EP 208 California Zinfandel’s That Are Highly Rated

Wines tasted in this episode:

Question of the day: “How do you manage your cellar”

Gary Vaynerchuk tackles four serious red Zinfandel’s today and is excited to share his thoughts, please share yours.

Latest Comment:

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“Shoppers’ Discount Liquors”… well, I don’t know how old this episode is, but I just happend across it, Googling California Zin, which a friend mentiond in a recent email, “the jammy smell of a big California Zin”… anyway, I loved the education, and the teaser… I gotta go get some… I can especially relate to the buttery blueberry pancakes… the way to a man’s heart, LOL. Keep it up… and thanks!

Tags: california, red wines, review, Video, wine, wines, zinfandel

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  • wallace

    keep up the show… it’s awsome. i was a huge zin fan, but over the years my taste turned… it’s good to see this episode so that i remember to check up on old favorite varietals, wineries, etc.

  • Justin

    What a find! I look forward to making my way through the archives of this show 🙂

  • Justin

    What a find! I look forward to making my way through the archives of this show 🙂

  • Vivaitalia

    LURKER HERE! No one referred me, i found it on my own, but hey, why should that count against me? I absolutely love wltv, i’ve gone back and watched almost every episode! Keep up the great work and i’ll be leaving alot more comments.

  • Vivaitalia

    LURKER HERE! No one referred me, i found it on my own, but hey, why should that count against me? I absolutely love wltv, i’ve gone back and watched almost every episode! Keep up the great work and i’ll be leaving alot more comments.

  • Les

    Thanks for the Zin episode! I don’t have a cellar (translation – more than 1 case of wine at any given time) but it’s something I am working my way up to in terms of, confidence, money, and space. If I was managing my future holdings, I would use a journal with creamy thick pages and a great inky fountain pen that smudges if you don’t allow for drying time. My significant other would use Excel and laugh.

  • Les

    Thanks for the Zin episode! I don’t have a cellar (translation – more than 1 case of wine at any given time) but it’s something I am working my way up to in terms of, confidence, money, and space. If I was managing my future holdings, I would use a journal with creamy thick pages and a great inky fountain pen that smudges if you don’t allow for drying time. My significant other would use Excel and laugh.

  • Jim in Atlanta

    I am a relatively new viewer and really enjoy your episodes and look forward to them. You bring a lot of energy and fun to wine tasting. I am recommending your site to other wine lovers in Atlanta. Keep up the good work!!

  • Jim in Atlanta

    I am a relatively new viewer and really enjoy your episodes and look forward to them. You bring a lot of energy and fun to wine tasting. I am recommending your site to other wine lovers in Atlanta. Keep up the good work!!

  • chito

    I use winepricex.com to keep track of my inventory. I have close to 800 botttles. Enjoyed the Zin episode. Keep up the great work. Over 200 replies. I remember when 50 was a lot. Not a long time ago,huh Gary? Just the beginning, just the beginning!!!

  • chito

    I use winepricex.com to keep track of my inventory. I have close to 800 botttles. Enjoyed the Zin episode. Keep up the great work. Over 200 replies. I remember when 50 was a lot. Not a long time ago,huh Gary? Just the beginning, just the beginning!!!

  • Susan

    Gary-
    Another great ep!!
    You get several points for
    “happified”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Super word of the day!!!!!!!
    QOD:
    I don’t have enough wine to
    organize it yet…………….
    🙂

  • Susan

    Gary-
    Another great ep!!
    You get several points for
    “happified”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Super word of the day!!!!!!!
    QOD:
    I don’t have enough wine to
    organize it yet…………….
    🙂

  • the big cheez

    a lurker uncovered…again.

    Great episode. Love those zins…”as the rainbow of flavors come crashing down…and up our nose”!
    Just brilliant.
    Shoppers Discount Lickers…

    QOTD: 200+ in the noggin.

  • the big cheez

    a lurker uncovered…again.

    Great episode. Love those zins…”as the rainbow of flavors come crashing down…and up our nose”!
    Just brilliant.
    Shoppers Discount Lickers…

    QOTD: 200+ in the noggin.

  • Joe Trdinich

    Great episode. We visited Seghesio in October and tasted the Cortina, which we really liked. Better Zins though on that trip from Wilson Winery in Dry Creek Valley. Glad for the tasting of the Four VInes–just added two bottles to fill out a case.
    I use Excel and labels to track my 450 bottle cellar. Take copious notes to keep for future reference.

  • Joe Trdinich

    Great episode. We visited Seghesio in October and tasted the Cortina, which we really liked. Better Zins though on that trip from Wilson Winery in Dry Creek Valley. Glad for the tasting of the Four VInes–just added two bottles to fill out a case.
    I use Excel and labels to track my 450 bottle cellar. Take copious notes to keep for future reference.

  • wayno da wino

    Gary, You’ll have us Vayniak’s jumpin-off-da-cliff
    like lemmings if ya stop da Show. Great to see da
    Zins, one a me favorites, outta da closet.

    QOTD: Use “named” wine cases layed on their sides
    and pencil & notebook-paper to list da wines in each
    “named” wine case. Kinda primitive, but it works
    for me.

  • wayno da wino

    Gary, You’ll have us Vayniak’s jumpin-off-da-cliff
    like lemmings if ya stop da Show. Great to see da
    Zins, one a me favorites, outta da closet.

    QOTD: Use “named” wine cases layed on their sides
    and pencil & notebook-paper to list da wines in each
    “named” wine case. Kinda primitive, but it works
    for me.

  • Slick Nick

    Gary,
    Nice episode!

    QOTD: xls spreadsheet… download sales receipt from WL as starting point, then add wine description, and my own rating. Have about 200 bottles in cellar. Don’t keep exact count of inventory.

  • Slick Nick

    Gary,
    Nice episode!

    QOTD: xls spreadsheet… download sales receipt from WL as starting point, then add wine description, and my own rating. Have about 200 bottles in cellar. Don’t keep exact count of inventory.

  • aaronT

    2 lurkers here, commenting at your request. We use excel, but are usually too lazy to keep it updated. So once every couple months we have to “catch it up.” Which sux.

    Enjoy your shows though, keep it up. Someday we’ll order some wine from you (once you do your next free shipping promo, it’s a killer shipping to Cali!) How ironic that most of the wines we’d order from you way over there get produced way over here.

  • aaronT

    2 lurkers here, commenting at your request. We use excel, but are usually too lazy to keep it updated. So once every couple months we have to “catch it up.” Which sux.

    Enjoy your shows though, keep it up. Someday we’ll order some wine from you (once you do your next free shipping promo, it’s a killer shipping to Cali!) How ironic that most of the wines we’d order from you way over there get produced way over here.

  • Skol

    I use cellartracker to track my wine.

  • Skol

    I use cellartracker to track my wine.

  • Wino

    Nice episode. I really enjoy the Four VInes Chardonnay and would love to get my hands on their Syrahs because they are supposed to be out of this world.

    QOTD- I don’t really have enough wine to have to “manage” it. I maybe have 100 bottles and maybe only 40 of them are really keepers that I want to lay down for a long time. Everything else is fair game for drinking.

  • Wino

    Nice episode. I really enjoy the Four VInes Chardonnay and would love to get my hands on their Syrahs because they are supposed to be out of this world.

    QOTD- I don’t really have enough wine to have to “manage” it. I maybe have 100 bottles and maybe only 40 of them are really keepers that I want to lay down for a long time. Everything else is fair game for drinking.

  • SacramentoCharlie

    Very good episode. Zin is always an fun roll of the dice.

    QOTD: none yet, but am getting the point where it might be a good idea. Good question to put out there for us not tracking yet to see what the options are.

    p.s. Gary has front page pub on http://www.localwineevents.com…..nice frame/pic they chose 😉

  • Very good episode. Zin is always an fun roll of the dice.

    QOTD: none yet, but am getting the point where it might be a good idea. Good question to put out there for us not tracking yet to see what the options are.

    p.s. Gary has front page pub on http://www.localwineevents.com…..nice frame/pic they chose 😉

  • Chris

    Wine Rack – 10 Shelves, 12 bottles per shelf. Located in the cellar, outer wall, closed room, temp stays 65-70 all the time. Wines arranged by taste and cost. Older and more expensive (improve with age) at bottom. Every day wines on top shelves, easier to see. If a bottle on the top shelves is a winner, I’ll move the rest to a lower shelf, as they are keepers.

    Right on Gary on knowing what you like. I look forward to coming home after work and finding in the rack, exactly the wine to match my mood. On weekends, I’ll select based on the meal. For the dinner invites, I go deep into the lower racks.

    Love your approach on wine. If you enjoy it, it is good. Finding the good ones is a fun adventure.

  • Wine Rack – 10 Shelves, 12 bottles per shelf. Located in the cellar, outer wall, closed room, temp stays 65-70 all the time. Wines arranged by taste and cost. Older and more expensive (improve with age) at bottom. Every day wines on top shelves, easier to see. If a bottle on the top shelves is a winner, I’ll move the rest to a lower shelf, as they are keepers.

    Right on Gary on knowing what you like. I look forward to coming home after work and finding in the rack, exactly the wine to match my mood. On weekends, I’ll select based on the meal. For the dinner invites, I go deep into the lower racks.

    Love your approach on wine. If you enjoy it, it is good. Finding the good ones is a fun adventure.

  • I’ve been drinking lots of zin’s lately. This was fun to watch. Nice one Gary.

  • I’ve been drinking lots of zin’s lately. This was fun to watch. Nice one Gary.

  • The Smartest Girl in San Franc

    NICE episode! Love the eyebrows — like little catepillars dancing around. And the close up was very exciting — really! Other pleasing elements: the double deuces sign with the little snippy moves, and the color of your shirt.

    Tried the Seghesio at the tasting room in Healdsburg the other day – tasty, juicy, fruity, but for some reason it didn’t blow me away. The old world is calling me these days.

    QOTD: A little black book, my brain, my husband’s brain.

    TSGISF

    P.S. No apostrophe after Zinfandel in the title.

  • The Smartest Girl in San Francisco

    NICE episode! Love the eyebrows — like little catepillars dancing around. And the close up was very exciting — really! Other pleasing elements: the double deuces sign with the little snippy moves, and the color of your shirt.

    Tried the Seghesio at the tasting room in Healdsburg the other day – tasty, juicy, fruity, but for some reason it didn’t blow me away. The old world is calling me these days.

    QOTD: A little black book, my brain, my husband’s brain.

    TSGISF

    P.S. No apostrophe after Zinfandel in the title.

  • Well now… this begs the question: Are we gonna see you at ZAP in 2008?

  • Well now… this begs the question: Are we gonna see you at ZAP in 2008?

  • Daniel

    QOD: Cellar Tracker, the best!

  • Daniel

    QOD: Cellar Tracker, the best!

  • Aamer

    Two documents on Google docs:

    1. Spreadsheet with my cellar inventory. My cellar is only 20 or so bottles at this point so this is working fine.
    2. Doc for “Wines Tried” and my tasting notes and recommendations to myself.

  • Aamer

    Two documents on Google docs:

    1. Spreadsheet with my cellar inventory. My cellar is only 20 or so bottles at this point so this is working fine.
    2. Doc for “Wines Tried” and my tasting notes and recommendations to myself.

  • Vinacull

    Excellent EP Gary. Perhaps I’m one of the people supporting your stats on increased Zin slurpage, because I took a rather long hiatus but have been coming back to them lately. QOTD: I’m with the Kahuna. A mix of Cellar Tracker, brain, and luck.

  • Vinacull

    Excellent EP Gary. Perhaps I’m one of the people supporting your stats on increased Zin slurpage, because I took a rather long hiatus but have been coming back to them lately. QOTD: I’m with the Kahuna. A mix of Cellar Tracker, brain, and luck.

  • I’m surprised more people haven’t mentioned Cork’d. Definitely my favorite wine management.

  • I’m surprised more people haven’t mentioned Cork’d. Definitely my favorite wine management.

  • QOTD: For years I simply kept track of my cellar using a custom made list in SplashShopper on my Palm /OS powered phone (Treo). Recently I signed up at CellarTracker and am in the process of mirroring my list of wines there.

    Good show. I love zin.

  • QOTD: For years I simply kept track of my cellar using a custom made list in SplashShopper on my Palm /OS powered phone (Treo). Recently I signed up at CellarTracker and am in the process of mirroring my list of wines there.

    Good show. I love zin.

  • Brian

    I manage my cellar with Personal Wine Curator 2.0. I highly recommend it – inexpensive, easy, and has plenty of extras. I like that I can paste the labels from labels.winelibrary.com into the program. Support has been great from the company also.

  • Brian

    I manage my cellar with Personal Wine Curator 2.0. I highly recommend it – inexpensive, easy, and has plenty of extras. I like that I can paste the labels from labels.winelibrary.com into the program. Support has been great from the company also.

  • JimVarney01

    QOTD: Too much community info to pass up.

    Nice Zin ep Gary!

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