Embracing Your Inner Wine Geek

Posted by Tom Wark on Nov 13, 2006

I spent a bit of time looking over Gary Vaynerchuk’s Wine Library TV when it first launched. I thought it a good idea watching the first episode, but it also stuck me as a bit bland; as though Gary, the host and the focus of the show, hadn’t found his stroke yet.

After WineLibrary TV placed an ad with Fermentation I went back and took another look. Gary has most certainly found his stoke!!

Before you label me a whore for pushing advertisers go watch a few episodes of Gary’s WineLibrary TV. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen anyone so completely and utterly embrace their inner wine geek in such an enthusiastic and un-selfconscious way as Gary.

Each episode, of which there are now 125, Gary sits at a little table in front of a camera with a few wines in front of him and tastes them on the spot. In this respect it’s a pretty intimate experience for the viewer. You can almost see Gary doing mental warm ups as he approaches the wines in front of him. Then the sipping and mouth swishing occurs. (the audio is VERY good…you can hear the wine wash over each and ever taste bud Gary possesses). Then the review comes. On the spot. There’s a wierd anticipation that overcomes the view as they wait to see what Gary will come up with in  response. It’s fun.

And, clearly this man is having fun too!! But his viewers are too. The comment section attached to each episode is probably the most robust of any wine blog/podcast/winevideo site on the Internet. There is something of a cult following developing over at WineLibrary TV.

It’s very hard to pick a favorite episode of WineLibrary TV.  Nevertheless, I’ve been converted. I know. That sounds like a publisher praising an advertiser. I don’t care what it sounds like. This is really good stuff!!

UPDATE: Nov 13, 2006
If you want to watch a fantastic episode of WineLibrary TV that showcases what Gary does on his show, THIS IS THE ONE.