EP 448 California Zinfandel Death Match

Gary Vaynerchuk explores 3 very serious Zinfandels on the thunder show and talks a little more about his new book!

Wines tasted in this episode:

2004 Tres Sabores Rutherford ZinfandelNapa Red Zinfandel
2005 Neyers Zinfandel High ValleyOther California Red Zinfandel
2005 Ridge Lytton Springs ZinfandelSonoma Red Zinfandel

Links mentioned in todays episode.

Latest Comment:

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John__J

qotd too late for both, but any varietal or region you haven’t had on the show yet is what I like seeing the most.

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

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  • Zume

    Autographed copies seems to be a pretty good one. Or why don’t you approach some of the wineries that are represented in the book and have them put up a link where the wine club members or general public could buy the book from their website. Then whichever winery sells the most books gets an appearance by the Chuck live in the flesh…

  • Patrick O’Day

    Great Zin review. I would like to hear your thoughts on a wines potential to laydown and improve with time or if it’s a drink now wine. Also if the wine might be food friendly or not. You cover those issues now and then and I find it valuable.

  • Patrick O’Day

    Great Zin review. I would like to hear your thoughts on a wines potential to laydown and improve with time or if it’s a drink now wine. Also if the wine might be food friendly or not. You cover those issues now and then and I find it valuable.

  • vibemore

    QOTD#1 – Go Willy Wonka style. Put 101 winning labels in 101 random books and whoever finds the label gets to send it in for that bottle of vino! Brilliant!
    QOTD#2 – The runner-ups. How about giving us some of the wine that got close, but couldn’t quite make it into your 101 wines from the book. However, this probably makes more sense after the book comes out.

  • vibemore

    QOTD#1 – Go Willy Wonka style. Put 101 winning labels in 101 random books and whoever finds the label gets to send it in for that bottle of vino! Brilliant!
    QOTD#2 – The runner-ups. How about giving us some of the wine that got close, but couldn’t quite make it into your 101 wines from the book. However, this probably makes more sense after the book comes out.

  • Greg B.

    Big G, Great show. I’ve had the Nyers and it is very good. I can’t wait to have a look at that Book of yours.

    QOTD: You could try and do some tie ins at places like Santa Barbara and Napa. Something like what they did with Sideways. Mass Brochures.

    This week I’d love to see more Spanish Wines. I’m in a Big 04-05 Kick.

  • Greg B

    Big G, Great show. I’ve had the Nyers and it is very good. I can’t wait to have a look at that Book of yours.

    QOTD: You could try and do some tie ins at places like Santa Barbara and Napa. Something like what they did with Sideways. Mass Brochures.

    This week I’d love to see more Spanish Wines. I’m in a Big 04-05 Kick.

  • Port episode!!

    Root Beer episode!!!

  • Port episode!!

    Root Beer episode!!!

  • Moselman

    Being a sucker for the hang tags on/over the bottle necks, I have to agree with James. Not sure what the one week timeframe someone mentioned has to do with the book promo, tho’.

  • T. Bone

    People make millions on book tours. You have already been on the talk shows, this is your “second movie” – get back on there, talk it up, no better way to sell it. You don’t need to eat dirt (although that was fun). You need a quick, one or two liner that differentiates (positions) your book relative to all the other options – why is it different? People don’t need much, they just need: 1) a reason to like you, 2) a reason to be interested in the book, 3) enough information to make it *easy* to buy it.

    If you get back on the talk shows you really need to have them push the Vayner-nation and your show. You need to come across as someone with draw, not just some nut job who likes wine. You have serious credibility and a real audience, and that should come across. Street smarts sells, and you’ve got it, my man.

    For this week, how about: Aglianico (just because), sparkling reds (Brechetto d’Acqui, Australian options, etc). Aged semillon (I have heard this is incredible at 15+ years from Australia – do you have any?). Would love a Rioja episode – new world style v. old world style. Clean v. dirty. Oak v. rustic. Fruit v. terroir. What’s to know? Have you done a Tokaji episode? I need to check your archives. Would love to see that too – I have found Tokaji goes amazingly well with gingerbread….

    Just keep kicking butt, GV. The next level is coming, just don’t worry about it – let it happen.

  • Moselman

    Being a sucker for the hang tags on/over the bottle necks, I have to agree with James. Not sure what the one week timeframe someone mentioned has to do with the book promo, tho’.

  • T. Bone

    People make millions on book tours. You have already been on the talk shows, this is your “second movie” – get back on there, talk it up, no better way to sell it. You don’t need to eat dirt (although that was fun). You need a quick, one or two liner that differentiates (positions) your book relative to all the other options – why is it different? People don’t need much, they just need: 1) a reason to like you, 2) a reason to be interested in the book, 3) enough information to make it *easy* to buy it.

    If you get back on the talk shows you really need to have them push the Vayner-nation and your show. You need to come across as someone with draw, not just some nut job who likes wine. You have serious credibility and a real audience, and that should come across. Street smarts sells, and you’ve got it, my man.

    For this week, how about: Aglianico (just because), sparkling reds (Brechetto d’Acqui, Australian options, etc). Aged semillon (I have heard this is incredible at 15+ years from Australia – do you have any?). Would love a Rioja episode – new world style v. old world style. Clean v. dirty. Oak v. rustic. Fruit v. terroir. What’s to know? Have you done a Tokaji episode? I need to check your archives. Would love to see that too – I have found Tokaji goes amazingly well with gingerbread….

    Just keep kicking butt, GV. The next level is coming, just don’t worry about it – let it happen.

  • Corey C

    It would be great to see you do a Condrieu tasting or maybe compare Condrieu to Viognier’s from other area’s.

  • Corey C

    It would be great to see you do a Condrieu tasting or maybe compare Condrieu to Viognier’s from other area’s.

  • Eric Gardner

    QOTD #1 I think that it took you a long time to succeed in the wine world, and you started out by meeting customers and studying them. Later, once you knew the wine world, you branched out into the viral world and did very well.

    But I think that your wine success is based on your knowledge of the wine world. I think that you should apply the same methods to help your book succeed. I think that if you want to be as successful in the book world as you are in the wine world, you have to spend some time in it. Learn as much about it as possible, and meet as many book customers as you can.

    Also, you are a terrific salesman and I’m sure that you have a great product. I think that your first move is to go to as many public appearances as you can and bring books and sell them. Give wine away at the public events, but sell books. I think that if you go out to as many public events as you can (books tour, wine tastings, vaynernation gatherings), you will learn enough about the book business to start another revolution.

    Unfortunately, I don’t think that there is a short-cut to success in the book world. Your greatest strengths are your sales ability and your sincerity. Once you put in some time pressing the flesh and kissing babies, you’ll figure out the next step.

    QOTD #2
    I think that it would be nice to mix in some short head to head battles, I miss the short (10 minute shows). I think that if you mix short shows with long shows, you won’t kill yourself trying to top every episode. Also, I love learning about unusual grapes and unusual locations. The main thing is to mix it up. Cool Short Episodes & Extended Special Episodes.

  • Eric Gardner

    QOTD #1 I think that it took you a long time to succeed in the wine world, and you started out by meeting customers and studying them. Later, once you knew the wine world, you branched out into the viral world and did very well.

    But I think that your wine success is based on your knowledge of the wine world. I think that you should apply the same methods to help your book succeed. I think that if you want to be as successful in the book world as you are in the wine world, you have to spend some time in it. Learn as much about it as possible, and meet as many book customers as you can.

    Also, you are a terrific salesman and I’m sure that you have a great product. I think that your first move is to go to as many public appearances as you can and bring books and sell them. Give wine away at the public events, but sell books. I think that if you go out to as many public events as you can (books tour, wine tastings, vaynernation gatherings), you will learn enough about the book business to start another revolution.

    Unfortunately, I don’t think that there is a short-cut to success in the book world. Your greatest strengths are your sales ability and your sincerity. Once you put in some time pressing the flesh and kissing babies, you’ll figure out the next step.

    QOTD #2
    I think that it would be nice to mix in some short head to head battles, I miss the short (10 minute shows). I think that if you mix short shows with long shows, you won’t kill yourself trying to top every episode. Also, I love learning about unusual grapes and unusual locations. The main thing is to mix it up. Cool Short Episodes & Extended Special Episodes.

  • Davis

    QOTD: More Aussie wines! (or at least wines that are available in this neck of the woods)

  • Chrisfs

    Post a wine a day from the book on it’s own webpage, and then have a link at the bottom leading to a site that sells the book. Sure over 100 days, a person would be able to read the book for “free”, but how many people are going to do that vs how many people will go ahead and buy the book after reading a few (or after reading them all, just because it’s nice to have a nice printed copy to take with you to the wine store.).
    OR
    everyone who buys two books gets a LINK IT UP MOTT T-shirt!

    Special Lambic tasting episode please!!

  • Davis

    QOTD: More Aussie wines! (or at least wines that are available in this neck of the woods)

  • Chrisfs

    Post a wine a day from the book on it’s own webpage, and then have a link at the bottom leading to a site that sells the book. Sure over 100 days, a person would be able to read the book for “free”, but how many people are going to do that vs how many people will go ahead and buy the book after reading a few (or after reading them all, just because it’s nice to have a nice printed copy to take with you to the wine store.).
    OR
    everyone who buys two books gets a LINK IT UP MOTT T-shirt!

    Special Lambic tasting episode please!!

  • Phil M’Glassup

    I have five ideas that are so good. . .but to hear them, you’ll have to pay me (unless you meet one condition, which is one of the ideas).
    (cryptic, eh?)
    But my show idea is gratis.
    Demystifying the Wine List.
    Go to both an upmarket and neighborhood place and show us how to make the most of their lists.
    What’s an appropriate markup?
    When do we send back wines?
    What does a corked wine taste like?
    How do we handle the ritual of ordering?
    This really is the show everyone wants to see.

  • Phil M’Glassup

    I have five ideas that are so good. . .but to hear them, you’ll have to pay me (unless you meet one condition, which is one of the ideas).
    (cryptic, eh?)
    But my show idea is gratis.
    Demystifying the Wine List.
    Go to both an upmarket and neighborhood place and show us how to make the most of their lists.
    What’s an appropriate markup?
    When do we send back wines?
    What does a corked wine taste like?
    How do we handle the ritual of ordering?
    This really is the show everyone wants to see.

  • Neil

    I love when I open a Cali Zin, then turn on the Thunder Show & the topic is Cali Zin. Unfortunately, the one i’m drinking is Ravenswood 2005 & it sucks. No body, off balance, boring, wimpy. Wish I was drinking the Neyers.
    My suggestion for the book is to do a “book wine of the day”. Review 1 wine from the book each day on the Thunder Show. The Vaynaics will buy the book so they can tune in & follow along in the book.

  • Neil

    I love when I open a Cali Zin, then turn on the Thunder Show & the topic is Cali Zin. Unfortunately, the one i’m drinking is Ravenswood 2005 & it sucks. No body, off balance, boring, wimpy. Wish I was drinking the Neyers.
    My suggestion for the book is to do a “book wine of the day”. Review 1 wine from the book each day on the Thunder Show. The Vaynaics will buy the book so they can tune in & follow along in the book.

  • David

    QOTD: I think it would be great to do a show on a specific bordeaux region like the episode you did on st. emilion. It would be great to see a pouillac, margaux or st. estephe episode!!

  • David

    QOTD: I think it would be great to do a show on a specific bordeaux region like the episode you did on st. emilion. It would be great to see a pouillac, margaux or st. estephe episode!!

  • Leif Erik Sundstrom

    SHOW IDEA: I wanna see an esoteric regional show… First pick would be you drinking and discussing Jura wines from Puffeney, Tissot, et al. Second pick would be whites from Venezia areas– specifially Gravner, Radikon, kante, and la castellada. Something a lil super geek for us out here.

    MARKETING IDEAS: shelf talkers!

  • Leif Erik Sundstrom

    SHOW IDEA: I wanna see an esoteric regional show… First pick would be you drinking and discussing Jura wines from Puffeney, Tissot, et al. Second pick would be whites from Venezia areas– specifially Gravner, Radikon, kante, and la castellada. Something a lil super geek for us out here.

    MARKETING IDEAS: shelf talkers!

  • What about non-Alcoholic wines? just saw them the other day at BevMo … Never tried them and probably never will, what’s your take on them?

  • Obama_Man

    QOTD: GV, I’d have an opening welcome screen for all new IP addresses that go to winelibrary.com. Just as you’d see if you went to hillaryclinton.com or barackobama.com.

    Wish I had watched in time to get myself a Neyers!

  • What about non-Alcoholic wines? just saw them the other day at BevMo … Never tried them and probably never will, what’s your take on them?

  • Obama_Man

    QOTD: GV, I’d have an opening welcome screen for all new IP addresses that go to winelibrary.com. Just as you’d see if you went to hillaryclinton.com or barackobama.com.

    Wish I had watched in time to get myself a Neyers!

  • M

    QOTD2: Müller-Thurgau or Lagrein or Mencia

  • M

    QOTD2: Müller-Thurgau or Lagrein or Mencia

  • salvatore

    Rosso Di Montalcino !!!!!!!!!!!!

    Rosso Di Montalcino !!!!!!!!!!!!

    Rosso Di Montalcino !!!!!!!!!!!!

  • salvatore

    Rosso Di Montalcino !!!!!!!!!!!!

    Rosso Di Montalcino !!!!!!!!!!!!

    Rosso Di Montalcino !!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Metal Dave

    QOTD 1: Free International Shipping

    QOTD 2: Gigondas or wines from Puglia i.e. Appollonio

  • Metal Dave

    QOTD 1: Free International Shipping

    QOTD 2: Gigondas or wines from Puglia i.e. Appollonio

  • Jason

    QOTD: since i am a member of the CKC out here in NJ, I would say get more interest from college kids and people new to wine, specifically the 21-25 year age group by marketing at colleges locally first.

    For my suggestion for this week, I would love to see a CKC episode where you try out some new world and even some old world wines that can be a great starting point for getting new people into the wine world.

  • Jason

    QOTD: since i am a member of the CKC out here in NJ, I would say get more interest from college kids and people new to wine, specifically the 21-25 year age group by marketing at colleges locally first.

    For my suggestion for this week, I would love to see a CKC episode where you try out some new world and even some old world wines that can be a great starting point for getting new people into the wine world.

  • Alfredhayes

    QOTD: Team up with Kindle ot Sony’s E-reader? Embrace the new… 🙂 Seems to work for you so far. Or Audible and iPod (as you LOVE the Apple)…

  • Alfredhayes

    QOTD: Team up with Kindle ot Sony’s E-reader? Embrace the new… 🙂 Seems to work for you so far. Or Audible and iPod (as you LOVE the Apple)…

  • Alfredhayes

    QOTD #2:

    Wines with playoffs (Hockey or Basketball)? How to break the stigma of Beer. I have written a short piece on it (http://www.adamandelizabeth.com/?p=162) but would like to expand it with some more ideas/wine combos.

  • Alfredhayes

    QOTD #2:

    Wines with playoffs (Hockey or Basketball)? How to break the stigma of Beer. I have written a short piece on it (http://www.adamandelizabeth.com/?p=162) but would like to expand it with some more ideas/wine combos.

  • Anonymous

    QOTD: Offer the book as part of a book launch secret pack, include it in a Mother’s day gift basket or secret pack, same with Father’s day, special CKC graduation pack. Have it at the check-out counter at Wegmans, Kings, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, any upscale markets, cheese shops,competitors wine shops.
    Some promos with BYOB restaurants, or a special BYOB pack(we might prefer to bring a less expensive(under $30.) bottle to a BYOB because we can’t go through any decanting rituals, etc. Have a free shipping for life contest.

    This week–Earth Day wines–something organic, Celebrity wines, NJ wines, more Petit Verdot, Sherries and a cheese pairing.

  • Donna Marie

    QOTD: Offer the book as part of a book launch secret pack, include it in a Mother’s day gift basket or secret pack, same with Father’s day, special CKC graduation pack. Have it at the check-out counter at Wegmans, Kings, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, any upscale markets, cheese shops,competitors wine shops.
    Some promos with BYOB restaurants, or a special BYOB pack(we might prefer to bring a less expensive(under $30.) bottle to a BYOB because we can’t go through any decanting rituals, etc. Have a free shipping for life contest.

    This week–Earth Day wines–something organic, Celebrity wines, NJ wines, more Petit Verdot, Sherries and a cheese pairing.

  • Andy

    Thanks for the Zin …….. need to try the Neyers(never had it)

    QOTD— Get some NYC chefs and let them comment on the book on the show …… help with food pairings.

    QOTD2- Have some more showdowns (Old world vs New world) same varietal stuff…

  • Andy

    Thanks for the Zin …….. need to try the Neyers(never had it)

    QOTD— Get some NYC chefs and let them comment on the book on the show …… help with food pairings.

    QOTD2- Have some more showdowns (Old world vs New world) same varietal stuff…

  • Giggleloop

    QOTD: Don’t know if this is in the comments already, but you should talk to the Woot guys about maybe doing a Launch Day on Wine.Woot! The day the book is released, they could offer it on Wine.Woot – or maybe even on Woot.com itself! Just a thought. 🙂 Love the show!

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