Gary:
You are the greatest. Please keep the WLTV going. Your enthusiasm about wine is unbelievable. Keep it going.

GREAT SHOW GARY!!!!! I’m not familiar with this wine, but I can’t wait to try some. I can’t seem to get enough Italian wine these days.

Also, I’m so glad you are continuing with the show, honestly I thought you were bluffing with all the leaving talk! The show continues to get better and better. I have learned so much about wine from you and appreciate every ep. It’s been said before, if you need to cut back on the number of episodes in order to keep the show going, then do it! 2 or 3 eps a week would still be great! I don’t know how you find time to do one a day.

LONG LIVE WLTV!!!!!!!!!!!!

Q – Tuff ??

So glad to hear you’ll be continuing the Thunder Show Gary. I look forward to viewing each episode.

QOTD: Wanting to do something in the days following 911, I was matched up with the widow of a FDNY firefighter killed on 911. I created memory quilts for his widow and each of his three young children, using his flannel shirts and FDNY shorts, FDNY patches, photos, and their wedding invitation. Amazingly, I chose fabrics that suited each person and when I delivered them in person to their home on Long Island, they were all thrilled. I expected lots of tears but instead there was nothing but joy.

Please never stop the thunder show! You continually bring us great wines with your unique and fun way. Where else could we get this?

QOTD: Working with the Jr. High kids at church.

Gary, your show always makes me happy. Glad to see you’re still going to do The Thunder Show.
QOTD: The most fun, or happiest thing I’ve done without family is when I went to a camp up in the middle of nowhere British Columbia, and I had no cell phone, iPod, internets, absolutely no technology. I met a bunch of new people from all over the West Coast.

Gary, thanks so much for continuing on. You have become part of my day and I always look forward to the show – it is always a bright ray of sunshine regardless of how my work day or weather or whatever else is going on. I particularly want to thank you for reminding me of how important family is, and how important it is to hear from family. Your show has made you part of my extended family, and I was saddened to think that I would lose that communication. This made me realize how important calling my 94 year old aunt is to her, and I have vowed to call even more often. Thanks for you exuberance and passion!

And thanks for the show on Sagrantion De Montefalco, it sounds like a perfect fit for my love of Madarin Tannats, and other dry, dry, dry red wines.

Thanks for introducing to somthing new. I have seen these wine, but know absolutely nothing about them because they are not covered by anyone in the press. Glad to know that you are continuing the show, I think most of us would be OK if you didn’t answer EVERY e-mail or got someone to help out with the questions. It is a lot of behind the scenes work that goes into keeping somehting like this interactive and I appreciate how hard you work.

QOTD: My greatest accomplishment is becoming who I am today. I am very blessed with a great career, a loving family, and the best friends anyone could ask for in life.

Cheers

great episode GV very refreshing show…thanks for the wines it has inspired me to start an aserteric tasting group…not that sagrantino is aserteric…not that its not!

Thanl you Gray. We love!

(Maybe three times a week?)

Jim

Wow, i feel sooooo much better…

Gary, I read Craig Camps blog. This was my reply:

I have been watching WLTV for a few months. I found your site as a result of one of the most recent episodes of WLTV where a viewer suggested that your blob could have been the reason that WLTV is going to be done in 6 more episodes. While your points are valid (excuse the pun… points…) I think that to dismiss Gary Vanerchuks format and point system after only viewing one episode is unfair. I’ve only been a viewer for a few months but Gary Vaynerchuk is ALWAYS saying that the points he awards is his opinion and that “your own palate” should determine what you buy and drink. He has said numerous times that his viewers should not make their wine drinking decisions based on his opinion but they should go out, try new things and make their own determinations. To dismiss his methodology and rating system after viewing one show is like dismissing Rush Limbaugh as a “kook” after listening to his show for an hour. That said, I’m glad I found your blog. I will become a regular reader.

Hope you wont be gone from the web forever.

Hey Wine Guy…

I feel your pain…and joy.

Thanks for the past, and for whatever the future may hold.

Thoughts…tape five 10 minute episodes on one day for a while. I realize that it will be hard for you to talk for only 10 minutes, but…pace yourself. 10 minutes of the Wine Guy is better than zero.

Ultimately, do what you need to do for you and your family. You’ve started a great thing here. Even if you pause for a while or have to move on…ya still done good.

Lars

Glad to hear that you have decided to stay, so much wine and so much knowledge to learn still.

QOTD: The greatest non-family thing I’ve ever done has to be college.

Gary, so happy to have you for 400+. I lurk too much and only got into WLTV recently, but you’ve already helped me appreciate and love wine in a way I never have before. Let’s shoot from the hip – for 1000 shows baby! TIME FOR A SNIFFY SNIFF!

Yippeeeeeeeee! He’s going to stay!. On a selfish note, I am so glad. Despite this, I understand how you may feel. Take care of yourself and your family first and foremost.

I was just getting comfortable and watching your show, then Tuesday, when I watched the back to back show gave me a shock. Truthfully, there was a part of my heart that sank because I have come to see your show, your enthusiasm, your energy as part of my pick-me-up after a looooong day. I haven’t been able to come back to watch any of the other shows since Tuesday, hoping that there will be good news today. You did not fail. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Cut down the number of shows if you have to, but please continue. Your input, your enthusiasm is truly inspiring. I have turned from a water and tea guy to someone who is beginning to pair wines with meals…and not just reds with meats and whites with fish kind of pairing. And it’s all thanks to you. So I know that I haven’t left very many replies before, because I didn’t think I have much to say, but I am leaving one now. THANK YOU!

I’m glad you are going to continue to do the show. I’m like you, occasionally I’ll skip a couple of shows and then, boom!, I’m right back with energy again. Maybe try just 2-3 times per week.
The shows where you focus on one grape or region are my favorites-do more of these.
QOD- I have a group that I golf with-our trips, and dinners with wine are always memorable.

Gary:
I read Craig’s blog, and clearly, he has succumbed to that most human of temptations: to speak before thinking or without first obtaining knowledge. Yes, you do a show about wine. You educate and spark interest in people about wine, but you are much more than a wine show. You have an infectious enthusiasm for life which is so often missing, yet so desired, by most adults who are bogged down with responsibilities. You have a way of bringing joy and reminding us to relish the important things in life… if Craig really knew you and your work, he would realize that it is YOU, not wine snobs like him, who actually live out the definition of SAVORING LIFE!
All the best.

Gary, I’m delighted to hear that you were only considering retiring and have decided against it. The Vayniacs need you!

You and the Vayniacs might be interested to know that there is a Chicago-based wine critic named Tom Hyland who specializes in Italian wines and writes a newsletter called Guide to Italian Wines. The current issue (Winter 2007/08) just came out a few days ago and contains a feature in which he reviews a whole bunch of 2004 Sagrantino di Montefalco’s. Anybody who wants a copy can email Hyland at [email protected]

TG GV! you really freaked me out Thursday. I have been distracted by a new job and not able to watch as much as I had been and I came back on Thursday, for the first time in a long time and was thunderstruck!! I am glad you are rethinking your plan to abandon the thundershow.
How may I help save the thunder??? here is my plan to show you my appreciation for all you do. My wine tasting group has been following along with Zraly’s book for a few months now. We are nearing the end and I was planning, after the last chapter, to bring the thunder into the group. Well I am not waiting till we finish the book anymore. I am doing it now! Save the thunder! We are on the chapter on Italian wines, so we will be tasting all the wines you tasted on friday and watching the show together. I will wear my two (that’s right two) wristbands and take pictures of the group and send them to you!!!
OK? Are we cool?
It’s your show to do with as you wish, of course. But is would be such a sad sad day if after all the momentum, the ellen show, the conan show, the crazy billboard I past on my way to Summit (and nearly freaked out while driving, quite dangerous)if after all that it were over. Tweak it, lighten the load, if you shake it up a bit you might get something even cooler than it is now.

I just started watching regularly the past few months. I really enjoyed your show. I’m also glad you will be around to do some more…Keep up the good work.

That’s our Gary as we love him. I knew you would stay! Lately I had a 100% Carignan “Vielles Vignes”. It was very awkward: Tasted like burnt plastic. I put the open bottle in the fridge for one or two days and retasted. It has evolved and is really tasty but still quite a character and I have absolutely no problem with that. My biggest thing besides family? Probably hiking/climbing onto a high mountain.

Loved it a lot Gary. GLAD TO HAV EYOU BACK!
I dont know what i would have done without the show.
Probably would end up in prison by the end of the weekend.

Thanks for going the distance. In a 3 round world, you’re a 15 rounder. I love this damn show!

Ouf! I am glad the the vaynernation will continue to thrive!

MD

Gary, sorry to doubt you. Glad you’re staying.