Xinomavro
April 22, 2008

steven p
Gary

One of my favorite bloggers is the marketing guru Seth Godin. Godin always makes a portion of his books (sometimes all of the book) free to download. It is amazing how this drives sales. Offer a few nuggets (more than a teaser which is just cheesy) and see if people will pony up to read the rest.
April 22, 2008

Anthony L.
I’d like to see some Southern Italian Wines, such as Montapulciano di Abruzzi
April 22, 2008

Stevie Ann, the Wine Chick
Gary V!

Hey, Stevie Ann in the Phoenix area here. Love, love, love your show. Longtime lurker, first-time commenter. If you haven’t already, try the Tres Sabores “Porque No?” Zin. It’s one of my faves â€“ Julie Johnson is such an amazing, talented winemaker.

QOTD 1 – A: Marketing ideas for your new tome …

— Do something on the streets a la Jay Leno during the week of your book’s release. Except where his segment is called Jaywalking, you could call yours Vaywalking (I want credit for this!). Interview people on the streets of NJ/NY about wine and if they answer questions correctly, they get a signed book. Give locations of where you’ll be on the prior day’s episode so that there will be mobs of people there, which will create the curiosity factor, spike interest and generate sales. Mott can film the segment(s) â€“ it’d be hilarious.

— Have a “game show” of sorts on your book release day â€“ modeled kinda after Michael Feldman’s “Whadya Know?” I listen to on Saturdays. While his is a radio show, yours could be a live gig at a local auditorium or at an outside venue â€“ and a media event. Your game show could be called “101 Questions” and winners receive your autographed “101 Wines” book, Thunder wristbands and a Link It Up, Mott t-shirt.

QOTD 2: Future show ideas …

— Dude, it’s hot here … can you do a show about rosÃ©s? Favorites of mine have been Selby and Charles Melton. Curious what you might taste …. I’d like to see what you think about what’s out there in the rosÃ© world.

— Perhaps compare major U.S. label wines with their second label wines (the ones they usually make with leftover fruit or extra juice). See how the higher-priced, more well-known major labels compare in terms of taste and $$ to their lower-priced, lesser-known wines.

— How about tasting non-alcoholic wines? I used to be a wine steward in a gourmet store here and I was surprised how many people would come in asking for them for variety of reasons: on meds, pregnant or nursing a baby, serving a dinner guest who’s alcoholic, yada yada. Not tons of people, mind you, but enough to raise my eyebrow. I never tried these “why bother” wines before.

— I have in-laws in South Dakota who drink berry wines â€“ no grapes in ‘em. It makes me want to gag just thinking about it, but hey, it’d be more fun to watch you do it.

— Also, I agree with Ralph â€“ include some Arizona wines. Page Springs Cellars and Caduceus are the best, IMHO. surprised how many wineries there are here in AZ …..

Thanks for your show, Gary-man. I have you to thank for introducing me to so many wines that I thoroughly enjoy … especially Boudreaux wines from Rob Newsom in WA.
April 22, 2008

Sarno
I’d like to see a show where we get to see “the” new Mott Link it Up shirts. You know you have them…
April 22, 2008

Dom
04 Barolo pleeeease! I have been hearing so much about it and I would love to get your take on it!
April 22, 2008

Kevin Carpenter
Idea for book:

Talk to the people at Wine and Spirits. I don’t know how you’d go about getting a book sold there. Surprisingly, they have a lot of different wine accessories, but I have NEVER seen a book there. You could be the first. That would be big.
April 22, 2008

pokai
Ideas for book: The best Restaurants, clubs, etc. that promote your book and show in house (with video or picture proof) will be entered to contest for you to visit sometime this summer. This coincides with a book/wine/rv tour across America. Gary tours across America visiting colleges, local TV shows, drinking wine, giving away wine, books, etc.
April 22, 2008

Angelwuss
As a further point to what I said below you could have every book you buy be 1 ticket into the raffle or something of that nature.
April 22, 2008

Angelwuss
QOTD – You could offer a raffle for some private wine classes with you. Go through a tasting of a few different smelling and tasting complex wines. Really break it down for them by having real food to show the different smells individually. It is kind of an “Improve your palate with Gary V” idea. You could even do this on the show, which might be fun.

Another idea would be to have someone on the show to do the tasting with you.
April 22, 2008

KWC
Not a big Zen drinker, but this definitely had my mouth watering.

QOTD – What about incentives for referrals, basically you collect emails from others whom you convinced to purchase it, X number gets you an autographed copy, XX number gets you a bottle of wine from the book, XXX gets you the ability to select the topic for a show, XXXX gets you 3 bottle pack from the book, and the top referal person gets to be a guest taster next time they are around winelibrary. Just one long thought.

QQOTD – I saw a few people suggesting doing a cult cab episode, which would be interesting. How about potential future cult cabs, there are a few newer low production cabs that are getting a lot of press but aren’t at the “cult” price levels…yet. These would be pricey but not over the top (50-75 bones)
April 22, 2008

Kyle Battis
Hey There Gary,

First time viewer, long time wine drinker.

I love the show first off and I have heard great things about you.

Anyway, I actually work as an internet marketer and have a couple friends that teach people how to create Amazon Best Seller campaigns.

Mark Joyner (the man who created and sold the first Digital e-book online) has a training on how to put together an Amazon Best Seller Campaign.

I am not sure where he has it for sale but you can probably find out at his main site called Simnpleology.com.

Hope that helps and best of luck with your campaign.

Sincerely,

Kyle Battis
Concord, NH
April 22, 2008

MikeyB
Would love to see a show about affordable whites for summer backyard sippin!
April 22, 2008

Luis Felipe
QOTD #2: 17 seasons is a looooong time, so why not revisit the first few episodes’ wine selections to see if YOUR pallate has changed?

Maybe Mott could do a split-screen of Gary 17-season-ago and Gary 17-seasons-later. You know, to juxtapose your two reactions as a play by play.
April 22, 2008

Luis Felipe
QOTD #1: Colaborate with the wineries that you mention in the Book. Everyone wins in that situation
April 22, 2008

Kathy Hughes
To get the book out there…send an autographed copy to Oprah, Ellen, Conan, etc.

THis week – can’t get enough champagne information.

All the best from Naples Kathy aka Champagne Lady
April 22, 2008

sokolow
I’d love to see another show on Ontario wines. Pelee Island is just alright, but there are some stand up wineries concentrated in the Niagara region. Henry of Pelham’s Speck Family Reserve Riesling is great, and their Reserve Baco Noir is really interesting. Fielding Estates makes a mean Riesling too. Flat Rock Cellars has a really nice Pinot Noir you should try. Prove it to the Americans that Canada can indeed make good wine!

As for book marketing – try organizing tastings/book displays at different stores around the country. Draw people in with the wine, get them to buy a book.
April 22, 2008

Colin
GV – Fun show. QOTD – Since couldn’t sell a gold watch for $5 – my thoughts are nill. Something with Facebook friends perhaps? Gifts for 2+ purchases is a wonderful idea.

QOTD Dos – I’ve never had wines from the UK (even when I lived there!) or you could do digestives/digestivos! Or how ’bout a flight from one winery – say Bonny Doon or Simi, etc.
April 22, 2008

Ryan
you should do a downtown NJ show on the street…
April 22, 2008

Giggleloop
Regarding QOTD2: I’m a new viewer to the show, I’ve only seen a few episode so far, so I’ve no idea if you’ve ever done these or not, but how about some wines from Missouri wine country? I’m in St. Louis, so I’m a bit biased, but I’d be interested to see what you thought of some of our St. James, Hermanhoff, Stone Hill, etc. wines.

I had a lovely honeyed wine this past October at Chaumette Vineyards in Sainte Genevieve, Missouri… I think it was their Bouvet Blanc. I also liked their Huguenot Red. (I’m not a big wine drinker, and prefer sweetness to dryness) Just a thought.
April 22, 2008

bfrankphoto
QOTD: Buy thousands of copies. Then return them. Works well in the record industry.
April 22, 2008

Xavier
qotd: reward once every week someone out of people who bought 5 or more books with a secret 3 pack of your choice at their next winepurchase at winelibrary..

mh ild like to see u taste the selvrarossa 2004.. 3 glasses in G.R. for under 15 euro! I ordered some here in here europe for myself as well. More CDP tastings always welcome as well.. or perhaps a vertical tasting sometime.. clos mogador 2005.. guess i could go on for a while