ZAP! (Zinfandel Advocates & Producers)

ZAP! (Zinfandel Advocates & Producers) – Episode #612

January 23, 2009

Gary Vaynerchuk is among the first to taste a Zinfandel from the most diverse vineyard imaginable.

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Comments on this episode(194) Leave a comment ›

“Gary I am a huge fan of Storybook Mountain Zins and Jerry Seps, yourre…” by Kevin C
“As I’ve seen is the case with lots of others by the other comments- I’…” by JudeMurphy
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2006 Heritage Vineyards Zinfandel

Links mentioned in today’s episode.

194 Responses

January 23, 2009

MattUD
Pretty cool, the ZAP people sending you this bottle to try on the show. Favorite wine event so far had to be the first open house at the WL!
January 23, 2009

Greg Z
Love a good Zin. I just tried a wonderful $16 Zin called Volante. Their 04 won best of show, double gold at the LA County Show. I will send you an 04 and an 06 which hasn’t been tasted yet. They only make a couple hundred cases.
January 23, 2009

cheap wine finder
Hey Gary that zinfandel.org website link is messed up. It has two http://’s in there.
January 23, 2009

Ben N.
Good show. EOS makes a nice Zin.
January 23, 2009

WineWoman
QOTD: I love your Grand Tastings at The Manor. I would even be happy with tastings on a smaller scale, but that one is my favorite of the year. I’ve been to The Virginia Wine Festival a few years ago, an outdoors event which was fun, but a little difficult to navigate and of course only serving Virginia wines.
January 23, 2009

John Farrin
5
January 23, 2009

Phil G
QOTD: Vinitaly was great!
January 23, 2009

Phil G
love zin – have a good weekend!
January 23, 2009

Andy
You need to do more Zin shows G .
QOTD—— Yadkin Valley Wine Fest in Elkin NC , Great wine, food and good music . Late May every year …… only NC wines
January 23, 2009

Collin
l’Ete’ du Vin. America’s oldest charity wine auction held each Spring/Summer in Nashville, Tennessee.
January 23, 2009

Dr. Dan
I’ve already opened up a Barolo for drinking later today; otherwise, I’d be opening a Zin now. This episode gets me excited. The last Zin that I had, about 2 weeks ago, was 15.9 alcohol, but the fruit was so intense that I couldn’t detect any excess alcohol. Truly amazing.
January 23, 2009

rambler
haven’t had a tone of zin—- what i did have always left me wanting a little more out of the grape. I was through Sanoma last week and had some very good examples.
QOTD: Tasting through a line of amazing wines with Margo Van Saveren. We spent about 1hr with her as she led us through the tasting and the blending of Cing Cepages…top 10 moments in wine for sure.
January 23, 2009

RADV
top 10!
January 23, 2009

GlennB
Zins and wine events;

Best Zins are mountain grown with some care to Alcohol and over-ripeness.
elegant and powerful and rustic too!
Faves, Maybe the Montelena or Peter Franus Brandlin ranch.

Best show:
travelling Italian show in Oct. / Nov. here in Toronto or in NYC.

and a great early wine experience circa 1993 (when it was novel).

keep up the energy Y’all, and congrats on a human Pres. I hope the VEEP is not like last one.
January 23, 2009

Red
Nice show Gary. Love the UC Davis reference-GO AGS!

QOTD: President’s Day Wine Weekend in Murphys, Calaveras County, CA.
January 23, 2009

Kenny Galloway
QOTD: Le Grand Tasting in Paris, 21-22 November 2009. All the top producers and personalities in France show up. 25 euros to taste as many grand crus and 100-300 dollar wine you can imagine. Tons of value plays as well. It’s organized by the famous French wine critics Bettane and Desseauve. This year I had the chance to meet Philippe Guigal at a Prestige Tasting of his La Turque Cote-Rotie, that was WOW for sure. However, the wine that most excited me was a Côtes du Jura Vin de Paille from Château d’Arlay. Very sweet yet very refined and a total nuts explosion! I sipped and spat out over 100 wines during the event. YUMMY!
January 23, 2009

Lauren
The Mount Vernon Wine Festival is a beautiful event on the property of George Washington’s ancestral home. The best of the best Virginia wines and a gorgeous sunset over the Potomac…what more could you want?
January 23, 2009

Dr T in NC
QOTD — have to say never been to one, although some charity tastings have probably come close to 50+
January 23, 2009

joel delon
Hi gary love those zap glasses !! could you possibly forward me a case of those glasses in france
QOTD : will be the next wine fair event for me in brussels tomorrow i leave south of france for a darker country where i’ll’try and be the best advocate for languedoc wines
January 23, 2009

cthomasc
QOTD: Sadly, I’ve never been to a wine event. I’ll have to change that, hopefully sooner rather than later.
January 23, 2009

Chippewamike
QOTD: Uncorked in Detroit.

More Zin shows please
January 23, 2009

M
QOTD: I’ve been to one big wine event and it was a bit of a disappointment. I won’t name it because it was a fundraiser and wine was only part of it. They were successful at raising money for an important charity. I wanted to taste wine not fight my way to a wine station only to get pushed away before tasting more than one wine. There were many stations serving 3-4 wines. The pourer would ask which one you want. If you were given some wine, you would get pushed out of the way for the next person. I wanted to belly-up and taste 3-4. I had my spittoon (a cup). I was ready. Obviously I was not at the right event for me.
January 23, 2009

John Farrin
QOTD: I need to get out more. The best wine event was probably your 500th episode in SF.
January 23, 2009

Jayhitek
QOTD: Some Australian wine tasting I went to with a group of people at a golf course many years ago. A lot of fun.
January 23, 2009

*/^_^\*
qotd: best wine event was my first tasting. the wines themselves were not inspiring but the experience was….
January 23, 2009

Rebecca Robinson
Greetings from the ZAP Office in Rough & Ready, California!

Great job, Gary, talking about Zinfandel just now. We wanted to answer your question regarding the Heritage Vineyard Zinfandel. The first vintage from the vineyard was produced in 1997 by Nils Venge, Saddleback Cellars. To add to what you said, ZAP supports the research at the vineyard run by the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology, under the direction of Dr. James Wolpert. The research we are doing will help ensure Zinfandel’s future. Thanks for your interest and spreading the word about this unusual historic vineyard.

Also, just a quick word to the Vayniacs out there. Our Festival in San Francisco has four very different events. Check it out!

Cheers!
Rebecca Robinson
January 23, 2009

Rob
QOTD: The best and most enjoyable wine event that I have been to was the most recent Fort Mason party in San Francisco!
January 23, 2009

Scott EJ
Thanks, G, I’ve been pondering what to pop tonight and I think you’ve just made my decision for me: a zin.

QOTD: Taste of Walla Walla. Most of the biggies from WW are there and are very generous with their pours. And, if you can last till the end, some are finishing off bottles and are not shy about filling whole glasses. Then, you bust out to after parties at the local tasting rooms (most within walking distance) for more. It’s like Spring break for wine nerds.
January 23, 2009

BF
QOTD: never been to one with > 50 peeps.
January 23, 2009

DF
QOTD: No wine events for a while, unfortunately.

I brought Sebastiani Zinfandel to my French host family when I visited France a long time ago. The father of the family said it tasted like the wine he drank in Algeria during the war there.
January 23, 2009

Heather W
I liked the short show. I’m glad your mixing up the formats in 2009, maybe now it will be easier for me to catch up on all the episodes I missed.

QOTD: Ok, so I have 2. Definately in first place was the ExpoVina in Zurich. 20 Swiss Francs, and you can taste as many wines as you can get to. It’s amazing. It was set up on 7 different boats on the lake in Zurich and you walk from boat to boat. And then in second place, I went to this thing in Epcot Center in Disneyworld in Orlando. It was the Epcot Food and Wine festival. It was set up in the Epcot World Showcase, so you walk around the lake and there are booths set up from different countries with all kinds of different foods and wines. It was pretty expensive because you have to pay at every booth, but I had such a good time with my two best friends that it was so worth the money.
January 23, 2009

YoungDave
QOTD: EASY! The first Vayniac Cab barrel tasting at Crushpad. This is when I first met Gary, and a few of us extended the party afterwords at a VERY small local wine bar… which was a bit overwhelmed by us when we all arrived to pack the place!
January 23, 2009

Bob in Nashville
Ete’ du Vin. And we’re glad that this year you’re going to be joining us here in Nashville for that.
January 23, 2009

Russ
QOTD: South Beach Wine and Food Festival
http://hospitality.fiu.edu/sobe/
January 23, 2009

Justin
The Zinfandel.org Link is broken! sends me to http://http//www.zinfandel.org/

First time poster. Keep up the good work Gary.
January 23, 2009

Carilius Maximus
Hospice D’Rhone Paso Robles. It’s hot, It’s crowded, It’s expensive, It’s great!!!
January 23, 2009

walkieboy
QOTD: Big Red in Manhattan, all the red meat and St Francis wines you can enjoy, their Pagani vineyard Zin is one of my favorites.
January 23, 2009

dalmation
I like the new angle: fewer distractions than straight on the window.
January 23, 2009

Flavio
QOTD: I’m not a big fan of the large-scale overcrowded wine events, although I still attend some. The best event I’ve ever attended was a relatively small and super exclusive Haut Brion dinner in London last year, hosted by the Claret Club (details and TN’s in the Forum http://tv.winelibrary.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14366&highlight=).
January 23, 2009

CBone
QOTD: I am sad to say that I have never been to a wine event that wasn’t a tasting I or friends of mine have put together! I have been to some great beer fests, though.

I just might go to this ZAP fest next year. I love the Zins!
January 23, 2009

Bal H.
Back in the early 90’s – the Aspen Food and Wine Festival. Tons of wines, not too crowded. The Italian tent was fabulous – proscuitto, huges wheels of parm. Reggiano and a cooking demo by Julia Child.
Great stuff!!!!
January 23, 2009

Kevin K
QOTD: Never been to one with more than 10 people. =(
January 23, 2009

Sarno
The Thunder Cruise will be the BEST wine event I’ve ever been to!
January 23, 2009

Redmeat
QOTD…Hands down it is the Taste of Washington…..you know how cool it is Gary…You were a guest speaker there!
January 23, 2009

italianwinelover
Nice job would like to see more on Zins on the show!

QOTD: The first one I went to was in Chicago put on my Binny’s at Drury Lane Theater – over 600 wines – had a blast and got me hooked! The best one was in Grant Park in Chicago, great food, great wine and under the stars by the lake – it was wonderful!!! No great stand out wines, but the experience was worth it!
January 23, 2009

KevO
Great show, while I’m not a huge fan of Zin – most are too jammy for me – I have tasted a bunch.

QOTD: I’ve been to many, several industry wine tastings in Orlando, the The Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival in Miami (this year February 19-22, 2009 http://www.sobewineandfoodfest.com/2009/index.php ), several years of the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival in the Fall (http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/special-events/epcot-international-food-and-wine-festival/ ), the Sandestin Food Wine & Food Festival http://www.sandestinwinefestival.com/success.php , St Mary’s College (Moraga, CA) Summer Wine Festival (Aug 2009)to name a few.
January 23, 2009

Murso
QotD – The mind reels to the myriad events, trade shows, and gala/ benefits over the years. Zap 1999 Trade Show was great cause my employer set up private appointments for three days at the likes of Saddleback, Silver Oak, Pine Ridge, etc.

‘M’ makes a valid point about the downside of big public events – while they can be great, informative, and fun, there’s often a threshold of diminished returns if you’re not ready to handle the sometimes ‘boisterous’ crowds.

At another place, we held a bi-monthly tasting for about a hundred, or so, but the year culminated with our smaller Cream of the Crop show for the deep pockets. My first year there, we greeted guests w/ 1993 Bella Vista Franciacorta from 3L. Next, Pol Roger Brut Reserve in Mags. We also poured, on that sunny day, ‘97 Napanook, ‘96 Silver Oak, Napa, ‘00 Opus, ‘00 and ‘01 Viader, as well as Caymus, a couple of Luce, ‘96 Clerc-Milon, ‘98 Lunch-Bags,’98 Petite- Eglise, and several Vintage Ports, and dessrt wines. Country club setting, tableside carving, and all that stuff I’d known, and had before, but when it became me hosting an event like this – then I felt great.
January 23, 2009

BobbyTiger
Sorry……………..don’t do wine “events”. Too many people for my pleasure. However, we do occasionally go to wine tastings pared with foods, which we find enjoyable. A very nice one was at the Iron Gate Restaurant in D.C., held jointly with the Barboursville Winery in VA.
They also took some grapes, which are grown on sight, (in the middle of DC no less), and produced a souvenir bottle for the guests. A nice event.
Continue to like the one bottle reviews.
January 23, 2009

manonthemoon
Zins always please me, but never seem to have that many on hand.

QOTD: I really haven’t been to any over 50 people that I really enjoyed, almost all were either VA producers or featured meh producers IMO like Taste of DC. I have really enjoyed the few wine dinners I have attended, especially the Shea Vineyard one, but none were over 30 people or so.
January 23, 2009

Adam J
QOTD: Sorry to say that all the wine events I have been in attendence at, I was working and not tasting. The Hudson Valley Wine Fest was lots of fun…altough all I remember was dishing up portions of lasagna for the all happy folks at the festival. Thanks for the show!
January 23, 2009

Rowland
…
January 23, 2009

NY Pete
holy crap!there’s a show today! RAZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
January 23, 2009

NY Pete
bring back laid back friday.
January 23, 2009

stewart l
you tasted the 2006 Zin. On their website they said they would taste the new 2007 vintage
January 23, 2009

NY Pete
listen to Mott complaining about linking it up…. RAZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
January 23, 2009

NY Pete
QOTD … Webster Hall Wine 2.0 compliments of Cruvee …
January 23, 2009

Lisa!
QOTD: Salute to the Arts Wine Festival in Sonoma! Great art, food and wine! Lots of fun!
January 23, 2009

Michael Schoonmaker
QOTD: Never been. 110% stoked for the Boston Wine Expo this weekend!
January 23, 2009

Rick D
QOTD: Never been to one that large.
January 23, 2009

wayno da wino
qotd: A “Wine Event wit 50 peeps”??? Can’t remember attendin’
such an Event. But been to hundreds of Wine Tasting Rooms at
Winerys if dats good fur anything……
January 23, 2009

Grapestompper (Dave)
I love Zin and would love to hit the ZAP event some year. I thinks it’s time for a zin tasting episode. Have there been any recently?

QOTD: Best wine event I’ve ever been to was a tasting I did on a Holland America Cruise. About 150 people there, top notch wines and pairings. It was awesome.
January 23, 2009

A dumb Rhine king
>>I like the new angle: fewer distractions than straight on the window
I agree with dalmation. I was actually thinking that during the show.

QOTD: I’ve never been to any good big wine events here in the good ‘ol MN.
January 23, 2009

John Cannata
QOTD: Never been. I’d like to attend and will scout around for something local.
January 23, 2009

Dominus
I like this format but was hoping for “Laid Back Friday” on the man-couch.

QOTD: I always attend the Washington, DC Wine Expo but the crowds are huge and the freeloading rookies don’t know the “etiquette” to get your pour and move out of the way. So my most memorable has to be a Virginia Wine Festival a few years ago with the little woman in the rolling hills of horse country. They showcased some ok wines along with foodie seminars and an actor re-enacting Thos Jefferson. Good music, fun atmosphere in a beautiful setting. What more can one ask?

Cheers
January 23, 2009

Mario
What’s up with Mott? You say “Link it up!” and there’s no link? You’re slacking Mott, You’re slackin!
January 23, 2009

Dan Manu
QOTD: Semillon and Seafood festival in the Hunter Valley, one hour out of Sydney Australia. You pay an entry fee and then you can taste all the local semillon you want and some of the country’s top chefs make food to go with it… and you guessed it it’s seafood!!! mmmm
Can’t wait for it, it’s in April every year.
January 23, 2009

Cameron W
QOTD: Probably the 500th episode party, does that count? Plan to attend the Taste of WA this year.

Love Zin.
January 23, 2009

Mario
Sorry Mott – I’m the slacker. I though the links would be in the viddler bar – found them – feel free to throw something heavy at my head.
January 23, 2009

Heath Payne
QOTD- The International Pinot Noir Celebration(IPNC) “Passport to Pinot”. The whole IPNC event is awesome, but it is expensive. The “Passport” tasting allows you taste wines from all of the Pinot noir producers showcased for a fraction of the cost. The spectrum is huge..Pinot noir’s from Oregon, California, Burgundy, New Zealand, Austria, Tasmania, and on. Hands down the best wine event I have been to.

cheers,
Heath
January 23, 2009

BANKNOTE
Jerry Seps is an awesome guy. I showed up at Storybook mountain with some friends a few years ago and he gave us a private tour in his caves. He’s been making great zins for a long long time.

QOTD- Sonoma County Harvest Festival

Although next month I’m pouring my Banknote Wine at the San Francisco Chronicle wine competition public tasting. I’m sure that event will be my new favorite.
January 23, 2009

Riche
I luv to Zin,,,,,,,,,

QOTD:
In September 2007 I attended the Napa St Supery ELU Release/Blending party, with approx 200 people attending.
It had: sun shining, wine tastings, live band, great eats, and wine blending competion. This was my favorite.

RichE
Upstate NY
January 23, 2009

Sharon
That’s the way I like my Zin, jammy (seriously).
QOTD: I enjoyed the Zind-Humbrecht class starring Olivier Humbrecht himself the most. He had STAH POWAH. Oh, I enjoyed the GV open house at the wine lib last year too .
January 23, 2009

Chris B
QOTD: The Philbrook Wine Experience in Tulsa, OK. Happens every other year. Was able to go to the industry-only tasting in 2008, tried some amazing wines. Winemakers from Bonny Doon, Copain, Zaca Mesa, Nickel & Nickel, Rombauer, Calistoga Cellars among many others were there.
January 23, 2009

OSCAR FALCON LARA
Nice, Zinfandel. I like Zinfandel.

QOTD: A few years ago there was an event we had, a harvest and grape pressing feast, when we made wine in the mountains of Coahuila at Los Lirios called “La Vendimia De La”, there were definitely more than 100 people for the five years that it went on. We made a few bottles every year and everybody got three to six bottles when it was bottled from the year before (only 2.5 tons of fruit at most). It was a great party and we had everybody from our social circle pressing grapes by foot on plastic and wooden barrels and pails. Good Times.
January 23, 2009

Glen,....winecrazy.com
Nice show….I’m gonna have to try some of that. IF I can get it..!!!

Was in today and I saw Sahsa. He’s just a cool dude…!!! I love your Ftaher.

Some cops showed up because someone set the silent panic alarm.

QOTD: Santa Barbara County Vintners Festival
January 23, 2009

brorjace
QOTD: I’m a little biased, but the Piccadilly Fall Tasting in Champaign, IL is pretty good! Other than that, I just do trade stuff, and that’s just a lot of work normally.
January 23, 2009

Ian Leong
Only had 1 Zin so far, it’s ridiculously hard to find Zin in Singapore, and if you do, it’s usually expensive.

QOTD: I’ve never been to one *sob*
January 23, 2009

AaronB
QOTD: The annual Art and Wine Festival in downtown Placerville, CA. They close off the street for 3 hours while 30+ local wineries serve 2-4 wines each. Oh yeah, there’s art too.
January 23, 2009

amgryger
QOTD: I’ve only been to two wine events of that size, the 3-29 Party at the WL and the Crushpad NYC party.
January 23, 2009

john maki
Common Gary? ZAP is always held at Fort Mason in San Francisco – not the firestation where you’ve been, but 2 of the main pier buidings – HUGE!
January 23, 2009

Nick Hewitt
Hey Gary, we only have a small handful of Zinfandal producers in New Zealand, the only one I have tried from your part of the world is a Bonny Doon. Would love to try more if they were available, I think importers don’t bring them in because once they are landed and have the exchange rate changed they end up being above $60 for an entry level. When us kiwis are swamped with Aussie fruit bombs (that are struggling to sell) there is no need or demand for any other big reds.

Best wine event is always harvest hawkes bay, heading there on the 6th of Feb for another debaucherous long weekend. Then Marlborough the following weekend for their wine and food festival.

Take Care

Nick
January 23, 2009

Chris Braun
QOTD: Not sure it’s exactly an event, but definitely the German Wine Academy, which I attended several years ago. This is a 5-day program in Germany that provides extensive opportunities to learn about the German wine industry and taste hundreds of wines. I’ve been to lots of other great wine events, but none match this for depth.
January 23, 2009

David T
QOTD: Haven’t been to one yet
January 23, 2009

Doc P
QOTD: I have never been to one. But I would like to go to one.

I have a question for you.
I have been decanting red wines lately (and it really helps. Tonight we had the Warnke cab 2004. I opened it about 6 hours before we ate. Had it with duck. Great mix. Nice wine. it opened up nicely.
The question! If you decant, does a significant amount of alcohol evaporate off? The warnke is 14.7%
January 23, 2009

John Cabot
QOTD: Hospice du Rhone!!!!! Gary, if you’ve never been, Go! Three days tastings, seminars with wine grower/makers from Priorat, Pegau verticals, Beaucastel verticals, a bowling tournament, and a fare well B-B-Q. Great peeps! Awesome event. Tickets for this just went on sale, for early may. You’ll love it.
BTW- You are due for a Southern Rhone episode, preferably , the new 07’s. Parker says it is the best year in the SUD for 30 years. But who gives a crap what he says, we’ll be the judges of that. Some stuff I’ve been amazed by, so far, is the Dom. D.La Morderee CDR, St. Cosme CDR, and Dom. De La Grand Bois made several sub $15 CDR/CDRV’s that rock the HIZZZY!!!!! Looking forward to seeing what the 07 CDPapes are like.
January 23, 2009

Robin C
I love Slim Jims.
I’m almost certainly going to the Taos Ski Valley Wine Festival for a couple of days this weekend, but the details are still sketchy. It’s fun, but I don’t like driving the roads to the ski basin, even though i’m not the one who drives them. I really like the Santa Fe Wine and Chile Festival. There are fun things about each event so it’s hard to choose.
January 23, 2009

Chris Lotz
I am a student at AiNYC for culinary and have a wine class every week. Its funny because I’m pretty sure i have more experience than the instructor. between working at a wine shop and being a Vayniac, it is possible. Turning 21 in March, then I will be able to go to events. maybe even meet Gary himself
January 23, 2009

Grapedigger
I have to admit that I am still have not had a Zin that blew me away, but I’ll keepon the look out.
I like the yearly California wine tasting that is organized in Montreal by the Heart & stroke Foundation of Quebec…Drink wine & support a great cause.
Cheers
January 23, 2009

Mike in Wisconsin
QOTD – Vin Italy 2005 BAR NONE!Unbeliveable!! Night before dinner at Ca del Bosco with Maurizio Zanella, 1st day of VinItaly, dinner at Zenato and 2nd day dinner at Maculan with Fausto!!
Not a Big Zin Fan, Give me that Minerality, Earth and Complexties of a Italian or Frenchy.
January 23, 2009

David Dadekian
QOTD: Big, big, big tasting at the now defunct Oyster Cabin in Uxbridge, Mass. Seriously, it was incredible at $25.00 for a couple including hot hors d’oeuvres and a raw bar.
January 23, 2009

Chris in Tulsa
QOTD: Here in Tulsa, Oklahoma every two years they have an event called the Philbrook Wine Experience. Over 50 wineries there, mostly California wines but very cool.
January 23, 2009

Mike in Wisconsin
QOTD continued- Vin Italy is in April in Verona Italy. Wines from all over the World, of course mostly Italy. 9 buildings,each one the size of a Medium Convention Building like Kansas City , Indianapolis, Milwaukee. HUGE Event!!
January 23, 2009

Robert Howells
Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival(March23-April 1). See you there Gary!!!
January 23, 2009

Weston
I think the the two events for industry only. one being the fall release, Excellent. And the “Colour 2008″ which has the BC releases of wines excellent as well always 2-3 vineyards that stand out
January 23, 2009

Susan Stewart
Washington Wine Highway… great collection of most of WA state’s major (and many minor) wineries in one event on one large lawn in Woodinville, Washington. Most of the wineries are selling their wine onsite for pickup. Usually held over Memorial Day weekend, so you still have Monday to recover from misbehaving on Saturday and or Sunday.
January 23, 2009

digitaldean
QOTD: Alas, I have not been to any serious wine events. Closest thing was when a bus tour of the Niagara (Canada) region to try some ice wines. Weak, I know.

ZAP does sound like a great time though.
January 24, 2009

Ray Melendrez
Gary definitely the best event I’ve been to is in NEW MEXICO (props to my home state) of all places, the New Mexico Wine Festival in Bernalillo just north of Albuquerque. I live in this state and we are an up and coming force in wines I believe. If you’re ever in this neck of the woods on a Labor Day Weekend give it a whirl.
January 24, 2009

Medo
@QOTD: The ProWein fair in Düsseldorf each year!
January 24, 2009

jason
qotd- the last wine event i went to was at my house on inauguration day : ) we opened up some nice bottles and talked a little about them including a 2000 clos du papillion from dom. des baumards.

gary- i think less people are leaving comments cause they are searching the internet for jobs!
January 24, 2009

Jeff R
Nice to see Zin represented as I love them. Wish the show was longer this time – maybe have incorporated other zins into the tasting as well – sort of a comparison.

QTD – ZAP Cleveland – Years ago ZAP, a reduced version, came to Cleveland. It was a nice event – controlled atmosphere – price wasn’t bad back then. It was fun.
January 24, 2009

Matthias Meierer
QOTD: The traditional wine auctions of the Prädikat Wine Estates (VDP) in the Mosel region. Every Year at the end of September!
January 24, 2009

Sonia
I’m going to the International Alsace Varietals Festival in Anderson Valley in February, really excited about that, it’ll be my first real wine festival. The only big wine event I’ve been to is the annual picnic Husch Vineyards does for their club members. It’s also in Anderson Valley, pretty awesome.
January 24, 2009

M
If you live near Wilmington, DE, then this event sounds fun:

http://www.frankswine.com/dinners.html#gwe
January 24, 2009

Buddhachu
This wine is less about the score and more about the “experience”. You’d want to buy and try a bottle just to “check the box” since there’s only ~1k bottles produced and it’s an uber-blend of all those different clippings.

Since it sounds like it’s more than serviceable, I’d buy it just for the reasons above. Definitely worth the price for the experience.
January 24, 2009

Herm
Hi Gary, The best wine events are when go to wineries in the region with friends and do our own mini-tour…..
January 24, 2009

Kodi
QOTD: Earth Day Food and Wine – Put on by Central Coast Vineyard team, near Paso Robles, CA in April. This has only been going 2 years and is already an awsome event, in part because it is not limited by specific AVA or varietal types. It has the best of the central coast vineyards (from Monterey down to Santa Barbara). This one is put on by the vineyard folks of the wineries so they are pouring their best wines and it seems to have a bit of a looser atmosphere, great location, great food, great people.

http://www.vineyardteam.org/events/earthday.php
January 24, 2009

ex-lurkdawg
I haven’t been to any wine festivals, so the best event for me would have been the first big trade tasting I attended. I enjoy being able to taste so many wines.
I’d like to make it to the ZAP event one of these years. I’m sure it’s great.
Thanks again for a good show.
January 24, 2009

PSirah Tampa
And here I thought Petite Sirah was the first American varietal. Yes, I know it heritage comes from France, but doesn’t Zin have a similar family history from Italy?

QOTD: The best Wine Festival I’ve been to? By far and away the Bern’s Winefest in Tampa (every April)! Hundreds of great wines (no junk), lots of wine makers, unbelievable foods from their fameous kitchens, lectures, and remarkable Wine Dinners (with the wine makers). I’ve been to many great Wine Festivals, but for the $$ spent the Bern’s Winefest easily tops them all. And I live only 200 footsteps away!
January 24, 2009

Laurie in VT
QOTD: None, yet. sigh.
January 24, 2009

Lord Nouda
I guess the high price point of this Zin is due to it’s marketing value and rareness. 90 cases. I bet not one even reaches the old world.

Is the second name of you kid going to be ‘Thunder’?

qotd: A wine and band event in the backyard at http://www.frischesweine.de . Although the wines were not as interesting as I expected, they were solid efforts to please – but neither wow nor scare – a broad audience. The irish folk music in the end was what ruled the night.
January 24, 2009

Jim in Atlanta
QOTD – I have attended a number of wine dinners with wine makers presenting their wines and a restaurant matching food with each wine. I enjoyed one with Halleck Winery of Sonoma.
January 24, 2009

hasbeen
QOTD: East Side Wine Tasting.

http://www.esns.org/index.asp?Type=B_EV&SEC={A7C12463-09B6-45DB-8891-3E7F1BD5D87E}&DE={A1698D32-259D-4097-87EE-7A2DCF2D1EB2}

This is an annual fund raiser that benefits Minneapolis’ Northeast neighborhood services. I don’t live in that area and I’m not sure what all is included in that, but I know the youth baseball program is.

The event is held on a small island in the Mississippi on the edge of downtown Minneapolis. Several of my friends, including several of my neighbors usually go. There are lots of vineyards, distributors, and local wine and food retailers that participate. It is a great time.
January 24, 2009

Jimmy T
Thanks for the lowdown on wine happenings.

QOTD: I have only been to one wine festival at the Lakeridge Winery http://www.lakeridgewinery.com/ here in Florida. It was fun with food and singing and wine. Tastings and tour were nice. Just not the best wine.
January 24, 2009

Matt
Best one, hmmm, Vayniac Meet up at Crushpad or #2 at Fort Worth!
January 24, 2009

JCN
I do like the change of pace with the short episodes.

On another topic… I noticed a few of your wines in the free shipping sale you had last week were actually tasted on your show. Some were even given rave reviews like the Sauternes I bought that was tasted in the Gingerbread house episode. Don’t you usually get a lot of buyers after you give a 90+ score? How did these make it to the sale rack?
January 24, 2009

RANDI
GARY!!
xo
QOTD: Will be attending my first large wine festival this year…
Will let you know….
January 24, 2009

zac weiss
qotd: um… art shows with cheap, nasty “gros rouge” as we say in France!

That count? :p
January 24, 2009

Miko
QOTD: Haven’t been to that many wine “festivals,” but I had a great time at Wine 2.0 last year, and I expect the Thunder Cruise will be my new answer in a few months! It will surely trump all wine festivals everywhere!
January 24, 2009

Stephan in Miami
Don’t know if you’re heard this one before: Your voice and inflections are almost identical to those of the character Charlie from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
January 24, 2009

Eugene
90 cases! please dont waste that bottle gary!
January 24, 2009

ChrisR
QOTD: Winter Wine Road in Sonoma. Freakin’ awesome!
January 24, 2009

Melissa
I haven’t been to a lot of large (over 50 people) wine events. Thus far, however, my favorite is probably “A Party for the Senses”, which is an event that EPCOT does every year during their Food and Wine Festival. I will be attending the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival in Australia in March. You know I’m looking forward to that!

Wait! I just remembered a better favorite! A couple of years ago I was in Napa for my birthday. While in the Plumpjack tasting room we starting chatting with a guy who was celebrating his birthday as well. He proceeds to invite us to a party over at Stag’s Leap in their caves. Oh, it was heaven. We were drinking their Fay Vineyard Cab and their Cask 23. ‘02 vintage of both. Fun stuff!
January 24, 2009

Sallianne & John
Hi Gary,
We want to say hello, and let you know how much we enjoy the Thunder show. Thank you for being so passionate about your wine and your personality is awesome. Its exciting to see everyone respond to your shows. I am proud to say that we are official Vayniacs. I would love to get T-shirts but the Vayniacs are out of stock. Do you know when you will be getting more in? I am not sure I like the one bottle show though. It was alot more fun when you were doing a variety of wines on the show. Looking forward to your future shows. We have been to quite a few wine festivals and we enjoy all of them. We are also wine retail shop owners and we are as passionate about the wine business. We wish you all the best and keep up the good work. If you get a chance drop us a line.

Thanks!
January 24, 2009

Kimberly
QOTD: Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival is hands down the best wine festival in the world!!!!!! Everyone needs to attend at least once. 10,000 people in the grand tasting room on the big nights! It’s amazing! 200+ producers, 700+ wines! This year’s theme is Wines from British Columbia. See everyone there!!
January 24, 2009

J Crazy
By far it’s Food Ex in Tokyo. It’s not only wine but they have all the wine one could think of plus awesomeness like Iberico ham, curry, cheese, olive oil. So you grab a plate, get your food and hang out in the wine section.
January 24, 2009

norm O'Genski
Vancouver Playhouse International, awesome event! Been 3 times, 3 hang-overs.
January 24, 2009

rick redekop
Vancouver Playhouse Wine Festival. I guess with my mention it seems the place to be March 23-April 1. See you there.
January 24, 2009

Tommy Vernieri
QOTD: The only one I’ve been to is the Charleston Food + Wine Festival. It’s a lot of fun, this will be our third year going to it next month. The best event was a smaller tasting with winemakers from Melsheimer, Amity Vineyards, and DeLoach.
January 24, 2009

Kelly Goff
YUM, I love Zin!

I have not been to lots of events, but I do love the Virginia Wine Festival. I have been a few times and enjoy myself, especially now that I am a more experienced wine drinker and VA wines are getting better!
January 24, 2009

John Rogers
Since I live in Washington State. I have not tried too many zins but I notice that Wine Spectator rated a zin #10 in their top 100. I am now looking foward to give them more of a try.
January 25, 2009

catherine.
QOTD: the best wine events for me are late at night at my friend’s apartments, when we cook dinner and have wine together!
January 25, 2009

Travis S
Zap. No other wines? I haven’t watched the show for a few months. My girlfriend tells me she saw you in the movie Dirt, eating dirt. Next time I go to Burgundy, the King of terroir, I may try some. Last time someone offered me dirt, a rancher in southwest Oregon, I refused. Next time I will taste! I wish I had seen the movie, but I worked last night until 7:30 this morning, and the last showing of the movie was at 4:30pm at the Broadway theater here in Salt Lake. I needed my sleep, so I missed it. I am hoping it shows up on DVD. Do you know if it will go to DVD? Jammy and goopy, I love that, but I like a lot of pepper too. Gotta support the cause!
January 25, 2009

apj_bobswineguy
QOTD: OPC 2005!!! (Oregon Pinot Camp). 4 days of seminars, pinot noirs and grand dinners.

I did go to a Paso Robles Tasting (hotel ZaZa in Dallas). Lots of Zins. I do believe many of my fellow Somms forgot, Zins = HIGH Alcohol. One of the most raucous tastings I have ever attended.
January 25, 2009

Eduardo
The best wine festival (I been) here in Argentina is “Vinos y Bodegas” (translate: Wine & cellar) in Buenos Aires. For like 5.000 people.
Gary: What happend with the “…whether they like it or not.”
January 25, 2009

Dan-o
I have grown out of Zins. I used to like them a lot, but I find them to be more like cocktails than wines – hot with high alcohol content.
There are certain Zins that I really like – Biale and Elyse – but I steer away from them now.

QOTD – I have only been to one wine event – Boston Wine Expo in 2008 – I met you there!
January 25, 2009

James Carlson
This one is easy! Wine Festival in Bad Durkheim, Germany. Fall setting, on mountain top, in the middle of a castle ruin. Oh, huge wine cask the size of a mobile home to serve all the guests.
January 25, 2009

Patty Wilson
qotd: hoping it will be the Wine Cruise!

That said, I’ve been to several arts and wine festivals that have been fun. Hmm, I went to one in SF at Fort Mason about ten years ago. It might have even been ZAP. It was fun.
January 25, 2009

Dawn S
The Maui International Wine and Food Festival is amazing! We’ve been to the Grand Tasting twice and have not been disappointed yet! Wines from all over the world and great food.
January 25, 2009

Lawrence leichtman
Santa Fe wine and Chile fiesta every September. Isn’t Zap event in San Francisco?
January 25, 2009

Steve
Getting into zin lately. But my experience is pretty light. I’ve bought a Ridge zin, because I’ve read Ridge is a quality zin producer, but I’ve not tried it yet. QOTD: Smith Mountain Lake, VA, used to have a great wine festival in September right on the lake, and one year we boated in, sampled the wine, picked up a few bottles of chilled Horton Viognier, motored back out to avoid the crowds, and had a great time out on the lake, sipping, swimming, sunning. But I’ve heard they moved it off the lake a year or so ago.
January 25, 2009

Bruce
QOTD: 1975 Harvest festival in the mountains of Corfu. Man I didn’t come out my tent for three days after that one.
ZAP is in San Francisco for those asking.
January 25, 2009

patrick hill
try the four vines zins just wonderful
January 25, 2009

Jolie Elman
Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival, held in the spring.

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/calendar/specialEvents/detail?name=FoodWineLandingPage
January 25, 2009

Marshall
How about an Italian white wine show again? Bring back the Ribolla Gialla
January 26, 2009

TWofPasadena
I always appreciate a Zin episode so thank you Gary.

Best wine festival for me, although I haven’t been in about 5 years because of babies (hello GV), would be the Paso Robles Wine Festival. Always a great event. You should go and drag Mott out there with the camera!
January 26, 2009

MRPysnik
Simple, 500th Episode!
January 26, 2009

Jaybird
QOTD thats an easy one, Last August Mollydooker with Sparky Marquis
January 26, 2009

hasbeen
QOTD: East side wine tasting, and annual fund raiser in Minneapolis.
January 26, 2009

Neil
That’s easy – WLTV Parties at Fort Mason in SF. Two and counting….
January 26, 2009

Eric Z.
The Napa Valley Vitners Association threw a tasting in Chicago around 2004 that is probably my favorite. $20 to get in, held at a bling nightclub on Rush Street, and all kinds of winemakers were pouring their own wines. Great wines from Schramsberg, Storybook Mountain, Mondavi (Carissa Mondavi was pouring and talking), Terra Valentine, Chateau Potelle.

Otherwise, pre-auction tastings are always a great chance to try real benchmark wines. Kensingtons hosted one here around 2003/04 for $50 you could try 40 or so wines, from Ermitage to an ‘82 Haut Brion to a 1960s d’Yquem. What an education for that price.
January 26, 2009

Jay
Catching up on some episodes after being in Walla Walla last week.

QOTD: Hands down, the Vayniac meet up after the Taste of Washington at Seattle Wine Storage. Such a good time, great place, and fun people to hang out with. Oh, and just a couple tables full of bottles.
January 26, 2009

ktf
The WS Grand Tasting in Las Vegas. Four years running!!
January 26, 2009

SAMMY S
Nice short & Sharp Show Gary….tight, intense and good info regarding ZIN…

QOTD…2002 Sonoma County Wine Fair….We came third in the world championship grape stomp competition….
January 26, 2009

astropress
East Bay Vinter’s in NoCal – every august they do an event that is a blast. wineries from alameda, berkeley, oakland, emeryville (who knew?) but many of them are quite good.
January 26, 2009

Jason S.
QOTD: My uncle belongs to a wine club in DC that puts on wine dinners at the top restaurants in DC every other month and brings wine from their own cellar. Had some stellar wine and fantastic food! Hoping I can join the club this year so I don’t have to wait from him to take me as a guest
January 26, 2009

Derek F.
QOTD: Boston Wine Expo 2009 we sure did have a good time with you guys!!
January 26, 2009

Kelly S
QOTD: Has to be at EPCOT every year. Love the atmosphere and scenery. The only thing to make it better would be if you were there to add a little fun. Hope to see you there one day.
January 26, 2009

Christopher
I had a great time @ Amador Vintners Big Crush Harvest Festival
Great wine, great people, great weather. Check it out.
I LOVE your show Gary. Even though I’ve been some what of a lurker.
http://www.amadorwine.com/
January 26, 2009

Keith
Tempe (Arizona) Arts Festival has a big wine tasting garden exclusively for Arizona wineries. The quality has really gone up each year, great way to keep up with the action.
January 26, 2009

Kirk (aka: slave2thevine)
Good show…

QOTD: Probably the Classic 2005 Bordeaux tasting in Boston last year. It was great exposure to taste and understand what a great young vintage is all about. It could have been the Boston Wine Expo, but I feel that they don’t keep the numbers realistic. It became far too over-crowded after the first hour back in 2007 when I went last. By the end of the Expo people where falling down drunk on the side of the room, and I actually saw one woman puking. Not what I want at a wine expo.
January 26, 2009

leonard
The only wine event with more than 50 people was the Texas Wine Festival in the Woodlands where you were the Wizard.
January 26, 2009

rohit
QOTD: The Fort Mason Vayniac party this past December. It was ridonculous.
January 27, 2009

Roger Miller
QOTD: The Bernalillo Wine Festival in Bernalillo, New Mexico. This is a huge outdoor event that draws tens of thousands over a weekend. It specializes in local New Mexico wines and good music by national acts. It has its own festival grounds and is so popular that the local commuter rail uses a grape cluster as the symbol for the town’s rail stop.
January 27, 2009

Neil
QOTD: “Wines of the World”, University Concert Series Event, University of Missouri
January 27, 2009

Beth
QOTD: Boston Wine Expo 2009 of course – Gary taught an amazing class!
January 27, 2009

Tom
Monterey Wine festival years ago….was almost overwhelming. The open house at Rosenblum is always great fun. The Robert Kacher portfolio tasting in DC.

What’s up with the blog widget where it would change stills each day from the episode? I mean, I like Jancis — but variety is the spice of life.
January 27, 2009

guymandude
Charleston wine and food event,small but good.
January 27, 2009

M
I saw the question about choosing Monday’s show. Was the winner “no show”?
January 27, 2009

BWizzle
The best wine event I have been to is Heart Delight in Washington, DC. http://www.heartsdelightwineauction.org/ This event is a fundraiser and Robert Parker led the 2004 Bordeaux tasting when I went and he will be back this year to lead the 2006 tasting which is also the 10th anniversary for this event.
January 27, 2009

LuvsChandon
I had a great time at the 500th episode taping at Crashpad, certainly not the best tasting event, but was great to meet so many people, including Gary and Mott. Oh, and I did drink a lot of Twisted Oak that night!

I’m going to ZAP for the Good Eats and Wine Pairing session!!
January 27, 2009

LuvsChandon
Crashpad…lol. Make that CRUSHPAD! Crash is what I did very LATE that night!
January 27, 2009

Brian Barrick
Love the Zin, but I’ve never been to the ZAP festival… way overpriced and overcrowded.

There is plenty of Zin to be had at Rosenblum’s quarterly Open House events.

My favorite wine event is the Winter Wineland along the Russian River in January (wineroad.com). It’s like a huge party sprawling out across Sonoma County. They also have a Barrel Tasting event that is coming up in March.
January 27, 2009

Shawn_944
QOTD: California Wine Fair in Edmonton…
January 28, 2009

pawncop
Good episode. I have not had too many Zins but really enjoyed a 2004 Peachy Canyon “Incredible Red”.

Have not been to any wine tastings as of yet.
January 28, 2009

Kathy Hughes
Although I’ve never attended this event…The Naples Winter Wine Festival, in Naples, FL, is a fundraiser that raises huge amounts of money for children in need ….deserves a mention. Everyone is welcome to attend, to taste and to bid on great wines. Naples Kathy aka Champagne Lady
January 28, 2009

Vinophile
QOTD: Hmmmmmmm…I have a feeling it’s going to be the Thunder Cruise!
January 28, 2009

Couves
QOTD: The Boston Wine Expo, where I got to meet YOU! Actually, it’s the only wine event that I’ve been to, but I did learn from the tasting you hosted. (True to form, Gary had us try some unique old-world style European varietals – among other things – including a Cohor Malbec and Loire Petit Verdot.)
January 29, 2009

Mike C
I used to go to a Holiday Wine, Liquor and Food Tasting at Fenway Park’s 400 Club. It was put on by one of the local distributors in MA. Great Time.

They would have it around Christmas.
January 29, 2009

Loweeel
Best Wine Event?

Easy, DARK AND DELICIOUS. Zin is PS’s retarded younger brother. It’s glorified primitivo, it grows fine in italy. It didn’t require America to thrive.
January 30, 2009

Ray Barnes
Fun show as usual Gary and it is good to see you promoting something like this.

QOTD – apart from an 11-winery tasting tent for charity at the Gilroy (CA) Garlic Festival, which was a lot of fun, I have not been to a wine function. Yet, anyway.:-)
January 30, 2009

Joe S
Gerat Show. I have been a zin fan for a long time and with a e:mail address of zinmonster I guess it shows.

QOTD – best wine event is the Russian River Barrel Tasting in early March. A three day event for $20, about 120 different wineries throughout the Russian River, Dry Creek and Alexander Vally area. You taste out of the barrel and many offer futures at a reeduced price.
January 30, 2009

Rick
Zin is in the south a little more than sales show. I still have a problem with the blush stuff but like you I keep punching.
January 30, 2009

C-Lo
Cool show Gary! I am enjoying these more focused episodes.

I know that everybody is a critic, but for these one-bottle shows could you go into more detailed information on the varietal, area, history, etc. I know it is kinda wine-nerdy but the more info the better! I suck it up like a sponge!

QOTD: The only wine events I have been to have been wine club parties and the like at the local winery. Would love to go to Pinot Days or something like that though!
February 1, 2009

Dessert Wine Nerd
QOTD: Ive never been to an real event. I have been to the last two taste of Western Washington ( I think thats the name of it ) wine tastings here. Strictly food industry people only and like 30 local wineries in the King County area. Still a blast.
February 1, 2009

Andy G
great show! I was just at the ZAP grand tasting yesterday in SF. Some very good wines to be had. The ‘06 vintage was a good year overall for Zin. Less alc and not as overly jammy fruit, great balanced wines.
—
best wine event is family winemakers, usually in march every year in SF and LA.
February 2, 2009

JayZee
ZAP! would definitely be cool to attebd.

QOTD: Best wine event was probably the Cleveland International Wine Show in May 2008. I got to taste about 54 wines and that was the most I have ever had in one tasting. It was wonderful and exhausting. I hope they do it again this year.
February 2, 2009

KMurph
I just got into a Zin the other day. It was good to try stuff from the New World.

QOTD: I’d have to say the Boston Wine Expo. It was a lotta fun.
February 2, 2009

yowens
I’m a huge zinhead (go Bella!), we’ll have to go to ZAP one year. QOTD: I’ve only been to one; it was a wine dinner for an Italian wine producer who I can’t remember. It was a great experience; sharing wine stories across the table, the wine maker sat next to us!
February 4, 2009

Ryan D
QotD: The in-store Vayniac appreciation meet and greet aka The Carnival of Wine Enthusiasm, of course
February 6, 2009

Purple Toothed Bandit
I have yet to attend a wine festival but am preparing for a Sonoma barrel tasting tour in April…. I hear it’s a pretty fun event!
February 8, 2009

David
Wine and chocolate in Lodi CA. I wen’t last year it was cool. It’s comming up on the 14th and 15th of Feburary. I always heard the wine and cheese expo was good in Riverbank CA, but I was not impressed this year.
February 18, 2009

Thomas
Definitely the Annual Italian Festival at Raffaldini Vineyards. Best wine in NC.
February 20, 2009

JudeMurphy
As I’ve seen is the case with lots of others by the other comments- I’ve never been to such an event!
There should be far more of them!
March 7, 2009

Kevin C
Gary I am a huge fan of Storybook Mountain Zins and Jerry Seps, yourreview sounded to me like maybe the winemaker really brought out the best in the fruit he had to work with.

QOTD: Best event was put on by a retailer in Tampa in March or April of 2003, first time I ever tasted Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc and it blew my socks off. I’ve been a huge NZ SB fan ever since!