Gary,

This is easy, any wines imported by Gaetano d’Aquino. Many years ago, when I was forced to become a value shopper, I bought different Italian wines imported by d’Aquino. All were absolute dreak. What’s amazing to me is after all these years they’re still in business. You can fool some of the people all the time.

Shame on you Gary Vay-ner-chuk, talking over the cellphone while driving….

Awesome episode Gary! What is that … and an IS or a GS? You strike me more of an IS kinda guy because it’s sportier. What was up with that black SUV coming out of the lot? I think you two were going to crash. I saw ep. #4, but seeing the store again … WOW! Nice work.

Very classy tribute to your dad and family. A lot of people these days don’t talk enough about the importance of family. It’s apparent that your dad is very special to you.

I’ll be honest and say that 40 bones for a bottle is a lot to spend, so I appreciate the review of the Corte Riva.

I’m kind of in the same boat as Tampa Steve, and some others, in that I don’t really hate a particular producer. Although, growing up in Kalamazoo, MI, we were almost forced to drink St. Julian wines. That about as close to hate as I will get for a producer. As for pissed off? I have to that those friggin’ Arbor Mist, and its corny commercials, REALLY piss me off! They are truly the new millennium Boons.

Hey…I asked this question last week, but given your QOD I think it’s on topic to raise it again. What producer, or producers, do you think does the best job making different varietals of wine? I think Hogue and Hess are up there.

Hey Gary…check this out! I was cruising the message board at a wine shop here in the DC area, and look what I found. A thread on WL.

http://www.wineaccess.com/store/beltwayfinewine/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.html?msg_id=000RGr

iF YOU REALLY VALUE YOUR FAMILY AS i’M SURE tHEY DO YOU; get yourself a hands free headset or speaker phonefor that lex you….. dork.

I mean Patriot.

Gary,
What a nice tribute to your father and family.
I would LOVE to know more about how he started his family
here, where he came from and how the business began.

I agree whole heartedly about the importance of family. That’s where life is.
What’s the expression…if everyone would take care of family,
then everyone would be taken care of?.

QOD: HATED: (because I was young & foolish & I got sick)
1) Almaden
2) Spanada
3) Zeller Schwarze Katz

Thanks for a GREAT episode, have a wonderful family weekend and….GO BENGALS!!

Gary,
This episode:
Awkward, very awkward.
It started well, with a great emocional speech as an attack, after that, really off balance, white with red, last millennium videos on, not a great finish… 87 for the wines and a…..75 minus for the video….I´d say “Pazz with a double Z”

LOL, GOTTA LOVE THIS ONE!!

http://www.winearomawheel.com/

WHITE WINE RED WINE
Pear Berry
Pineapple Cherry
Green Apple Plum
Apricot Raspberry
Peach Boysenberry
Melon Strawberry
Banana Rhubarb
Guava Blackberry
Lemon Blueberry
Grapefruit Black Currant
Mango Raisin
Passion Fruit Fig

TIM F Insanely impressive call on Dwight bobblehead!! Agree, funny episode.

GARY, GREAT episode–who’s idea was it for the opening? please ANSWER on next episode!!

Ordered the Merlot…how could I not after probably the most glowing review in WLTV history?

I just picked up a mixed half case of wine including that Corte Riva — I wanted a bottle before it’s all gone. Can anyone give me a good food/wine pairing on that Corte Riva?

Gary,

This is one of the best episodes you’ve ever done!!!! Absolutley phenomenol episode. Loved the Soprano’s intro, obviously because I’m Italian. I love the Dwight Bobble Head….way to show love and support NBC.

QOD Answer: Los Vascos Cabernet….it was horrible, off balance and non enjoyable.

Gary you never cease to amaze me….Your THE MAN!!!

Stallion

Gary,
Thanks for the tip on the Corte Riva, picked-up 6 from your web site. There are other web retailers at lower prices, but I think you need to go home with the person that brought you to the dance. Loyalty is lacking in our current “WalMart” culture and I challenge everyone to purchase through WL when they are turned on to a new wine by Gary.

QOD: Worst wine, ’97 Spring Mountain cab last night, CORKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don’t know? I think Paloma still has the Corte and now that the Corte is up to 50 bucks they are in the same price point. The only thing is that the Corte is more readily available.

Hey Gary V, Thanks to you now I can’t get that stupid Pat Benitar song out of my head! Great episode. Keep mixing things up.

Gary,
You need a headset for the cell in the car. Seriously its dangerous to talk on the phone and drive. QOD: I’m mad as hell at Hartwell Vineyards for a terrible tour/tasting experience.

I go out of the country for a couple of weeks and look what happens! Gary V turns into Tony S! Pat Benetar reappears from my ute! Merlot? Now I have to drink Merlot? (Just kidding about that. Sideways made Merlot cheap and Pinot expensive)

I had some Venezuelan wines when I lived in Caracas. That won’t happen again.

Question: What happened to the spreadsheet?

Salud!

(I blogged my trip if anyone is interested. Some food and wine notes as you go deeper:

http://austriafrance2006.blogspot.com/ )

Dan (from Houston)

Gary,

Shhhhhhh….Corte Riva has been one of my “under the radar” wines for some time now. I guess the secret is out.

Gary-
SUPER episode! I give it a 96.
I LOVE the video at the beginning. I am also curious about the traffic. Where was the traffic?
We have AWFUL traffic here in Charlotte, NC. Charlotte was designed for 200,000 and we have over 1 million who work here each day soooooooo…..It is alot of fun!
I would also have to agree that you need to get a cordless headset for your cell. Jabra makes great headsets.
I am glad you tried 4 wines from 4 places. I am thrilled you found one that you really like.
I enjoyed the Pat video and yes, I remember that video.
Keep up the good work!:)

Gary, you are a bad, bad boy. If your “nice Jewish mother” saw you driving while yakking on a cell phone, she’d die of a heart attack. And then you’d have to live with the horrible guilt that you sent her to her grave by being irresponsible! Tsk, tsk.

I really really REALLY hate people who drive and talk on a cell phone. As others have said, it’s dangerous – to you and to people on the road with you. You’ve got to be able to afford a hands-free set, Gary, so please, for us and for your family, get one.

I bet you really didn’t think that everyone was going to scold you about the cell phone, did you?

I think the only wine that I will never try again was this wine that this drunk photographer (giving my profession a bad name) gave us at a local tasting. Dreadful, hateful stuff. He bragged and bragged about this wine (actually, mostly about the naked woman that he photgraphed and put on the label). The stuff tasted like a mix of sour milk, gasoline, furniture polish and fruit juice gone bad. I don’t know…what do you say to someone who is so damn proud of their wine when it is so incredibly vile? I still retch just thinking about it.

BTW, MarcT, I’m here. Friday I’m not usually in the office, and so I’m not typically watching WLTV. I think BrandonM has a similar schedule, because he doesn’t always comment on Fridays.

Have to admit, when I would open the closet door of my dorm back in my college days, there hung a poster of Pat Benatar in one of her great leather outfits. Thanks for bringing back that image. Great episode, you are definitely on a mission to bring back merlot, and I am with you.

Hi Gar, it’s T&T we loved this episode, and the music was awesome!!!, the production value was great.The wine we will not drink again is “Two Buck chuck” The wine we are drinking tomorrow is “Eaglepoint Ranch Syrah” Our order came in Yesterday. Keep up the good work. If you are ever in Chicago let us know and we will enjoy a bottle of “Pax” wine together.

Don’t know if the directing reminded me more of Francis Ford Coppochuck or M. Night Shymalchuck?

People forget just how dark and foreboding this world was before Pat Benatar made it a brighter place through dance.
QOD: one thing I’ll absolutely, unrepentantly steer clear of is Cote Zero organic red. I’ve enjoyed lots of terrific organic wines, but this is not one of them.

Tried it once, it tasted like something had died in there, but I figured OK, bad bottle. The neighbors brought it over again (“Look, it’s organic!), and it tasted exactly the same–all pencil lead and labrusca funk. Bleh, ptui and so forth.

Shana tova, y’all.

Gary, great episode – thanks for the Crote Riva tip – I ahve been looking to replace Pride.

I am pissed off with Marquis-Phillips and Faleso Vitano and any other under $12 RP 89-90 wine, and won’t bother with them anymore.