Yes, it's free, and that's great.

That said, over the past few years I've spent at least a couple hundred dollars between Wine Library, Gourmet Library, and Cinderella Wine. I'm sure many viewers have spent as much or more. While Gary clearly loves doing the show and uses it for education and entertainment as much as for marketing, it would be disingenuous to claim that he'd still be doing the show 871 episodes in if it weren't helping to grow the business. That's not dishonest; it's good marketing, and when I've bought things through here I've done so because I'm interested in the product and I'm happy to spend the money. I certainly don't feel like I've been cheated.

THAT said, 90% of guest shows just aren't my thing, and both as a customer and a long-time viewer I do think I have a right to say it stretches my patience when we're told over and over that we'll get some guest-free shows, and they rarely actually come. I'm not going anywhere; I'll wait for the episodes that I want to see. I just can't promise I'll always wait QUIETLY. 😉

QOTD: Champagne or bubbles that have a slightly higher sugar level or reserva chianti classico, my inlaws love that stuff.

Awesome job Chris. Just keep drinking different wines and eating differents; it will all come with time.
Qotd: I am going to go with either a proseco for an extremely light food, or a braccheto for something with a medium flavor. If its just something on the heavy side then I would probably go with a Malbec. But most of the time braccheto is a guaranteed safe bet.

Is Randi on vacation?

And yes, Wendy's is the BEST fast food restaurant on the planet!!!!

Behind Chic-Fil-A…

i about spit out my chardonnay at the cobbler vs. dominatrix leather comparison

Amen.

sorry??? screw wine, the reason i watch this show is for candy, wrestling and football 😛

why did Tuesday's episode get pushed to wed 🙁 by the way i love the random wrestling talk and unfortunately i cant disagree with your jets being a great team this year. don't let all the hater get to you this episode was awesomely entertaining and was way cooler than some of the times when you have wine makers on and they get too technical. i cant wait till you get the sheik on the show it will honestly be the pinnacle for wine library tv in my opinion.

QOTD #1: It all depends on the socio-economics of the girl. If her parents are blue collar and you show up with a 1st growth Bordeaux you've just wasted several hundred dollars while being kicked to the curb. Go with an Aussie Shiraz. Save that 1st growth for the New England blue blood and you've got a shot.
QOTD #2: Any year Alexander Valley Vineyards New Gewurtz or a 2008 Castle Rock Central Coast Pinot Noir are perfect for watching Gossip Girls.

G, you must be really evolving as an interviewer because I usually am not crazy about unknowledgeable wine

Yes… please fix…

People are so hard on guests that come on the show. Sad. I liked Chris….kind of a laid back Wednesday vibe on the show today. Good work fellas.

QOTD: Honestly. I'd go to Costco and find a wine rated 90+ pts. I always play it safe 😉

Here's what I'm steamin' about…
TACO BELL IS NOT MEXICAN FOOD!!!!!!!!!
Next time you're in Cali, ask the local's where the closest taqueria is. Order a Chile Verde plate (or Chile Verde burrito if you're weaksauce), pair that shiz with a Riesling, and be forever stoked.
Note: I've never seen a Riesling on a taqueria's wine list (or a wine list in a taqueria for that matter), so you best order that grub to go.

GARY!!!
Chris!!

Great job Chris!

QOTD: <-Cant answer… Fine woman here..who doesnt watch TV.

QOTD;Some thing you know and want to share, or a wine you want to try and get your friends feedback.

You only say that because you haven't been to an In 'N Out Burger…

Question of the day, that is not something that I have done yet in my life however this is what I would do in the future.
I would first find out if the parents do drink wine, and if so, then what type(s) of wine they normally drink. Also, I would prefer if we would all be having dinner together so that we could try the wine together. I would choose a wine that they would not normally explore on their own and also think about pairing the wine with the evening's dinner.
There would be too many factors involved for me to always choose one wine to bring to the parents.

I enjoyed the sports talk today and I am quite curious to check out the Toilet Paper Blog. Gary are you a futebol fan? Getting excited about the World Cup?

There you are!

Just making sure you were still around. : )

A fun, fun show with a really nice guy who tells it like it is. I don't fault you at all regarding labels. I do it myself at times when I want to experiment or try something different.

QOTD #1: I guess it would depend on my age and financial wherewithal but if I was not trying to be too pompous, I would bring some bubbly to a lovely ladies home. Maybe a bottle of Veuve Cliquot or the Laurent-Perrier “Flower” bottle? Now, if she were very special and I knew should we appreciate it, I would bring a good vintage Dom Perignon.

QOTD #2: I'm guessing a bottle of Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio would work well with the ladies watching Gossip Girl.

Cheers!

WTG Mott on the Zoomy-Zoom and WTG @kmurph on the selections for this ep! Chris: I love your site's approach; I'm signed up now. Also loved the old school candy talk, though I will say I haven't had quintessential fast food in a while. Shake Shack is the closest I come I guess now. Need to try some In n Out.

QOTD: Going to agree with some of the previous answers. If I have enough information as to their demo/psychographics, I will try and pinpoint a varietal. Otherwise, I would just lead in with a bottle each of food-friendly white and red…probably a riesling and a pinot.

Despite living in Atlanta for many years and in other places, I still have an affection for Da Bears and the Cubbies from my two stays in Chicago (total of 11 years). I get back there several times a year to see my niece and nephew. QOTD – I would take a nice pinot noir from Russian River or Anderson Valley. These wines are hard to dislike for the average wine drinker and appeal to more sophisticate wine drinkers. After Gary called me out this week for not coming to the July 10 events I am trying to figure out how to make it there. I have done a lot of travel in the US and in Europe, but I am not familiar with NJ or NY. I am looking for ideas on where to fly to, where to stay, and how to get around if I visit. It sounds like a great time and I need help on how to make it happen. Any ideas? Thanks.

QOTD: something not to “fake” and with a delicious factor. I'd have to go with a 2005 Domaine de l'Hortus Coteaux du Languedoc Pic St. Loup Grande Cuvée

Not a bad show. I have to admit I was a little apprehensive at first, but Chris seemed like a genuinely nice guy and he did better with the tasting than I thought he would. I may have missed some of the subtle nuances in this one, I was watching as I filled up a tanker with 2,450 gallons of 08 Syrah.

QOTD: I would bring our Barbera, hopefully it would impress her parents if they knew I helped make the stuff. That could backfire very quickly, but the Barbera is one of the selections that I believe everyone can enjoy. I might ask her if they liked wine before I went over.

Nice show. Fast food ideas?

Chile dogs and wine?
Coney Island
A&W

Onion rings and wine?
Ribs and wine? (beef or pork)
BBQ meat platter, 3 different meats, how many wines?

This would be a blast!
My favroit meal to date was Beef short BBQ ribs, baked tater and a salad and a nice Merlot

This kind of shows brings more and more people to wine.
nice guy.

QOTD: if it's the real thing i would try some Chablis for the mother (Michel Laroche “Vaillons”) and for the father some cab/shiraz from australia ( maybe a 2004 Tapanappa). Or if it's just one wine for both a 07 Marcel Lapierre Morgon.