Any wine blogger or wine web site owner knows that people are busy. We all have limited time, so we tend to gravitate toward “the best” resources online. Whenever we share a web site that we’ve found or know about, we’re taking a huge risk: people will forget about us. So, we tend not to take that risk.
I don’t care. I’m going to take it because people have to know about Wine Library TV. The host/star/producer/soul of Wine Library TV is Gary Vaynerchuk. He has absolutely blown the wine world away by his success. He owns/manages/something a wine business out east (around New York). He does roughly 5 to 7 video podcasts per week where he talks about wine (and the NY Jets and other things).
In a word, he’s nuts.
I mean that in a good way. He’s nuts about wine. He’s nuts about the Jets (I’m not, but it doesn’t matter). Most importantly, he’s nuts about bringing the joys and miracles that are wine to everyone. He can take some getting used to at first, but once you realize how absolutely freaking passionate he is about wine, you can’t help but like the guy. There are all sorts of things about his video show that may turn you off (”The Thunder Show,” “sniffy-sniff,” etc.) but they all arise out of his amazing passion for wine. He can’t help himself. He’s genuine, the real deal.
I must admit, I don’t watch every episode. Like all of you out there, I’m a busy person with stuff to do. The time available to do things online is limited.
I’m ashamed. I should watch every episode. Vaynerchuk, while not perfect, is a voice worth listening to. (And he absolutely absolutely absolutely says that you have to rely on your own palate–forget what he or me or anyone else says about a wine. If you like it, that’s all that counts.) But every time I watch his show, I can’t help but smile and be a little bit jealous of his passion and the unabashed way in which he shares it. Some feel my podcast was too, um, dull–that’s the inhibitions at work. When I get worked up about a wine, I could go toe to toe with Gary V and not even blink. But doing it publicly is a bit tougher. I absolutely love the way Gary does what he does. I don’t share his passion for the Jets (professional football–gimme a break), but he is who he is, he’s not embarrassed by it, and he loves what he does with wine.
By telling you about his video podcast and stuff, I’m risking losing some of you to his show. I hope you’ll be able to subscribe to both of our web sites, interact with both of us, recognize that we have slightly different roles to play. But I could not sit here and claim to be a wine educator if I wasn’t willing to share one of the great resources out there and turn you on to it. If I didn’t recognize GaryVee for who he is and the effect he’s had on the world of wine, I’d have no integrity at all.
So, please–check out Wine Library TV. But don’t forget this humble little resource. Enjoy the approach that both web sites take. And hey, you get twice as much for your dollar (his show is as free as this blog/old podcast is)!
Technorati Tags: wine education, learn about wine, wine library tv, gary vaynerchuk
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Bill,
You and Gary seem to have entirely different goals yet they (in my mind) seem quite synergistic in nature. He may bring the passion but his interest lies in expanding the palate as it relates to wine. Your educational focus is more about expanding the mind as it relates to wine. To my mind you can’t have one without the other. What people out here in middle America should also know is that Wine Library has a huge selection and low shipping. If you don’t have a great local selection at your disposal, it might pay to check them out. Thanks Bill !
I am humbled! THANK YOU for being such a great person!
Walt, thanks for your kind comments about my efforts. As with all feedback, it means a lot!
Gary, thanks for stopping by–I know you’ve got thousands of places to check on (I’m not sure when you sleep), but don’t be a stranger in these parts.