Gary Vaynerchuk (VAY NER CHUK), a 32 year old self-trained wine expert who is revolutionizing the wine industry. His webcast, The Thunder Show, on WineLibrary attracts over 60,000 viewers each day and his email queue typically holds 1,000 messages from obsessed fans, self-named “Vayniacs." Gary’s cult-like following is the result of his unconventional, often irreverent commentary on wine. He routinely pans popular wines (even ones he sells at his 3-story New Jersey store, Wine Library). He interrupts his webcasts with rants about his beloved New York Jets. This is not your typical wine expert.

As the youngest winner of Marketwatch’s Business Award, Market Watch Leader at 27 and his first book coming out this spring--101 Wines Guaranteed To Inspire, Delight, and Bring Thunder To Your World, Gary Vaynerchuk is an icon in his industry. In addition to stellar “street cred” among his fans, Gary is also highly respected in the wine industry and the corporate world. “Wine is a dynamic category that offers a new set of flavors and standards each year. There is so much to learn and appreciate regardless of price.” Gary’s unique identity as both a wine expert and a “real person” has reinvented the concept of wine tasting for a new generation.

Guest Blogger Gary Vaynerchuk--

As I say all the time, nothing is more important to me than the health and happiness of my family and friends. I’m passionate about wine, especially because of the way it brings people together. When you think about it, what’s better than good company, good conversation, and some great wine? Fortunately, in moderation, wine also happens to be part of a healthy lifestyle… wines that bring the thunder can also be good for you!

I am definitely not a doctor, but much has been said and written about the potential positive impact of wine on health. The famous insight was the so-called French Paradox, in which researchers speculated that the health and long lifespan of the French (despite diets rich in foods high in fat content and cholesterol) could be attributed to wine consumption during meals. Great news! Since then mounting evidence has shown that wine (especially red wine) may increase good cholesterol and reduce bad cholesterol. Wine can also improve digestion and may reduce the risk of certain cancers, heart disease, and stroke. What I can more personally speak to is the positive impact wine has had on my mind and attitude. A few glasses of wine with food is relaxing, improves my mood, and rejuvenates me.

I frequently am asked what wine is the healthiest, which wine is the best for your heart, and so on. The information about specific grapes seems inconclusive to me at best, but I’ve read a lot about Cannonau as a particularly heart-healthy wine. Cannonau is the Italian version of Grenache and is most prominently found in wines from Sardinia. These wines do frequently bring thunder and are great with food, so I’m comfortable recommending them, regardless of their health impact.

With all this in mind, what can you do to explore everything the wine world has to offer and stay healthy at the same time? Here are my quick tips for a healthy approach to wine:

- Stay under control. This surprises many, but I have been drunk very few times in my life. In addition to being my personal preference, moderation is by far the healthy choice! Practice moderation and you’ll enjoy your wine more, your company more, and stay healthy at the same time!

- Enjoy wine in good company with food. To me the best way to enjoy wine healthfully is to share it with friends over dinner. You’ll enhance your enjoyment of the food, improve your mood, and experience all the other health benefits above. I always have wine on the dinner table but almost never drink alone.

- Variety is the spice of life. So many people drink the same old wines time and again. My advice? Stay out of a rut and try different things! I always encourage people to expand their palate and try different grapes from different parts of the world. Ever tried a Greco di Tufo? Pic St. Loup? Torrontes? I find exploration intellectually stimulating--it keeps the mind and body fresh!

BACKSTORY:

Gary Vaynerchuk's roots in wine tasting come honestly – his Russian immigrant parents owned a liquor store when he was growing up. Bored at the cash register, Gary began reading The Wine Spectator and other books about wine, realizing that collecting wine offered an allure similar to his previous hobby of collecting baseball cards. As a teenager, tasting wine was legally impossible, so Gary set out to train his palate “backwards." To study various flavors associated with wine, Gary tasted obscure fruits and vegetables, along with earthly influences, including grass, dirt, rocks, tobacco and wood. “I probably consumed more New Jersey grass in my teens than any lawn mower.” By familiarizing himself with the numerous tastes that contributed to a specific wine, Gary was able to detect subtleties that an ordinary palate wouldn’t recognize.

With a wealth of knowledge and an entrepreneurial spirit, Gary spent every weekend of his college years at his parents’ store, rebranding the family business as Wine Library and establishing himself as a respected expert. As the store’s only wine buyer, he sampled every wine that entered the store. Customers depended on Gary for his advice and within a four year time period, Wine Library grew from a $4 million dollar business to a $40 million business.

What raised Gary’s notoriety even more than his business acumen was his foresight. Inspired by sites such as youtube.com and facebook.com, Gary leveraged technology to reach an untapped audience. His daily 20 minute webcasts caught the attention of a demographic new to wine and eager to learn. Within a short time, beer sales were outpaced by wine and Gary was spotting wine at Giants Stadium tailgate gatherings and Superbowl parties. While his youthful following broke down barriers in the wine industry, the business world (and Web 2.0) admired Gary for creating a new generation of branding, focusing on the internet.

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Update on May 20, 2008 by At Basil & Spice

Seen At Reuters

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