The first part, because it was more discussion than tasting, had a much better flow to it. How often did Robert have that “deer staring at the headlights – have no idea – so just nod yes” look when Gary would ask him a Q?

You can tell that Robert couldn’t keep up with Gary when it came to the wine and the energy… I don’t think many ppl can.

The vibe that this guy came on the show the was a total sense of “out of place”. Call it stage fright, or call it whatever you want, but I could have stage fright and get into the flow of what the vibe of the show is. This is especially true if I had seen 2 minutes of ONE show. You can’t be a fan of something and not know what the f is going on. I mean seriously. No excuse can be made for the guest. Yes maybe Gary was interrupting him, but that was because Gary had to carry this guy through the whole show, you don’t have to keep interrupting someone who answers the damn questions you ask them. Especially while looking at the host (who you “follow” by the way) like he doesn’t know what he is doing. Ive seen maybe 300 episodes or so, this is the first time ive commented on any of the episodes. Most of them are so good they need no comment. This one was so bad, that anyone who thiks otherwise, or wants to defend the guest, either can’t see obvious problems, or doesn’t want to.

As I may be a guest on the show in a few weeks; I will reserve any criticism. I have no idea what is going to fly out of my un censored pie hole while in the hot seat. I will not be pitching anything other than the wines that we are tasting. And I will not ban any words for Gary such as “dessert”. The rest of the world calls them dessert wines…that is what they are.

QOTD- Kiosks – Heck yes, Get your boarding ticket at home and drop of your bag and go.

These and self checkout at the grocery store are the best things since slice bread. Anything to speed up the process of waiting/avoiding lines.

Gary, I think it’s a Jersey thing. We don’t like lines.

Although this guests was not my favorite, I understand why some vayniacs think everyone is being a little harsh on the guy…I would have enjoyed the show(s), but it’s the BS (watching the show for a year), and the “can we show my book?” that I believe is ruffling our feathers.

Dear Vayniacs:

Sorry that this episode irked so many of you. All I can say is that during the taping on a Friday evening?it felt fun. Believe me I am as a critical as you are of the result.

To make a couple of points and answer some questions about this?one of my rare appearances on a ?live? video talk show:
? First let me say that sitting next to Gary as host is something to behold— unlike watching him on a 17? screen. The pyrotechnics are incredible. And I guess I was kind of just amused watching Gary do his thing.
? The funny thing is I wasn?t nervous. It just felt like?Okay here I am hanging on WLTV and watching Gary. In fact I should have stuck more to an agenda of letting you know more about me and my work.
? My writing and work is about people and places in wine. Traditions and respect for the environment; and the soul of wine. To me wines take time to get to know: over the course of a meal or of far greater time. In this episode the St. Joseph white was way warm (certainly above room temp in rural France) and tasted weird, flabby, cloying. True, I was hesitant to trash it outright. The red Cornas was closed, overly tannic and dying for oxygen. Way way young, it was probably one of those wines you could open a day before drinking.
? On the QOTD?My mind went blank. Mea Culpa.
? I?ve followed Gary?s career for well over a year. That doesn?t mean I watch daily or appreciate him for the same reasons you all do. As a writer, I appreciate Gary most when he has pushed the envelope of wine vocab?important because I think most winespeak misses a lot of people outside the nerd world.

No excuses–appreciate the feedback.
Cheers,
Robert

Way to make an appearance RC!

Good post.

Well, I would think even the self appointed critics would have to be impressed that a guest read the comments and took the time to write a reply. Frankly, I thought it was obvious that he was totally amused by and enjoying his time with Gary.

This guy was tough to watch, his reactions we’re so slow I agree a bitch slap was in order. having said that I think he was trying real hard to just be nice.

QOTD: Anytime I can not deal with a human being who averts their eyes down to a computer screen, gets interuppted by the person next to them, takes a phone call or asks a million tedious questions that everyone answers the same anyway I’ll take. Bring on automation but have a well staffed counter where when technolohy fails we can retreat to. My cake and eat it too!

Comment#3
Thank you for your response to all of this Robert, I believe i was harsh in my earlier comments and I wish to apologise. You are obviously a very passionate person about food and wine…and we need more people like that in the world. Apologies once again and keep loving food and wine like you do!

i like the question of the day
but i have no response

I agree with much of the criticism, but in the context of Mr. Camuto’s defense, I think it is a wash. My gut feeling is that most of the trouble seemed to stem from his effort to support Gary’s thoughts and opinions. Perhaps the cure would be a touch more self-confidence or a touch less preemptive empathy, and so I don’t think we should be harsh on him. Keep up your respective good work Mr. Vaynerchuk and Mr. Camuto.

Cheers!

Thank you Robert for the responses. You’re a classy guy. The beret and now your considerate response. Sorry about all the morons on here who just went haywire with their cult of Gary rejectionism. I guess it shows the pack mentality, and how quick people are to exclude, and chastise new members of the tribe. As a sociologist, that’s how I see it. New faces are always treated roughly. Write your next book and come back on, and maybe you’ll gel with the madness of Gary’s world. And, yes, I am going to read your book, just ordered. The reviews can’t be that wrong, and certainly they’re more informed than many of these posters.

Gary, thank you for screening any talk of Religion and Jesus. I find such talk offensive and enjoy your disconnection from any religious or political groups. This guy was unbearable…auto check-in is an unfathomable times better than dealing with angry airport personnel. The romance of air travel died long before self-check in kiosks arrived in the terminals.

I enjoyed the chemistry on this episode. I’m surprised so many disliked it.

Wow, I think the Vaniacs need to lighten up a bit. Not the best show but not that bad. In fact there were some nice and amusing moments. It’s so easy to criticize. Not every guest is like Gary and I appreciate the different personalities that provide a contrast to his frenetic, Caffeinated, energy.

Very interesting shows I would be interested in reading his book. I think he didn’t know what type of audience is in the vaynernation. If his book has gotten alot of good reviews maybe he just isn’t a camera kind of guy. He seems very genuine and passionate about his life.

QOTD: Haven’t experienced it I don’t travel by plane that much. 🙁

This guy was full of crap. When Gary asked him a couple of questions, he said yes, then said I don’t know, then said no. WTF! Totally unbearable. Gary chewed him up and spit him out. I would never buy a book written by someone who has no flow when speaking. It seems like he did not know what the Thunder Show is all about. Passion, honesty, QOTD and most importantly, being freaking entertaining for God’s sake. Please Gary, tell this sucker that we all hated him!!!!!

Class act: Robert Camuto’s tactful feedback to his critics here after a royal thrashing of his WineLibrary appearance.

Classless act: WHERE ARE THE MODERATORS?? The expletive-laden tirade by George Huner is UNACCEPTABLE here. Someone please ban him or get him to clean up his act.

Your guest was the worst ever. How can someone write a book and then not be able to express himself on so many questions. With all the hemming and hawwing it was a hard show to watch. Truth is I skipped thru it because it was so bad. Sorry about the negative comment but just had to express myself on this one.

This message is for George Huner. First of all, you are a bitter and sour cherry. WLTV is Gary’s property and he can do whatever the heck he wants with it. His style is one of a kind. If you don’t like it, then tune out. Nobody is putting a SIG Saur P226 with Hydrashok bullets on your temple to watch this show. So I hope you never watch it again and you drink yourself to death with a Clos du Bois. Secondly, Mott is a humble videographer who tries to do his best so we can all watch an amazing show like this. You don’t need Dante Spinotti behind the camera for a Vlog, you dummy. Thirdly, every guest that comes to the show must follow the rules of engagement, and that is to say, THEY MUST BE ENGAGING in order to live up to our expectations. Camuto is below average. But the Kosher wine guru or Nic Joly were wine gods and we learned a boatload from them. Huner, you should do your wine show and we’ll see if you have the passion and the big brass balls that Gary has. I have been a Vayniac since day 1, from the moment Gary put himself on the firing line. I have no respect for idiots like you Huner. I hope you rot like the bad egg that you are.

This message is for George Huner. First of all, you are a bitter and sour cherry. WLTV is Gary’s property and he can do whatever the heck he wants with it. His style is one of a kind. If you don’t like it, then tune out. Nobody is putting a SIG Saur P226 with Hydrashok bullets on your temple to watch this show. So I hope you never watch it again and you drink yourself to death with a Clos du Bois. Secondly, Mott is a humble videographer who tries to do his best so we can all watch an amazing show like this. You don’t need Dante Spinotti behind the camera for a Vlog, you dummy. Thirdly, every guest that comes to the show must follow the rules of engagement, and that is to say, THEY MUST BE ENGAGING in order to live up to our expectations. Camuto is below average. But the Kosher wine guru or Nic Joly were wine gods and we learned a boatload from them. Huner, you should do your wine show and we’ll see if you have the passion and the big brass balls that Gary has. I have been a Vayniac since day 1, from the moment Gary put himself on the firing line. I have no respect for idiots like you Huner. I hope you rot like the bad egg that you are.

Germanovich. You are so wrong.

I found Camuto’s personality to be overwhelmed to the point of making me nervous. But I also find Gary’s personality overwhelming to the point of making me nervous. And I find them both charming.

I was curious about Camuto’s take on “Dessert” wines. I feel that the general public doesn’t understand the difference between a sweet wine like the Sutter Home white zin and a quality “dessert” wine. Don’t you think the label of “dessert” aids in sales and opens people up to a new wine world? Or would you prefer this education happens some other way? Perhaps this is more appropriate for the forums…

QOTD: Love the kiosks. Less time in lines is always preferred.

Vinophile – thanks for the much needed comments.

Great show Gary. Thanks!

I found Camuto’s personality to be overwhelmed to the point of making me nervous. But I also find Gary’s personality overwhelming to the point of making me nervous. And I find them both charming.

I was curious about Camuto’s take on “Dessert” wines. I feel that the general public doesn’t understand the difference between a sweet wine like the Sutter Home white zin and a quality “dessert” wine. Don’t you think the label of “dessert” aids in sales and opens people up to a new wine world? Or would you prefer this education happens some other way? Perhaps this is more appropriate for the forums…

QOTD: Love the kiosks. Less time in lines is always preferred.

Vinophile – thanks for the much needed comments.

Great show Gary. Thanks!