Good read, and a fantastic lede. Love him or hate him, I think that by now anybody "into" wine knows about him, but he has lots of new fans to get. He's not for everybody, but good for him, I can't fault his enthusiasm.
-IB
"Wine only turns into alcohol if you let it sit."---Lindsay Bluth
Posts: 6208 | Location: Naptown | Registered: Nov 24, 2006
I do not like his crass manner; it is at odds with the subtleties that make great wine great. Just like you cannot take the word of a fat nutritionist at par value, you can't take GV's commentary to heart. I agree that wine is something that should be enjoyed by all, but if he is appealing to a "new kind of consumer", it does not bode well for the future. The future is bleak.
Posts: 408 | Location: Toronto, ON | Registered: Nov 10, 2008
Originally posted by The Economist: I do not like his crass manner; it is at odds with the subtleties that make great wine great. Just like you cannot take the word of a fat nutritionist at par value, you can't take GV's commentary to heart. I agree that wine is something that should be enjoyed by all, but if he is appealing to a "new kind of consumer", it does not bode well for the future. The future is bleak.
I think he's good for the industry. I've done a small bit of research on the "Millennials" and they do not like the perceived pretentiousness of wine. If he breaks down that barrier for someone and gets them to try wine, then great! As the person becomes more comfortable with wine and develops their palatte, then they'll move away from the circus and take wine more seriously.
Until then, who cares? It's only a beverage. Drink up. Not all wine is meant to be savored and analyzed - if that was the case, Yellow Tail wouldn't be the top seller in the US.
Posts: 212 | Location: Seattle, WA | Registered: May 11, 2007
With all due respect to the NYTimes and the author of the story, the title unnerves me a bit - 'Critic'? Vaynerchuk is a retailer, not a critic. There is a big difference between the two, with advice from the latter always needing a grain of salt, for obvious reasons.
As for the 'demystifying wine' argument - wasn't Yellowtail supposed to get beer drinkers to become wine drinkers? Uh, oops...and there are many other instances like that in the history of wine.
Mr. Vayneruchk has passion and drive - good for him, I wish him continued success. IMO however, demystifying wine comes from offering a consumer hard (and unbiased) information. Any schtick, style or approach to doing so is secondary...
Yup, he is marketing and not reviewing. As stated, there is a big difference between the two.
He is selling a lot of wine, but I don't see how he is "demystifying" anything. Saying a wine tastes like raw road kill with pepper on top does not exactly simplify much.
Posts: 66 | Location: Palmetto Bay, FL | Registered: Oct 10, 2007
In occasional IB rant style, it's always perturbing to see so much disdain directed Gary's way. I get that he's a retailer, and JM is spot on; he is not an unbiased critic. But, so much ire seems to be directed at his style, the way he bucks traditional wine tasting customs.
This is the part I find frustrating. He's loud, he doesn't worry that you can see him spit into the bucket, he uses slang. Gary says he wants to be inclusive, but his (schtick, snake-oil hawking, whateveryouwanttocallit) is directed at a different audience. Your stereotypical wine connoisseur is well-heeled, has means, professional, keeps things close to the vest. Gary appeals toward guys and gals like him. A bit wilder, a bit younger, maybe a bit poorer (yes he's rich, but comes across as very blue-collar).
If an interesting, charismatic wine (critic/retailer/whatever) comes along who is openly lesbian, Mexican, and were in a wheelchair, guess what? You'd have a huge crowd of special-needs, Spanish-speaking rainbow flag wavers proclaiming her the best thing since oak-chipped merlot, .
Anything that brings more folks into the beautiful world of wine, I'm for. Are you?
-IB
"Wine only turns into alcohol if you let it sit."---Lindsay Bluth
Posts: 6208 | Location: Naptown | Registered: Nov 24, 2006
[QUOTE]Originally posted by James Molesworth: With all due respect to the NYTimes and the author of the story, the title unnerves me a bit - 'Critic'? Vaynerchuk is a retailer, not a critic. There is a big difference between the two, with advice from the latter always needing a grain of salt, for obvious reasons. QUOTE]
I agree completly with you James, however most people who enter the retail establishment and have no knowledge of wine, would think that Gary V IS a critic. Anyone can post scores, It does not mean that their score is valid.
Originally posted by Seaquam: GV reminds me of the 1960's television car salesman Chuck Lambert and his dog Storm. He sold himself as much as he did cars.
I never bought a car from him (I think he was in California), but as a kid I always wanted to meet "my dog Storm."
Sounds like Cal Worthington, and his dog Spot. . .
-IB
"Wine only turns into alcohol if you let it sit."---Lindsay Bluth
Posts: 6208 | Location: Naptown | Registered: Nov 24, 2006
Originally posted by Seaquam: GV reminds me of the 1960's television car salesman Chuck Lambert and his dog Storm. He sold himself as much as he did cars.
I never bought a car from him (I think he was in California), but as a kid I always wanted to meet "my dog Storm."
Sounds like Cal Worthington, and his dog Spot. . .
Yeah, him too. I'm not positive but I think they were competitors. Worthington used to bring out bears and tigers, introducing them as his dog, but Storm was actually a beautiful and well-trained German Shepherd.
Maybe GV could introduce a chimp as his tasting partner Corked; I think I'd like him more then.
___________________________
Cheers!
Posts: 6489 | Location: Vancouver, BC | Registered: Oct 17, 2001
Originally posted by mareff: I agree completly with you James, however most people who enter the retail establishment and have no knowledge of wine, would think that Gary V IS a critic.
My point exactly. As I said, I don't begrudge him his success - he's selling a lot of wine, which I am all for. There's just a big caveat out there that a lot of folks aren't mentioning...
Originally posted by mareff: I agree completly with you James, however most people who enter the retail establishment and have no knowledge of wine, would think that Gary V IS a critic.
My point exactly. As I said, I don't begrudge him his success - he's selling a lot of wine, which I am all for. There's just a big caveat out there that a lot of folks aren't mentioning...
well if it means anything, I trust your palate when it comes to bordeaux rather than Gary V. But then again he is not speaking of first, 2nd or other classified growths for that matter
Originally posted by mareff: I agree completly with you James, however most people who enter the retail establishment and have no knowledge of wine, would think that Gary V IS a critic.
My point exactly. As I said, I don't begrudge him his success - he's selling a lot of wine, which I am all for. There's just a big caveat out there that a lot of folks aren't mentioning...
well if it means anything, I trust your palate when it comes to bordeaux rather than Gary V. But then again he is not speaking of first, 2nd or other classified growths for that matter
Open mouth keyboard, insert foot.....
-------------------- "One may dislike carrots, spinach, beetroot, or the skin on hot milk. But not wine. It is like hating the air that one breathes, since each is equally indispensable."
Marcel Ayme`
Posts: 6942 | Location: The Left Coast | Registered: Dec 01, 2001
Originally posted by Seaquam: Sounds like Cal Worthington, and his dog Spot.
Go see Cal, go see Cal, go see Cal...
Dealership on Florin Road in South Sacramento.
Another dealership in Carlsbad. Cal Worthington is the Gary V. of cars!
-------------------- "One may dislike carrots, spinach, beetroot, or the skin on hot milk. But not wine. It is like hating the air that one breathes, since each is equally indispensable."
Marcel Ayme`
Posts: 6942 | Location: The Left Coast | Registered: Dec 01, 2001
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