Gary….love the fact you let someone on here to push wines for under 10 bones!! Wine and Pie…what a friggin concept!! Good luck to JZ !!

Gary….love the fact you let someone on here to push wines for under 10 bones!! Wine and Pie…what a friggin concept!! Good luck to JZ !!

Balls!

That’s what it took for Joe?? (JZ) to come on this program and take the wrath of Gary. I think JZ is right on with the marketing. I am not a label guy but without fail and quite too often I hear people gravitate to a catchy label in a wine store or tasting. My wife being one of them. The honest truth is that there are many people out there that like wine but don’t have the pallet to pick up the intricate taste, aromas, etc in the wine. For those people all you need is a catchy label and some sweet descent grape juice with alcohol in it. We all see it, and far too often. JZ, you got a niche!

QOTD: I would go with the taste and quality first.

That is easy. I would go with whichever I felt was the best value.

That is easy. I would go with whichever I felt was the best value.

If the wine is good and a value, It doesn’t matter where it comes from. My favorite house wine comes from Cameron Hughes. He is a fabulous negociant with amazing prices. We need more value plays.

But you didn’t try ’em with pizza! (and I haven’t seen these in NC, but I’ll keep an eye out)

QOTD — for under $20, it certainy doesn’t matter

But you didn’t try ’em with pizza! (and I haven’t seen these in NC, but I’ll keep an eye out)

QOTD — for under $20, it certainy doesn’t matter

The funny thing about this episode is that to me, the guest didn’t even look like he was enjoying these wines all that much.

QOTD: Try them both blind, pick a winner, go with that.

Pinot sounds like it really sucks. It is what it is right? 81 points?? (why bother)

i like the honesty of the “winemaker”. good episode.

good show, QOTd, as long as it tastes good, who cares where it comes from.Especially since I am a value wine kind of a guy…

QOTD: Nope dont care

Good episode – seemed like a cool guest.

QOTD: The definition of a négociant includes the idea that one may buy either finished wine or grape juice, fermented or unfermented juice. Some négotiants purchase the grapes, make the wine, barrel it and bottle it themselves. Others have a very limited participation. TwoBuck Chuck’s Fred Franzia is not the equivalent of Guigal. So for a consumer to make an informed evaluation between ‘Estate’ bottled, where all the wine in the bottle came from grapes grown on the property, and négotiant bottled (or bottled by ‘winery’ X), the consumer might be interested in knowing how great is the participation of the négociant.

I don’t think the consumer would necessarily prefer Estate over négotiant provided the latter were a real winemaker, had a little skin in the game, a reputation to support, and was not simply a label designer with an MBA.

Of course, the wine business is not particularly transparent. Indeed, there is a great deal of cynicism about the consumer from the négociant class. But it is no different than vodka, bourbon, hamburger, or pistachios for that matter. Same stuff in different packaging, and at different price points.

I would like to think wine might be held to a different standard. But sadly, particularly for the lower end juice, it is not. Consumer ignorance is the life blood of the industry.

QOTD: The definition of a négociant includes the idea that one may buy either finished wine or grape juice, fermented or unfermented juice. Some négotiants purchase the grapes, make the wine, barrel it and bottle it themselves. Others have a very limited participation. TwoBuck Chuck’s Fred Franzia is not the equivalent of Guigal. So for a consumer to make an informed evaluation between ‘Estate’ bottled, where all the wine in the bottle came from grapes grown on the property, and négotiant bottled (or bottled by ‘winery’ X), the consumer might be interested in knowing how great is the participation of the négociant.

I don’t think the consumer would necessarily prefer Estate over négotiant provided the latter were a real winemaker, had a little skin in the game, a reputation to support, and was not simply a label designer with an MBA.

Of course, the wine business is not particularly transparent. Indeed, there is a great deal of cynicism about the consumer from the négociant class. But it is no different than vodka, bourbon, hamburger, or pistachios for that matter. Same stuff in different packaging, and at different price points.

I would like to think wine might be held to a different standard. But sadly, particularly for the lower end juice, it is not. Consumer ignorance is the life blood of the industry.

I was just wondering what wine goes well with pizza for a friend’s party tomorrow. I would give this a whirl if it were in available in Los Angeles.

QOTD – Definitely go with the value from the negociant, especially for a weekday wine (no super special occasion.)

QotD: Doesn’t really matter to me… if a wine is good I don’t mind a little Frankenstein.

QOTD: Good wine is good wine, no matter the source, label, etc., especially when you’re drinking it now or in the next 5 or so years. And good wine at a good price is even better.
As I was thinking about this, though, I was wondering if any of the “collector” wines out there are negotiant wines, or are they all estate?

Good episode. I enjoyed the different perspective.

Estate or négociant? May the best wine be drunk, regardless of how it made it into the bottle.

Estate or négociant? May the best wine be drunk, regardless of how it made it into the bottle.

It makes absolutely no difference to me. Wine is a business, especially at this price point. Yellow Tail isn’t going to cause anyone to wax poetically about the depth, structure, etc. It has a fun label, tastes fine, and works for most people.

Also, it isn’t like the wines on today’s episode make any pretense that they are more than what they are.

I hope your wine takes off. You have great packaging and marketability. Good luck dude.

QOTD: The grapes know where they’re grown but have no idea where they’re vinted at.

QOTD: The grapes know where they’re grown but have no idea where they’re vinted at.

An informative episode featuring a guy who was knowledgeable but more importantly has the moxie to follow his passion in a very competitive market. Kudos to you.

QOTD: I think it comes down to price point on whether I care one way or the other if it’s “estate” or “negociant.” If it sells for less than say, $30, who cares as long as it tastes great. Now, those labels are another story. I am not one for gimmicky labels.

Good luck in your endeavor and your Browns.

Happy Tax Day!

P.S. He travelled to NJ with a Brown’s bucket?

Cool guest.

QOTD: I really don’t care about labels, all I care is about pleasing my palate.