You see, it's like this:
Gary Vaynerchuk is the Howard Stern of the on-line wine world.
In case you've been living under a rock for the last two years: Gary is the driving force behind Wine Library TV, an on-line video blog of wine reviews and palate-building tips that has become a sensation in the Wine 2.0 community.
In his chosen medium (in this case, web video), Gary - like Howard Stern - unleashes his slightly-irreverent style with over-the-top, grass-eating gusto. Depending on your demeanor, you might find Gary's love-it-or-hate-it, in-your-face style endearing and energizing, or downright exhausting.
Off-line - also like Howard Stern - things are bit less off-the-cuff, and a bit more calculated.
Gary has stated that he is not in the wine business for the money, but "for my soul." This assertion seems entirely genuine (otherwise, how could he sustain the energy levels on a daily basis!). But it only takes hearing a few sentences from his father (a sometimes-guest on his video episodes) delivered in a more straight-forward, no-nonsense approach to realize that business is business - and for business, it had better be at least partly about the money. That money comes by virtue of getting wine from the shelves of their N.J. family store (Wine Library) and into the glasses of wine consumers...
To that end, Gary has performed brilliantly, shrewdly parlaying his on-line exposure into business success: he has garnered TV spot appearances (4 minutes on Ellen will still get you far more exposure to more eyeballs than any on-line presence), spearheaded a tenfold factor growth of his family's brick-&-mortar store, and purchased on-line wine social networking website Corkd.com (with trails leading back to Wine Library).
Well, performed brilliantly notwithstanding his poor taste in NFL teams of course.*
Gary's approach is New Media, for sure - but it's sagacious, old-school business sense all the way.
Gary's latest foray into expanding his media media presence is the printed word: his first book, 101 Wines Guaranteed to Inspire, Delight, and Bring Thunder to Your World hits the streets in paperback tomorrow. Following is my review of Gary's latest friendly assault on the wine world.
[ Full disclosure: I received 101 Wines from Gary's publicist for a review (under the condition that I could write any positive or negative reactions, of course). ]
If you're skeptical about a wine retailer writing a book of wine recommendations (I had my doubts as well), take note that not every wine in 101 Wines is available via Wine Library. At least, not yet anyway... I know this because I checked it myself.
The Low Down
Like Gary's video episodes, there is minimal wind-up (less than 15 pages of introduction) in 101 Wines, and maximum time (200+ pages) spent on extolling the virtues and colorful descriptions of his wine picks. For those bordering on ADD, the final 20+ pages of the book provide quick-hit lists of recommendations for holidays, or based on top his rankings."Without the benefit his exuberant live delivery, some of the written descriptions lack the punch they would otherwise have 'in person'"
Gary's enthusiasm translates to the printed page - mostly. Without the benefit of his exuberant live delivery, some of the written descriptions lack the punch they would otherwise have "in person" (case in point: a wine that has characteristics of a big guy in a barrel floating towards your mouth...).
Still, you have to give serious props to a self-described "wine guy for the average Joe" who isn't afraid to recommend wines made from Charbono, Tinto Fino (recognizing the sometimes-neglected rising star that is Spanish wine), or who is bold enough to spotlight excellent Lebanese wines. Hardly the first choices that the average Joe might be looking for at their local wine shop.
Like wine itself, 101 Wines is best consumed in responsible doses. This is no knock on the writing, which is witty and expressive. It's just an acknowledgment of the fact that reading about wine tasting is like trying to learn how to french kiss by studying a diagram. Fortunately, each wine in 101 Wines is given about two pages of focus, making every recommendation a quick-hit read so you can get on to creating a shopping list and finally tasting.
Buy It or Skip It?
Buy it. 101 Wines is an entertaining and fun read - likely, you'll feel as though Gary is talking you through a gunshot-speed introduction to some skillfully picked wines. It's geared towards the wine novice in its presentation of wine varietals and Gary's vocabulary of wine descriptors. More experienced oenophiles will find value in Gary's recommendations, some of which will surely surprise those that still doubt Gary's palate.
"101 Wines is an entertaining and fun read - likely, you'll feel as though Gary is taking you on a gunshot-ride introduction to some skillfully picked wines."
While the tone of 101 Wines is all-Gary, it's also a slightly toned-down Gary. If you enjoy the Love-it-or-Hate-it style of Gary's on-line video episodes, then you will likely enjoy his imaginative descriptors on the written page.
If you're not a fan of descriptors like "badass flowers" and comparing wine to the theoretical taste of purple paint, then this book will NOT turn you into a "Vayniac."
But if you haven't yet checked out of WLTV, and if you like a no-nonsense wine approach, you'll also probably enjoy this book.
In the book's introduction, Gary discusses his view on changing the world of wine. In a nutshell, that revolution in wine appreciation boils down to this: By eschewing snobbishness and empowering the palates of the masses, wine consumers will no longer be shackled by the reviews of a handful of people critics in traditional media dictating the prices and styles of today's wines. This wine 2.0 liberation will allow excellent wines that don't fit the current mold of securing high Parker scores to be appreciated by a wider audience of consumers.
In a way, Gary's popularity really is changing the wine world, and convincing a great number of people that wine, like beer, is damn fun. But as Spider-Man/Peter Parker's Uncle Ben once said, "with great power, comes great responsibility." As Gary rails against the industry impact of Robert Parker's points-based wine rating system, it's worth keeping in mind that Gary himself uses a Parker-esque 100-point scoring. As Gary's popularity continues to grow, securing him as the most influential wine reviewer outside of Parker (Robert, that is, not Peter!), won't this surely add to the issue of winmakers "chasing the points" to increase their bottle selling prices?
Only this time, they'll be chasing after the Vaynerchuk point?
Will Gary chose the Dark Side? Or will he deliver on the promise of his wine reviewer "Robin Hood" status?
Time will tell...
Cheers!
* Gary - got a bet for ya: If the Jets have a better record than the Steelers this season (yes, that's the most difficult 2008 schedule in the entire NFL Steelers), I will personally record a video spot to air on your show - wearing a Jets jersey, & introducing you as "the master of all wine AND football. " If the Steelers have a better record, then you can plug my blog on WLTV, mentioning me as "the guy who knows more about football than Gary Vaynerchuk." I'll also take a bottle of `04 Branson Coach...
Now, the gauntlet has been thrown so please don't go the route of Mary Ewing-Mulligan, who (to-date) has cowardly ignored my challenge to arm wrestle her for a bottle of `82 Mouton.
Here we go Steelers... HERE WE GO!
(images: opusseven.com, wikipedia.org, pictopia.com)
Book Review: 101 Wines (or "Will Gary Vaynerchuk Save the World of Wine Reviews?")
10 Free Wine Web Resources You Probably Aren't Using
We're all short on cash in these times of recess -er, I mean, economic challenge. So the Dude has compiled a list of his 10 favorite wine resources on the web. All of them FREE. Each one will cost you exactly $0.00 to use. Bumpkis. Nada. Goose-eggs.
You can thank me later, by clicking the "Make a Donation" button on the Left and sending me some cash. Oh... uhm... wait a second... never mind...
Anyway, chances are that even if you're an experienced wine geek, you probably are not using some of these gems. I've found them to be extremely useful, or helpful in a pinch, and in some cases downright indispensable. Hopefully you'll find them valuable as well (look at it this way - you're almost guaranteed to at least get what you paid for `em!)...
Wine & Health: Wondering if putting back those wines is putting years on your life ahead of your time? Wonder no more - the Professional Friends of Wine have compiled a wealth of wine health information in their Wine Health 101 Section.
Cheers!
(images: freefoto.com, ox.ac.uk, thelanguagemenu.com)
Wine Book Club 1st Edition, and Tasteless Exploitation of Naomi Watts
OK, so Dude is waaaaaaaaaaaaay late in giving this event props and publicity blogging love... But in the case of love, later is always better than never (that's what I always say anyway - and I come from a fine, distinguished, and long line of justifiers!).
The on-line Wine Book Club has been launched earlier this month, with the first edition being hosted over at McDuff's Food & Wine Trail. I met David McDuff recently at Moore Brothers and I can tell you from first-hand experience that the guy has serious wine smarties, especially when it comes to boutique Italian, German, French, and Austrian wineries. So by the Dude's standards, David seems like a splendid choice to get the wine book club ball a'rolling.
The first wine book that will be reviewed by the Wine Club is Vino Italiano: The Regional Wines of Italy by Joseph Bastianich & David Lynch.
No, not that David Lynch!...
This David Lynch is the beverage director over at NYC's celebrated restaurant Babbo. Also, I'm pretty sure that there aren't any bizarre dream sequences in this book... or hot naked shots of Naomi Watts either... at least, not that I've come across so far in my reading (but a Dude can hope...!). And if you wanna peruse glossies of Naomi Watts naked (meaning she was naked in the pics, not you naked while perusing them), that's probably best done while learning about Aussie wines. Not that the Dude spent any appreciable time considering it. Or for that matter searching the Internet for erotic-but-still-tasteful photos of Namoi Watts for this post. At least, not too much time.
Er, uhm, was I saying something about a book??
Anyway, this mighty tome on Italian vino (which also features Italian wine region recipes by Mario Batali, by the way) looks intimidating at first glance, but it's actually a very quick read - and there is still more than enough time for you to pick up a copy, join the book club love over at shelfari.com, and contribute to the reviews (due date is Feb. 26). Future events may be coordinated from a new website devoted to the book club - so watch this space.
Cheers - and happy reading!
The Top 10 Wine Books You Really Need (How To Become a Wine Geek - Part I)
This post is the first in a three-part series where Dude will give you a 'wine insider's' take on how to seriously up your 'wine geek' knowledge (and hone your overall wine-tasting skills along with your "impress your party goers" wine profile).
When this Dude gives in-home wine tastings, probably the most frequently asked question is "How can I learn more about wine?" As Lao-tzu once said, "The Great Way is Easy" and he may have well been talking about obtaining wine knowledge, because Dude has been there and he can tell you that all it takes is three things:
- An open mind
- Patience
- More Patience
I usually recommend a three-step program, which I will cover individually in three posts (counting this as #1, with the others to follow relatively shortly):
- Read (see below)
- Taste
- Be Bold
The Top 10 Wine Books You Really Need
For Beginners
1. Oldman's Guide to Outsmarting Wine by Mark Oldman
The book I wish I'd had as budding a wine novice. Mark Oldman provides what might be the best and most well-paced (not to mention most practical) wine introduction book on the market. As a beginner, you will not be disappointed.2. Wine for Dummies by Ed McCarthy & Mary Ewing-Mulligan
THE starting point for your induction into the world of wine. I know the brother of one of the authors, both of whom really, really, really know their stuff.3. How To Taste by Jancis Robinson
Great reading for the beginner who wants to learn more about how to enjoy wine, all done in an open and not-so-stuffy style. The important thing about this book is the emphasis on how to taste wine, which (as we will explore in Dude's next post), is the single most important skill you can build to up your wine IQ.Intermediate
4. The Wine Bible by Karen MacNeil
A mighty tome of accessible wine knowledge, with excellent primers on the wine regions of the world for the beginner wine enthusiast, but also with tons of detail for the advancing wine geek as well. A fantastic achievement and a book that will prove to be a valuable resource for years to come (I still refer back to my tattered copy).5. Hugh Johnson's Pocket Wine Book
Updated every year, this book packs a ridiculous amount of handy wine information into an impossibly small amount of space. The abbreviations take some getting used to, but once you have them down you will wonder how you even wandered into a wine store without the handy reviews. It's also a great reference to have in the kitchen when trying to match up wine styles with dinner.6. The New Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia by Tom Stevenson
A reference that is so handy, I destroyed the binding on my copy within weeks from overuse! I know both wine fans and wine industry pros that use this book, and it's handy - and accessible enough - for both. Plus, Tom does not hold back his opinions on developments in the world's wine regions and in the progress towards top quality from each area's most important wines - not watered-down, and therefore entertaining as well as informative.Advanced
7. The World Atlas of Wine by Hugh Johnson & Jancis Robinson
A beautiful coffee-table sized book for the budding wine geek, it's an essential reference for those interested in increasing their detailed knowledge of where their favorites wines come from and why that plays such an important part in why those wines taste they way that they do.8. The Oxford Companion to Wine by Jancis Robinson
This weighty tome is *the* wine reference book for the wine geek and wine professional. Not exactly easy to read in bed, but when you find yourself absolutely needing to know what terms like Recioto mean, you need this book. Also handy for finding interesting wine blog topics (and by the time you're ready for this book, you will probably have your own wine blog...).9. Wine Report (Annual) by Tom Stevenson
Another reference updated annually, this one is for the wine professional (or only the most serious of wine geeks). A great read for finding out what's new and noteworthy in the world's major wine regions and the industry in general.Essential at Every Level
10. Your Very Own Wine Journal
You need your own wine journal to capture your reactions to wines that you taste, build an understanding of what you like (and dislike), and sharpen up your wine tasting vocabulary. The importance of this will get explored in my next post - but for now, just trust the Dude and get yourself a wine journal! (dude recommends the Little Black Wine Book).
The bad news - The whole kit & kaboodle will set you back about $150 - $175. So buy 'em in stages (don't worry, none of these are likely to go out of print anytime too soon).
The very good news is that the general state of wine writing - much like the general state of wine itself - has never been better, so you will get your moolah's worth. Long-time, prolific, and talented writers like Jancis Robinson, as well as a multitude of fine bloggers, are contributing accessible and well-written wine knowledge. Come on in - the water is fine!
