A Smorgasbord Wine Tasting

A Smorgasbord Wine Tasting – Episode #677

May 15, 2009

Gary Vaynerchuk tastes 4 wines that have nothing to do with each other.

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Comments on this episode(197) Leave a comment ›

“Gary,

Thanks for showing a new side of Pinotage (vs. the usual nega…” by Michael Elkin
“hi gary, i think it is good how you keep retail separate from show con…” by chukhead-ted
View all 197 ›

Wines tasted in this episode:

2006 Dr. Frank Konstantin Pinot GrisNew York Other White
2006 Antinori Bolgheri VermentinoOther Tuscan White Wine
2007 Shoofly Chook Raffle ChardonnayAustralian Chardonnay
2006 Kanonkop PinotageSouth African Pinotage

Links mentioned in today’s episode.

The “Crush It!” announcement page

197 Responses

Pages: « 8 7 6 5 4 [3] 2 1 » Show All

May 16, 2009

Ivan
QOTD: I thnk there is something just plain good about gifting the peeps who are loyal viewers with something extra now and then… free shipping on anything in stock is great. other ideas BOGO. invite to special event etc.

Watchout: Might need to have a cap since once word spreads everyone will look to get the gift.
May 16, 2009

Don
I love bacon!!! Keep crushing it Gary. I need to try a Pinotage.

QOTD: It is a fine line and I’m interested to hear you talk more about the pros and cons on the show. Agreed that you need to try to maintain an appearance of objectivity, and that would be even more difficult throwing out free shipping codes on the air. Seems to me like most of your viewers get the Wine Library emails anyways that sometimes have free shipping. One idea is that you could periodically suggest people to sign up for the emails but not actually give out free shipping codes on the show. Ehhh??
May 16, 2009

David Dadekian
QOTD: I agree it’s a fine line. However, in all honesty, you own a retail store and the links to the wine (mostly) go to that retail store. So there’s no way to completely divorce yourself from that. Hey, it’s synergy!
May 16, 2009

Chris Lotz
Good show! I like the hippy hi five/toke, the pace of the show was rockin and rollin. I have never bought anything from WL, but if you gave me an incentive, i definitely would
May 16, 2009

California Cab Lover
I get winelibrary emails anyway, so it doesn’t matter to me if you say something on the show or not. I think you are receptive enough to your fan base that if you got a lot of negative feedback on the promo stuff, you would drop it.
Free shipping is crucial in my decision to buy online. If shipping is high, then the good deal on the bottle is not such a good deal.
May 16, 2009

Leslie
Dr Frank’s best white is Rkasiteli. AGREE on Italian whites, most interesting of all whites, Spanish whites next. Shoofly wines are all just ehh. Pinotage has such a range from gritty & stinky too what you described in the Kanonkop. I like this kind of show- right down to business!
May 16, 2009

KevO
Gar, I really liked the old pace of the segment. Watching for a half an hour + is tough. Keep up the pace and go blind tasting more often – test your skills for us, that’s what I’m sayin…

QOTD: Nothing wrong with spiffs for the viewers, especially if you are referencing the wines reviewed for that day, would give a spontaneous purchase incentive. Afterall, why do you do WineLibraryTV anyway? Let’s not kid ourselves.
May 16, 2009

MaRc
if you’re asking about pace of the show…i feel you’re a little abrupt in the way you talk and act today.Not really the best to my enjoyment considering past episodes…

QOTD: I don’t live in the states, so it won’t really affect me, would it? Anyway, I think it’s fine when you give out freebies or drop lil comments about what you’re doing, but maybe not so much on your business, however, tasting wines that you have onsale wouldn’t really be a big problem!
May 16, 2009

DF
Great, old-school feel show today. It was all about the wine, there was good and not-so-good, a lot of old-school Gary flavor combos (plum, banana, bacon bits– classic). Just a lot of fun all around.

One commenter said you came off as bipolar– maybe what he/she meant was manic. It doesn’t matter. That’s the secret of your success, the energy. Stay with that.

QOTD: We cannot ship wine to NC, but maybe my friend Sean (@fullsteam) can change that. Props to him for what he’s already done for beer. If you already have free shipping codes in emails and other places, I think that’s where they should stay. You have 15 minutes or so every day to do wine. Let that be the main thing.
May 16, 2009

Howard
Enjoyed the episode. I live in Maryland and we can’t have wines shipped to us. Maryland’s wine shipping laws does not CRUSH IT!!
May 16, 2009

tcatjo
I understand staying informative rather than using WLTV as a selling tool but let’s be honest, it will be a selling tool for someone-as we look for the wines you have on the show. For me, the wines are hard to find and free shipping would give me a little help in maybe buying something I’m dying to try (and I want to try EVERYTHING). Would love to have that option sometimes but love the show and nothing will keep me from watching even if I can’t find the wines.
May 16, 2009

ex-lurkdawg
I liked this episode as usual. I like pinotage, too, but a few people I know really knock it. I guess they just don’t like the flavor profile. I don’t think you should link WL offers with the show, although you could keep offering free shipping via other outlets as you have been all along. And now I must mention it again … how about a Madeira episode with a vintage Madeira at the end? It’s been a LONG time since I started asking.
May 16, 2009

Bruce Sorrell
Hey Gary,

Tell Mr. Mot he needs more hours in the garden. He told you the plant with a blossom like a cat’s face was an Iris. Error. It’s a pansy. Photo sample at:
http://www.zazzle.co.uk/purple_pansies_print-228732467435707017

Please let him know he owes me a bottle of Bragato Tocai Friulano for this expert gardening advice.

Great show, as always! Keep it up.

Slainte!

Bruce
May 16, 2009

Richie
QOTD: I think you should leave it the way it is. That way it doesn’t have the aspect of you wanting to make money or something with WLTV.
May 16, 2009

IASHERMAN
Hey Gary:

I think it is a good idea to throw some of the free shipping codes on the wine library tv show. It really could not hurt and shipping can be quite expensive. I enjoy the show when you have contests, secret packs, Schwag packs and other giveaways. It truly sets wine library tv a step above all others.

-IA
May 16, 2009

lurker'09
QOTD:
Trust your instincts!
You make a strong first impression.
Too much self promotion could hurt your credibility with the uninitiated.
After a few hundred episodes one realizes that you are a wealth of information.
You are spreading a message that should be heard, (even if you are screaming it.)
May 16, 2009

TommyB
QOTD: I wouldn’t bother with any promotions/ offers etc Gary, the secret pack thing works well but it should be left at that in my opinion. There are thousands of people who watch this show who don’t live anywhere near America (including myself). They watch to learn about wine/ be entertained/ are fans etc etc, not to try to get discounts. As you said I think it would seem a bit salesy. But on that point – shipping abroad???… I suppose that would be too difficult thinking about it.. it would be nice to be able to order wine from your website instead of just having to look at it!
May 16, 2009

TommyB
Good show Gary but maybe a little too “pacy for my palate” initially. If time allows I think you could slow it down a little and contemplate the wines further etc. Call me a traditionalist but wine is a contemplative thing which should never be rushed! But you actually did that on the Pinotage which is interesting as that was the one that struck you the most…
May 16, 2009

Damaged Fox
I liked the pace. Knocked out those 4 in no time.
As much as I like to see you get out,
it’s nice to see you back to your table.
May 16, 2009

liangtfm
Good show today Gary, went straight through the wines without interruptions or going off track (although I personally like those moments) but really interesting and I can’t wait to try a Pinotage.

QOTD – It would be interesting to play around with a free shipping offer in your show once in a while. I don’t know about other Vayniacs but I do like to order from WL as the prices are great and if it’s free shipping it’s def. worth it.
May 16, 2009

TimBoDo
QOTD – Plenty of free shipping codes in the WL emails. As much as I appreciate free shipping, it might suggest an aire of slimy-ness to people that don’t know better. If you want to do more free shipping on the site or via email, however… hell yeah. But pazzzzz on the idea for the show.

Good pace – nice to have a “normal” show again.
May 16, 2009

BigPieps
First comment!

Loved the pace…but that doesn’t necessarily mean it would be preferred for all episodes.

The QOTD is what prompted me to comment:

In my opinion, when you keep the store out of WLTV, you keep in the integrity of the show. As a reviewer of wine, making recommendations, etc. what are you without your integrity? I think you of all people would never want others to feel as if you weren’t being honest or had lost the integrity of the show.

Great shows! Keep ‘em coming!
May 16, 2009

howlr5
Keep crushing it Vaynerchuk.
May 16, 2009

Keith Miller
Should have said….

Interesting…makes me go hmmmmmm
May 16, 2009

Keith Miller
Ineresting…..