Some Wines At The Blue Ribbon

Some Wines At The Blue Ribbon – Episode #467

May 16, 2008

Gary Vaynerchuk goes on the road today and tastes some wines at one of his favorite places, The Blue Ribbon Wine Bar.

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Comments on this episode(276) Leave a comment ›

“QOTD: Never actually been to a wine bar, but I got a gift card for Ch…” by Dessert Wine Nerd
“Really enjoying the on-location shots…though a little surprised abou…” by Emily & James H.
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2006 Compagni Portis Vineyard GewÃ¼rztraminer
2004 Mercouri Estate RedOther Greek Red Wine
2006 Brewer Clifton Rio Vista Pinot Noir

Links mentioned in todays episode.

276 Responses

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May 22, 2008

normanzo
QTD: Otto has been my favorite for a few years, because the wines are interesting and good, the crowd is fun, and the staff are pros. But, I’m looking for alternatives…
May 22, 2008

JonathanB
My favorite wine bar is Park Blue in NYC on 58th street. Everything Fonda is doing over there is fantastic. Wish I could afford to hang out there more!
May 22, 2008

Alex
Hollywood Vine in Hollywood, Florida (just outside of Fort Lauderdale) is the bomb. Steve has never driven me wrong.
May 22, 2008

Josh
QOTD: The Tasting Room, Seattle WA
May 22, 2008

Luis Felipe
LOVED THE CHANGE OF PACE AND NEW LOCATION. Kudos to Blue Ribbon who had the balls to let you critique their wine.

QOTD: Haven’t been to enough wine bars to have a favorite.
May 21, 2008

4 iron
Anyone in eastern NC, we need to start a tasting group!
May 21, 2008

Craig Owen
So last night my tasting group met with Alsace Gewurztraminer as the theme. I brought a bottle of the Bucklin as a ringer. (We always taste blind.) I don’t think anyone was fooled – its overall flavor profile was too different from all of the Alsatians – but quality-wise, it held its own and delivered good balance and length. Plus, it went really nicely with the crab ravioli I ordered. Thanks for the rec Gary!
May 21, 2008

wine luver
hey how do you know wat sheeps but smells like also you are hilarious
May 21, 2008

Dan NYC
Nice show. I like it when you film from different locations. It just breaks up the feel. QOTD: OTTO NYC, I’ve been going there for yrs so I’m partial to them. Also, Bin 71 on UWS small place with great feel and vino and bar Jamon with great spanish wine but very small.
May 21, 2008

Brian SF
Bacchus Wine Bar on Russian Hill in San Francisco!!!
May 20, 2008

Michael Mohammadi
Hey Gary,

I don’t understand how you can say that the 2004 Mercouri Estate Red is a great value at $12, but not worth it for $16. Especially since you gave it a rating of 87 pts which for me, is a great score for any wine under $20.

This exemplifies a major problem in today’s wine ratings: people think that anything under 90 points (considered outstanding by traditional scaling) isn’t worth it. Giving wines that are 85-87 points (especially at a good price point like $17) a pass skews the rating scale and can push beginners away from some good wines.

I realize you tell people not to trust the critic, but trust their “pal”, but there is still come consistency required by the critic when it comes to wine value. At the end of the day, people still use the numerical score (and your “vaynerpazz” statement) as a guide on what to try. An 87 point by your rating is a wine that is “very good”, and for $17 could be considered a great value, and at least considered something worth trying.
May 20, 2008

mike76
I am the classic lurker, have seen virtually every episode of WLTV and have “spread the thunder” to countless friends, yet this is my first comment. I live in Reno, but am frequently in San Francisco, so I have 2 favorite wine bars. In Reno: Washoe wine company – by far the best place for wine in Northern Nevada. In SF: the wine club – not technically a wine bar, but they have excellent tastings on the weekend and their prices and selection are fantastic.
May 20, 2008

Wade
These days wine bars have too many diminishing returns for me, both financially and psychologically. Effortlessly spend mountains of cash, crunch the quality for price numbers, get depressed, perform bedtime ablutions in a haze of self loathing, wonder when the madness will stop…it’s just too perilous to go to a wine bar! One of my favorite places to drink wine though, especially when Spain traded in pesetas, was in the Plaze Virreina in Barcelona. Great neighborhood setting in Gracia, a church at the top of the plaza, unneutered male dogs off leash…

And GV, how good to see that you remain the quintessential populist, seated on the ground in Madison Sq. Park with little regard for your wardrobe.
May 20, 2008

AtlantaJack
QOTD: The Grape in Phipps Plaza, Atlanta

Great tastings, great people and always a fun time!
May 20, 2008

italianwinelover
Very nice and different ep! Love when you go on field trips!

QOTD: Bin 36 in Chicago….interesting wine list and nice tapas menu!

Enjoy your travels!
May 20, 2008

Tom
California Wine Merchant in SF
May 20, 2008

Augustus
Great wine shop across the street from my apartment that also has a wine/tasting bar – it’s called The Wine Crush. My buddy and I usually cruise in on Thursdays a couple of hours before the tasting officially begins and we taste along with the owners as the reps come through. Then we taste through that weekend’s store tasting, but we take our time and really get to know the wines. As a matter of fact, we tasted the Brewer Clifton Pinot you had in this episode a few weeks back. It really is good juice – dynamite, really.
May 20, 2008

JeffH.
I’ve been to many. My current favorite is Dolcetto Wine bar in Charlotte, NC.
May 20, 2008

Kristen
Nice episode- it was very timely! I just had some great white wine, Makedonikos, in Chicago…which leads me to the QOTD:

When in Chicago, go to Pops for Champagne at 601 State St. Awesome champagne/sparkling list (and some good spirits too). Even my friends and I, all CKCs, got to enjoy a sparkling Portuguese wine in the city! I think you’d enjoy the choices there…and all the good food.

http://www.popsforchampagne.com/
May 20, 2008

Ben Morris
Portalis, bringing you the best the Ballard ‘hood has to offer. That’s in Seattle for all you non-seattleites out there.
May 19, 2008

Jarvis H
I had to leave a comment GV, at least to say that I have never been to a wine bar.
May 19, 2008

Paul
The Tasting Room in Houston, or Cova.
Both are excellent.
May 19, 2008

Little Jonny H
I always love a little change in the everyday show, GV!

QOTD: Don’t have one… never been… too poor!!
May 19, 2008

JayZee
QOTD: Market Square Wine Bar, Cleveland, OH
May 19, 2008

pawncop
Good show and eood education.

QOTD – have not been to one yet.