Future of Wine Tasting – Episode #759

October 26, 2009

While in London for the Future of Web Apps conference, Gary takes time out to tape a show with a fan, Steve Leighton.

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Comments on this episode(164) Leave a comment ›

“After watching about 100 episodes without commenting I’m finally compe…” by Jeff Fadness
“Great show! Great guest! Love the passion for his product.
QOTD: Ra…” by lurkernomore
View all 164 ›

Wines tasted in this episode:

2008 Lorca Torrontes
2007 Gran Opalo Blend
2007 Gibbston Valley Pinot Noir

Links mentioned in todays episode.

164 Responses

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November 22, 2009

Jeff Fadness
After watching about 100 episodes without commenting I’m finally compelled to answer a question of the day.

I’ve always liked wine but the moment I realized I loved it is burned into my memory. A number of years ago I was having brunch with my wife and friends at a cliffside restaurant called “Napenthe” on the Pacific Coast Highway just south of Big Sur. We were sitting outside on a crisp spring day, one of those where the sky and ocean are clear all the way to the horizon. The wine was a Pinot Noir from Tantara Winery in Santa Barbara made from grapes grown by Gary Franscioni in the Santa Lucia Highlands. The meal was a smoked salmon and dill salad.

The combination of setting, friends, wine, and food formed a memory that, although it may be equaled, will never be surpassed.

Thus began my descent (ascent?) into wine. I’ve recently quit my job as a retail executive to work for a winery and go back to school to learn/experience everything I can about wine. I’ve found that life only has meaning when you’re pursuing your passion.
November 13, 2009

lurkernomore
Great show! Great guest! Love the passion for his product.
QOTD: Ravenswood Zinfandel with Prime Rib at the Pioneer Saloon in Ketchum, ID. I was young enough that my dad was still ordering the wine. I had no idea what it was at the time, but it made an impression. That was when I realized that there was something more to this juice than getting a buzz on jug/box wine on Saturday night.
November 7, 2009

gomestar
awesome episode, really. Loved the passion and the excitement from both, it makes a huge difference when somebody truly loves what they are doing and is thrilled to share the experience with others.

QOTD: 2003 Chateau Guiraud Sauternes. That was it.
November 6, 2009

David Scott
This is definitely in my top 5 episodes of all time. I’ve never seen someone get so excited about Mott’s links. Wonder if sales for the t-shirts will explode? Maybe a separate website?

Picking out the tea flavor in the Gran Opalo was brilliant – especially when Gary came back with his comments (PAZZZZZ!)

Entertaining and informative as usual. Dig the format.
November 4, 2009

Justin Stewart
Awesome episode. It’s great having a guest on the show that is so passionate as well, even if it isn’t for wine.

QOTD: I feel the same way that you do Gary about wine when you were just starting out in wine. I was 25 when I absolutely fell in love with wine when I was on a trip to Napa with my brother. Before this tour, I enjoyed wine, but was just starting to learn the complexities. We toured many vineyards in our 2 day trip. The wine that turned me into a fanatic was the Merryvale 2002 Profile. It was unbelievable. This was not a wine that was allowed to be tasted, but one of the tasters decided to open a bottle for us, because we seemed so interested in wine and were asking so many questions. I broke my bank account that day buying a lot of bottles and joining their wine club. Many props to Merryvale vineyards for opening up my eyes to the wine world.
November 4, 2009

Cabo Wine Club
Love it! Cabo welcomes GV for your Visit.We’ll have Glasses
Cheers
Tana Craighead
November 3, 2009

Tom
I’ve been watching since episode 200 and this was (hands down) my favorite show. Just goes to show you that you don’t need a fancy camera or proper lighting (or even wine glasses) to tell a great story.
November 3, 2009

Shane
Great, great show.

I have watched about ten of these shows so far. No big deal? Well, consider that I do not have the LEAST interest in wine. I never drink wine, I never have, I don’t plan to. Somehow, this show is still worth watching, though.

It’s just so REAL. I don’t know how else to put it. This is the “realest” show on the net. Period.

Thanks for the inspiration, Gary and Steve!

Cheers,
Shane
November 3, 2009

Wesley from Calgary
I will get on my action by Wednesday. But the moment I first realized I loved wine was when I was 19 I was bar tending at a wedding and they were surving this $8 merlot. I had the bottles open and in front of me all night and the smell was just so great. I fell in love with it. At this point I am almost embarrassed to admit it because I am sure it was terrible wine but it was the bouquet that really turned me on to wine.
November 2, 2009

Richard Arblaster
Great episode. We should all drink wine directly from the bottle, no washing up afterwards
November 2, 2009

Chippewamike
Great guest! What passion!!

QOTD: Thanksgiving time 13 years ago, a wine store owner picked us out three wines for Thanksgiving based upon what we were serving. . . and she nailed it!!
November 2, 2009

k-9 cop
Great episode. Thought you guys were going to break out the D&D board next. Like the garage/basement vibe. Big ups to the UK and the artisinal coffee bloke.
My epiphany came at an intimate wine club event when I was a novice drinker. The host help the event for 10 people in his midtown NYC apartment. He served a vintage white burgundy, a vintage salon champagne, & an aged sauterne. I had no clue until that day just how good wine could truly be. That set the stage for my passion for wine and spoiled me to swill for the rest of my wine swigging life. G’s Wine Club may you RIP!
November 1, 2009

Don Simpson
TREMENDOUS show!!! Great guest, he was a lot of fun to watch and his passion was also inspiring.

AOTD: I gave out a lot of hugs this weekend!!! Big fan of hugs and high fives.

QOTD: Not sure if its an epiphony, but I finally realized how much I ENJOY wine when I started spending time on the weekends driving around to check out new wine shops and see their selections. Before I got into wine I didnt even notice most all the of the hole in the wall wine shops. Now my eyes are like magnets to anything related to wine! Its been a lot of fun.
November 1, 2009

M
Coincidentally I’m watching this in the morning while sipping a cup of coffee, Trader Joe’s Peruvian Cafe Femenino.

QOTD: I had been drinking wine for a few years but not any particular varietal. I hadn’t begun expanding my palate. Then in 1990-something, I had a 1990 Chianti Classico Riserva that I loved. That’s when I started the early stages of expanding my palate.
November 1, 2009

Pirom
Hey Gary! Been a following WLTV for about a year now and think its amazing! I was at the Singapore Wine Fiesta on Saturday and i was so excited when I saw the Gibston Valley Pinot Noir on tasting. Thought it was amazing as a wine and got myself a bottle. Being all the way here in Singapore its quite hard to find wines that you taste more often then not, but anyway, awesome show!
November 1, 2009

Weston
Great Episode. Loved Rawness of it and the great energy

Qotd: mine was a Crozes Hermitage from M.Champoutier…Syrah it was big and syrupy and in your face, now I don’t know if it would be my style
October 30, 2009

jwhi
Loved your energy Steve! When you come to the states to visit WLTV please let us know.

Wine epiphany was my first visit to Napa – loved the air almost as much as the wine!

Speaking of epiphanies, makes me thing about a musical awakening. I was with a bunch of business clients on a “sunset cocktail cruise” on a lake in Idaho and the boat captain was playing Dave Matthews (under the table and dreaming)on a lousy overhead speaker system. I had heard of The DMBand at the time but was not a fan. As the album played I was not hearing anyone that was talking to me because I was completely lost in the music. I guess I missed out on a good sales opportunity or two that night but I found a new favorite band. I still love them passionately 12 years later.
October 29, 2009

SteveW
QOTD: My epiphany happened in 1983 while a was a poor college student at WSU in Eastern Washington State. A friend asked if I would like to go wine tasting at
a winery in Walla Walla. We ended up at Leonetti Cellars and Gary Figgins spent
over an hour with us pouring barrel samples of different vintages and grape varieties. This started me on my path to becoming a wine aficionado.
October 29, 2009

winewookie
another great episode out of the box

otago pinot can be great! Felton Road Block 5 is my fav

69 Gigondas bottled for L’Ousteau de Beaumaniere when I was 8 – i can’t taste it any longer but i remember the feeling of total happiness immediately after – mom and dad told a great story of their friend Jean-Louis who had introduced them to the owner who allowed 5 cases to slip out the back door and travel back to Ontario – cool experience

i have hugged today already – hugging is good – but big people shouldn’t pick up little people – leave your buddies on the ground please
October 29, 2009

E.W.B.
Love the secret lair.
October 29, 2009

acoppice
Great show! I loved the guys passion and excitement. Keep on going Steve! Going the check out your show.

QOTD: Jaques Selosse Blanc de Blanc. When you taste it you know what can be done with wine and how delicious it can be. For me that was the ‘it’ moment in wine and I bought ‘few’ bottles of it .
October 29, 2009

YoungDave
Wow- What a great moment with a great (extremely excited… or maybe just caffeine-hyped) guest/fan!!

QOTD 1.) I just hugged my cousin. It was abrupt, and immediately awkward.
QOTD 2.) The first time I got a roaring laugh after delivering a comedic line in a theatre production on stage was when I knew, beyond a doubt, that I wanted nothing more than to either be a comedian or a comedy actor. I’m on my way, and I won’t stop ’til I get to where I want to be. Cheers.
October 29, 2009

AnthonyfromSocal
Gary,

great episode. Steve was as passionate as you. Good to see that. 1/2 way done with your book and I like the message. Just realized as you gave Steve your wrist band that I didnt get the one you promised us if i ordered 2 books….no worries!

missed your book signing out here in LA but may try to catch the one in San Diego next week.

QTD-Epiphany was my first trip to Napa about 13 years ago. Valley just took my breath away.
October 28, 2009

Mike
Really great episode, really cool to do something different.

With regard to QOTD it has actually quite worried me. I’ve been into wine for the last two years, i’m only twenty but I feel like i’ve got a good understanding and spend a lot of time each day reading, tasting and of course watching WLTV. However i’ve never had an epiphany moment. I’ve talked to various wine merchants about wines they had when they were in their twenties that they can still taste now (that’s real length) but i’ve never had anything that’s really blown me away if i’m being truly honest. Worrying.
October 28, 2009

Divya Mistry
Very cool. Good to see passionate people getting all passion-y!
AOTD: Will have to wait for a couple of months on this one.
QOTD: That moment hasn’t occurred yet.