Great episode — loved the rant on the Bears. I almost snorted wine out my nose (Joseph Drouhin 1998 Vosne-Romanee).

QOD: Put a gun to my head and I’d choose Bien Nacido in Santa Barbara. I don’t think I’d do well living outside the US.

I want to address Justin’s comment on Napa. For the most part I had a good time last week in Napa. I visited 10 wineries while out there and I’ll let you know what I thought of each. Maybe others could do the same…

Domaine Carneros — Very uptight and pretentious, but beautiful. Meticulously clean and very well staffed.

Bouchaine — Very casual. Great vineyard view and very relaxed. The pourer allowed us to go outside and sit on the deck and kept coming out to fill us up. Server was very nice and made good conversation. I think we got 8 or 9 pours for $5. If you’re driving around Carneros, it’s worth stopping in.

Etude — They don’t have a tasting room. They do the tastings in their office which was pretty funny. The pourer was extremely knowledgable. This winery was pouring the most expensive wines for the price of a tasting of any we visited.

Whitehall Lane — We had a good time with our German pourer discussing the merits of screwcaps. She spent time with us even though the place was hopping. Very clean tasting room.

Hall — The pourers were not knowledgable at all and kept talking to each other about what cars they wanted to buy. They couldn’t have been less interested their customers. The tasting room was beautiful, but we quickly tasted and left.

V Sattui — My wife made me go here. I _HATED_ it. Total Disneyland atmosphere and the wine was awful. The pourer we had seemed intimidated by the questions I asked (not everyone knows what green harvesting is?!?). The place was jam packed. I couldn’t leave quick enough.

Provinence — This place was great. We got a less knowledgable pourer, but she knew that and went over and got the guy who knew what he was talking about. This place had some of the best wine I tasted while I was out there. Very nice, relaxed, empty tasting room.

Domaine Chandon — Another Disneyland winery. This is the place where people were visible drunk and couples were making out. We took the tour but it was really dumbed down. We tried some great sparklers but the tasting room was extremely crowded and not very comfortable. This place was all about revenue generation and not so much about the wine.

Ridge (Healdsburgh) — What can I say? This was unbelievable. The tasting room manager took a full hour showing us around the winery and tasting with us. She was incredibly knowledgable. Definitely an experience I’ll remember forever. I should note that Gary hooked me up with the tour. She specifically mentioned that they don’t give tours to people who aren’t in the wine industry.

Harvest Moon — This was a relaxed tasting room. Pourer was knowledgable but I wasn’t impressed with the wines so I didn’t ask many questions. I think my palate was getting tired by this point.

hi gary,

another great show. we watch you every night.

two things:

1. i found this surprisingly good wine for 5 bucks – charamba, 2004 – and wonder what you think.

2. can you taste some organic wines.

thanks!

Shafer Winery. Awesome juice in every bottle. Also the winery is tucked away from major traffic. The Lab (dog) is laying around the tasting room, the owner(John) and winemaker(Elias) are there to share and discuss their wines. So there’s my one Mr. V. Whats yours??

Couple of comments and then a question for Gary:

First up, can we crash your party this weekend (all 5000 of us)?

Secondly, get ready for a LOT of free shipment orders to Chicago starting around 3:01 PM on November 19!

And seriously, my question today is, since you are hosting guests this weekend, what is the ideal mix of wines to get if I am having a wine party? Let’s say most of my friends are knowledgeable about wine but not super-obsessed about it. Should I get half reds and half whites? Should I put some obscure grapes like today’s Godello into the mix?

To Tim F: If you’re not looking for Disneyland, I suggest going to Napa/Sonoma/Wineries during Feb or March.

A single winery??? You’ve got to be kidding.

If I named one in CA, then I would have to leave out France, Spain, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, etc. etc. etc. Maybe, I could get it down to one country. The USA has more variety than any other country — but if I had to narrow it down to one country I’d have to say France — from Alsace to Champagne to Burgundy to Bordeaux to Rhone to Provence to Languedoc to . . . and what about sub areas like Banyuls, Cahors, Savoie . . . oh hell I forgot Beaujolais.

Nope, I can’t do it even for France. I couldn’t do it for California . . .what? . . . and miss all those wonderful Oregon wines from the Willamettte valley. I would agree with Ed R that if I were stuck on the North Fork of Long Island, Bedell Cellers would be a great place to be. We travel there (and the Finger Lakes — our NAPA) frequently. But wine is a global phenomenon — don’t tie us down.

TimF…It would be great if you could rate them in order – 1 being the best. Just curious what your favorite was?

Very slow loading but U.S. net traffic is slow as well. See http://www.internettrafficreport.com/ QOTD – Just one is hard. I’d follow the others to Chateau Latour; I’ve got a strong French lineage and love the few I’ve been fortunate enough to taste.

Gary,

Sue had a great idea! How about a live taping of WLTV!!! Think about it, it would be awesome, get a bunch of wines and a live audience. Maybe for episode 100. Remember a while back the clip of you going nuts at the draft? Think about the electricity!

Gary,
Nice episode. Love the recurrent football theme and related jokes. Can’t wait for TWO free shipping weekends when the J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets fall to the Dolphins. We may miss the playoffs, go about 7-9, but luckily, the Jets are in the division, so there are two easy wins.

I tried the gravitar thing and submitted picture for approval.

Have only visited a handful of CA wineries on two different trips. Agree with the V Sattui comments being a waste of time- If someone in your party must go to V Sattui, spend your time better and walk across the street and go to Dean & Deluca. My favorite winery, i.e. where would I want to go? Cakebread was my favorite. Great tasting room, great tour, and my group met Jack Cakebread, who spend lots of time with our group answering questions.

While I no longer live in Virginia, I do recommend a trip to a few VA wineries for VA/DC/MD residents, or visitors to VA. Many of the wines are just plain bad, but a few wines are quite drinkable if not slightly overpriced. However, the towns around Charlottesville and the town of Middleburg are great towns to visit and have quality wines and beautiful wineries as well.

Rob M (one of the 4,000-5,000 lurkers)

Brandon M: That’s tough, but I’ll try. Keep in mind, this isn’t necessary by quality of wine — the stuff at Hall was very good. This was based upon overall experience. I’d like to hear what others have to say about regions they’ve visited.
1. Ridge 2. Etude 3. Bouchaine 4. Whitehall Lane 5. Provinence 6. Domaine Chandon 7. Domaine Carneros 8. Harvest Moon 9. Hall 10. V Sattui.

Tony G: Great idea on the live taping. Gary V seems like the Jim Cramer of the wine world. Cramer always does those “on location” things. Would be hysterical!

Rob M: Give us the low-down on the best places to visit in VA. I’ve been thinking about making a trip out to some vineyards there.

Unable to open the video. Will try again at 6 AM

QOD: Tedeschi Vineyard in Maui. Why? Because its in Maui!!! If restricted to the continental U.S., it would be hard to beat Anderson’s Conn Valley in Napa Valley. Beautiful locale, very friendly and engaging hosts, and fabulous wine.

Cheers.

I think the comments section would be much more used if it had a more forum-like structure. A great model might be that found on digg.com. Nesting replies under the comment to which they are replying is a great way to make the comments more readable. The thing is, when there are 50 comments already up, it’s hard to muster the desire to write another one, because the chances of yours being read go way down. If the design of the comments page encouraged viewers to read more than just the first then comments or whatever, you would probably get more than 100 comments every episode.

Haras de Pirque! Beautiful country, Great wines,Horses…giddy-up!

Hey Gary!

Almaviva is representative of what is to come from the Southern Hemisphere in the next 20 years! I have a three way tie, first would be Saxum hangin out at the Bonerock vineyard stepping through the fossilized whale skeleton/syrah vineyard is too cool Justin is so cool and he is also a mountain biker like me,plus I get to drink Bonerock and Rocketblock(98RP)!Second would be Cayuse, CDP in Walla Walla, crazy Christophe is a master/magician with Syrah and the vineyards repliate the CDP region in the Southern Rhone and his vineyard designates and blends are some of the best this country has to offer. Third would be Chateau Montelena the grounds are spectacular the best in Napa, with that beautiful lake and rolling hills a basket of food from Dean & Deluca and of course some great bottles. Not to mention the great Cabernet and Zin Bo makes. So Gary what are you waiting for…come on out and lets hang!

Cheers!

Gary,

Another nice show. Not much into whites but had to see it anyway just for the good info. As for the red; I was thinking it was a blind taste test; but I guess not. You ever going to do one?

Hi Gary,

I am willing to bet there are more than 4,000 – 5,000 people watching. Keep up the good work, the rest will take care of itself. I am still watching everyday from Hong Kong.

Kai from Hong Kong

Hi Gary – I enjoyed the episode today – a nice tasting of two wines. I especially appreciated how you usually taste wines that are generally affordable as well as better, more expensive wines. I’ll be in to buy those whites.

Winery I’d like to visit? There is a winery in Dakota – I’ve read about it – it makes wine from “Native” grapes that sells for 30 per or therabouts. Whoever the winemaker is, he deserves to be known simply because he is (I believe) making good, serious wine from his local resources. I’ll try to find the website and send it to you.

Other than that, I’d love to visit the Graham’s port house in the Duoro. As you know I have a long standing interest in Port and Graham’s is the port that I like best.

I hope your Labor day party is a huge success. I’ll be in London having dinner at a wine bar in Covent garden calle “Les Amis du Vin”. Objectively, it isn’t great – it’s in a basement, it smells a little, it’s crowded. It’s perfect tho – it serves good “swilling with friends” wine, good cheese and good bread. Perfect.

SO congratulations again on your success, Gary and in the success fo WLTV. Great – best regards
Grant

Hi there, Gary! I geuss I am one of the “lurkers” out there. While I was home visiting Long Island a month ago, (I now live in Alabama) a family member told me about your site. I just wanted to tell you what a great job you are doing! I thoroughly enjoy each episode and as a wine “novice,” you have been very knowledgable and helpful for me in choosing wine to enjoy. I really look foward to trying the Montenovo Godello. Thank you!

Cin Cin,
Melissa McBrayer

93pts. today.

For the winery I would most like to visit = I have no idea – I don’t absolutely love one wine enough to say – so for now I’ll take any off the road winery in Napa.

And by the way GV – OK, you have vowed on your 16-0 prediction for the Jets to waive shipping for any teams city that beats the Jets in the regular season. How about a wager with your in-state Giant fans – since there aren’t any regular season games btw the two and the Giants already took care of your Jets in pre-season (I know you don’t want to hear it again) – let’s just do who has the better record at the end of the season to be fair. You make up the fair terms and only people who post in the comments section for this episode can be in the wager. Let’s call it pride for either side. Let the wagers and games begin!!!!

Gary,

Have fun with your party this weekend! I’ll be revisiting the Amador and Fair Play wine country, trying to find those few vintners that are making great wines. There are several Rhone Rangers in the area, some of which are doing interesting stuff. Maybe I’ll post a report when I return.

I little bummed with the bandwidth problems today, but I never miss WLTV.

Hello Gary,

Ideas for coming tastings:

1) Bordeaux second wines (Mission Haut-Brion, etc.)
2) Dry Chenin Blancs of the Loire Valley
3) Alsace Rieslings

Gary, I’m a GIANT fan and like Pete B’s suggestion…what do you say? Although, I alway pick up my wine….so maybe one free bottle of any of the wines shown on WLTV.

Also, a suggestion….I think many of us would be very interested in YOUR answers to many of the questions. What do you think??

Favorite Winery…Bacchus Scool of Wine on Rt. 37 in Toms River. (Hoping you laughed heartily at that)