Talking About the Wine Industry with Legend Hubert Opici Episode #725

August 24, 2009

Gary Vaynerchuk sits down with Hubert Opici to discuss the wine industry and taste some wine

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Comments on this episode(160) Leave a comment ›

“Classic episode, one of your best guests. Really reminds me of my Gra…” by Andy and Edie in MT
“I agree with earlier comments – this episode with Mr. Opici is worthy …” by Mimere
View all 160 ›

Wines tasted in this episode:

Opici Homemade Barberone

Links mentioned in todays episode.

The “Crush It!” announcement page

160 Responses

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October 1, 2009

Andy and Edie in MT
Classic episode, one of your best guests. Really reminds me of my Grandpa Rusty who is a youngster by comparison at 87, but still goes out and skis black diamond runs in the winter (he skis for free now by the way). One kid was skiing behind him one day and asked him, “Hey, you ski pretty good! How old are you?” My grandpa replied, “22″. The kid goes, “No really, how old?” And my grandpa said, “I was born in ‘22″ The kid was totally floored. Just had to share that as this episode really makes me want to go visit Rusty Thanks for everything you do Gary!

-Andy Hanson
September 16, 2009

Mimere
I agree with earlier comments – this episode with Mr. Opici is worthy of a direct link on your hall of fame list on the right side of the website. I learned so much today. Thank you both for sharing these very special minutes with us.

QOTD: Wherever we’re going in the next 25 years, it would all be better if we could relax, de-stress, and conduct business with a glass of wine in our hands and a loaf of bread between us. Think of the camaraderie, respect, civility our world would operate under. What a welcome change that would be!
September 4, 2009

bob c
Not an answer to the QOTD, but you guys taked so much about Robert Mondavi, I just finished reading the “House of Mondavi” book and in the first chapter they mentioned Heidi Barrett and I was thinking, because of WLTV, I actually knew who that was. Thanks for the education!!
September 3, 2009

Ken
Having worked for Mr Opici and his family for the last six years, and spending about an hour a day with Mr. O in our Florida office, I think at times I take his brilliance and his contributions to the industry for granted. Reading all of these great comments makes me realize how lucky I am to work for such an amazing man. While the 27 minute interview was great, it does not compare to all the wonderful stories he has told me over the years. I am very proud to be associated with him and the company he built.
August 31, 2009

Beavis
Definitely..Cramer gets bumped for a real gentleman.
August 30, 2009

thunderball (dave)
Legendary episode. What an awesome guest.
August 28, 2009

Alex from Montreal
Gary V, I think you finally got the interviewing thing down. Practice makes perfect and you didn’t cut Mr Opici off. Congrats, you are now an interviewer extraordinare.

Mr. Opici rocks, he reminds me of my late Uncle Jim, so down to earth and very hard working.

QOTD: OBAMA is bringing serious thunder and the world’s ideas about the United States are going to change for the better. I will end this with a quote from Zhou Enlai (the first Premier of the People’s Republic of China), he was asked about the effects of the French Revolution and Enlai answered, “it’s too early to tell.” So in the words of Enlai, I think it is definitely too early to tell how the world is going to change in 25 years, but I can say it is going to change A LOT.
August 28, 2009

AMM3RD
Cool guest. Awesome question, not sure how to answer, that’s what makes it great…AMM
August 28, 2009

Richie
QOTD: I sadly don’t know. But I am eager to find out.
August 28, 2009

Ivan
Great epiosde. Mr Opici rocks! 93, unreal. So nice to have some fo his life story captured on video for the ages.
August 27, 2009

Sarah
Great show!!!!!! I would never have guessed Hubert is over 90, except for the fact that the idea to make Zin 91 came about on his 91 birthday.

I love the Mara Ripasso and wished you would have tasted it on the show.

QOTD: Hopefully a better and more sustainable place than it is today.
August 27, 2009

Easty
Fascinating interview – the historical perspective this guest supplied was incredible – keep it up! I must admit I loved seeing that jug – I suppose I was drinking that size Carlo Rossi when I started, but hey, it got me into wine…….
August 27, 2009

Paul
as always, a serious treat to hear the life and history. Seeing the jug wine takes me back to being a kid in the 70’s with my grandmother drinking rhine wine. Not sure if I can find it in IL, but worth a try.

QOTD – hopefully leaving me as happy and enjoying of my life as Hubert is today

Keep ‘em coming!
August 26, 2009

J Crazy
Makin’ interview skillset progress my man. Well done.

QOTD: Spherical.
August 26, 2009

Weston
A nice classy show

qotd: my 25 year outlook is not rosy, we will just leave it at that. Better spend that money now while its worth something
August 26, 2009

pawncop
This was another great episode. Love the history of the industry, heck I just love history.

QOTD – Probably more of the same. This place will continue without all the predictions of disaster and doom. May not be utopia but nor will it be as bad as many predict.
August 26, 2009

BurroBoy
Oh yeah…and bump the Jim Cramer episode and add Mr. Opici to the favorites in its place.
Thanks.
August 26, 2009

BurroBoy
Classic episode. Gary gets another heavy hitter guest who knocks it out of the park.
God bless you Mr. Opici.
My grandfather who is the same age, and HIS uncle (who is a few years younger – big Italian family) always have a jug Opici in the cellar. In the summer we add some ripe sliced peaches or nectarines when they are in season.

QOTD: there will be fine wine coming from countries and regions that we never before thought possible…
August 26, 2009

Ryzner
awesome.
August 26, 2009

SUNNY K
Great episode and guest loved the stories.

Keep up the good work Gary.
August 26, 2009

Platopoker
Great guest… we need to listen to our elders more, that is for sure! Also, you were very respectful Gary in just listening, nice work! How did the surgery go, by the way?

QOTD: In 25 years we will be one small step closer to utopia. What can I say, I am an optimist!
August 26, 2009

suzanne
What a change the wine world has been through!

QotD: I hope the world will be full of happy, loving people in 25 years.
August 26, 2009

Rich Ritter in NY
I could listen to his stories all day. Mr. Opici is a living history book.

QoTd: According to the Mayan calendar we only have until 2012, so live it up until then, and if we last any longer I predict WLTV Stadium, Gary owns the JETS, and we have a dynasty for 3 or 4 years.
August 26, 2009

Shawn Urquhart
Winelibrarytv Rocks!!
Great guest!

QOTD:
Either a really scary place where multinationals control and own everyonething…or a really beautiful place where we evolve into something better and become more progressive in our thinking.
August 25, 2009

Sonia
Loved the guest. What a life! He should get a biographer to write his story, that would be a good read.

QOTD: I’m only thinking dire things in the light of global warming and mass slaughter of animal life. Hopefully we can get our act together and start caring about the wellfare of our planet and the other creatures on it. If we care about our families, especially our children it should be easy to make the changes we need.