Good show and looks like a fun time was had by all.

QOTD – Just could not put it all together this time. Perhaps in the future.

Wish I could’ve been there- looks like an amazing time with a BOATLOAD of passionate Vayniacs!

QOTD: Working! Gotta keep up the hustle!

Biiiing,Franco here!!! It is 9:30 a.m. ….

Gary, thanks a million for the incredible time we had on the cruise. Your team did an incredible job organising all the events. We had so much fun and had such an unbelievably good time. I am still puzzled at how friendly and nice all fellow Vayniacs were. I wish the cruise would have gone on forever.

As you know, the time spent on the cruise was sepcial for my girlfriend and me and will always stay in our memories for that. Thanks for everything!

PS: Forget about the piece of cork, put your torn shirt on e-bay!

QOTD: $$

Nice to see everyone enjoying the Thunder Cruise.

Couldn’t go because I had trip to San Francisco on business.
Would love to go next year, sir!

Whooooa, that looked like Fuuuuun!!!

qotd: Wish I coulda been there!!!!

QOTD: Money and timing. Wish I could have been along!

Why was I not there? I WAS there, and it was awesome!!!
We had a lot of fun filming/participating in, these on board episodes. Lots of wonderful people on this cruise. (not to mention awasome wines).

QOTD: Hi Gary. My husband and I have been lurker fans for the past 2 years…we actually sat down in October to sign up for the cruise (had the money and the time)…then we read several of the Cruise Chat Forum comments, which at that moment seemed to be full of unusually immature/perverted comments written by hormonal teenagers – decided maybe the crowd wasn’t going to be our type of crowd, and gave it a PAZZZZ with 4 Z’s. Now we watch the videos and think, wow, those people look and sound like exactly our type of crowd. Wish we wouldn’t have let that chat forum dissuade us. Anyway, we’d love to meet you sometime, hang out and taste wines, so maybe next year.

Colorado Waltmans 🙂

QOTD: I’m late in watching this – the video wouldn’t work for me before – too many people on-line I suppose. Anyway, I was there and I’m really glad because it was my most fabulous and lavish and educational and unique wine experience. Not to mention well-organized and attentive to detail.

I really enjoyed the energy on this one. Wish I could have been there.

On the spit bucket: Heinekin lite? WTF isn’t that kinda like saying mmm I got headache from water?

QOTD: I had to go to Cabo San Lucas the day after the end of the thunder cruise. Couldn’t swing two weeks away from my business and especially my wonderful amazing 7 yr old.

I am almost caught up on shows. Just one more of the cruise shows and then the 2 with Mondavi.

Gary, you were looking pretty burned!!! Water proof SPF 45 was
In need!!! WAY Better audience than San diego!
QOTD: my job wouldn’t let me have the time off… I’m at the bottom of the “senority” barrel

Looks like the Thunder Cruise was awesome! Couldn’t afford to go anywhere this year, but it would have been the one trip I would have taken if I could’ve swung it. Maybe next year.

Definitely agree about the WA wines. Very seductive, juicy, explosive, and overdone, but that’s me to a T and I love them! 🙂

The only wine I recall having from Goose Ridge was the Sol Duc Meritage. About 4-5 years ago. Much like the Vireo, but Reserve tier. I remember it was pretty good wine with good textbook attributes – very black fruit profiles, Earthiness and tannic structure abounding, and out front, and generous oak that was attenuated to a level of agreeableness. It’s retail then was under $30.

QOTD – because it is too far from London!

Really wish I could have been there. Definitely next year.

wow dude, the slight motion, i assume from being on a boat, it is very dissorienting.

qotd: $$$ 🙁

Gary –
QTD – Why aren’t we there? Money – lost my job and having a tough time making ends meet. As you probably well aware, the unemployment rate is quite high nowadays.

Seemed like your group had a great time. I wish you were more considerate of the many of us that are not there – there are plenty of reasons – for money to job to placing a greater emphasis on family. As you will learn, responsibility comes along with having a child and many of us put their child at the forefront of their lives and end up placing a hobby (i.e. wine) at the backend. I didn’t quite care for your tone with a few of your comments – almost to say – yeah, yeah, we’re here – your not. Maybe I am completely reading this wrong, but that was the slight feel I reveived after viewing the episode.

Chill out Jeff. I take it you have never been on a cruise? Things get a little loose and crazy by the last day. When you get a chance to meet Gary in person you will learn he goes with the peeps in front of him. He will turn it up or down as they respond to him. I can assure you he is very aware of the state of the economy,its effect on his peeps and his business.

Kelly in South Dakota P.S.

Gary you still owe Leaf and I a shout out!

Gary,

Goose Ridge is the largest single, contiguous vineyard in Washington state at 1,200+ acres. The winemaker for the Vireo is Charlie Hoppes, formerly red wine maker for Ch. Ste. Michelle, and current winemaker and owner of Fidelitas. Charlie and his fellow Ste. Michelle alumni; Ron Bunnell & Mike Januik among others, all make exceptional wines.

Thunder Cruise looked great and glad there was a nice turnout.
QOTD: I booked a trip to Sardegna right before learning of the Thunder Cruise!

Kelly –
Here’s a couple of answers:
Yes, I have been on a cruise, although not a wine cruise. That probably had a major effect on people by their last day on the ship.
Also, I have met Gary in person at a book signing he did in Hudson Ohio followed by an informal gathering held at a nearby restaurant. I did have a chance to talk to him in informal circumstances, although certainly not as well as you probably got to know him on the ship. I agree with your comments about him. I feel he is a very caring individual who is in touch with outside factors like the economy, cost of wine, etc.

In my comment, I was simply stating my thoughts at the moment. That’s all – just as Gary reviews a wine at a point in time. Sometimes he likes it and sometimes he says unpleasent things about it. For whatever reason, the tone of the episode rubbed me the wrong way at that point in time. That’s all.

Do I think Gary was intending to do this as the episode was taped? NO
Is it possible that others feel I’m completely off base with my view? YES
Who knows … it just hit me at the wrong time. Maybe I got off the wrong side of the bed in the morning. Maybe in the back of my mind I was replaying a CNN story I saw while I was waiting in the checkout line – where elderly people in California are now resorting to living out of their car as they lost their houses due to the mortgage situation and declining house values. Normal older people – they seemed quite intelligent and with it.

It was just my view of the episode at that point in time. Who knows, when I have some time I’ll replay the episode. Maybe I’ll have a whole different feel. It happens. It’s one’s emotions … Like wine, they change over time.

Like I said, I realize it’s not Gary’s style.

QOTD; Wish I was there with my wife. I think schedule and money had to do with it. Hopefully next year we can join the thunder.

Wish I was there! Maybe next year….

Looks like a good turnout for the cruise. Hope y’all had fun.

QOTD – I did not make it due to the fact that I am dumping all my money into my daughter’s tuition right now.