Gary Vee has done what many have tried and few have succeeded in doing-- he has made the wine world accessible to people who are not brought up in that world.
His enthusiasm and character may be the driving force behind Wine Library TV, but it's his knowledge that cements himself as a true wine Expert.

Gary brings it down to earth with thunder. He brings tons of fun to a potentially boring topic. I haven't read a reference book written with this much enthusiasm. This easy read is sure to turn you on to all the right stuff. I sincerely hope this is not his only book.

Like Wine Library TV, this book had off the wall descriptions of great wines. Gary provides so much detail, you feel as if you've already tasted the wines. It is refreshing how Gary does not keep using the same 10 descriptors of wine like many other critics. This book will also get you to try varieties and locations you may never have considered. Well done!

The book on wine was delivered very quickly. All parts of transaction were smooth and very satisfactory. Thanks for good service!

Well, I just finished reading the book for the second time, frankly it is a book that wine drinkers need to buy, but non-wine fans can also enjoy. Here is why: if you are into wine, Gary's perspective on how different wines strike a chord with him issomething we should all learn to appreciate and look for in wine. His quirky adjectives and his preference for giving wines human personalities is very, very entertaining.
Non-wine fans will enjoy that as well, but will also benefit from Garys' outlook and joy of life and love of family. It sounds weird, as this is a wine book indeed, but I think other non-wine fans will enjoy it as well...

Vaynerchuk's energy and excitement come across well in this book. It is an entertaining read, with some great information. Beginners will like the specific suggestions and accessible information, and even wine geeks will enjoy the take on wine and the wine world.

Gary's new book 101 wines is a great quick reference for tips and suggestions on picking the perfect wine that will make all our clients weddings toasts perfect. Every week we work with dozens of couples getting married and help them pick the perfect wine or champagne to compliment their wine theme wedding favors for their wedding. The Wine Library is always our first choice for the finest wine service and selection around. Gary will never steer you wrong.

Reed Johnson
YourWeddingStore.org

I am really into wine, and Gary's video podcast has brought more information than can be contained in a limited book like this one, but my favorite part of this book isn't even the wine reviews! It's the tiny life lessons that Gary sprays throughout the entirety of the book with an honesty and passion that you can't find anywhere else.

I'm a daily viewer of Gary's WLTV show for the past year so I was pretty pumped when I heard this book was coming. (I've bought 4 copies so far - 3 from Amazon: mine, gift for friend, birthday gift and now Father's Day.)

I enjoyed reading this cover to cover. The introduction is excellent, with Gary spelling out some of his passions and philosophies regarding wine and life.

The "countdown" reading of the 101 wines was also very entertaining and informative. It had the familiar feel of the WLTV show without being too "inside" or repetitive. It was fresh and fun.

By the way, while there is a wide range of wines recommended in this book - in varietal, geography, style and price - it should be mentioned that there are a LOT of inexpensive, affordable wines mentioned side-to-side with the more famous names, so anyone on a tighter wine budget (and that's a lot of people these days) would benefit greatly from picking up a copy and discovering some great QPR under $15 or so.

I've read a LOT of wine books over the past 15 years and this is one of - if not "THE" - my favorites.

Gary Vaynerchuk hits so many home runs in this book. From the opening passage about sharing wine with family and loved ones to his spot on reviews of "I would have never tired that wine" wine from all over the world. His passion and love for all things wine shines through the entire book. Dare to be inspired and trust your palate.

Congrats to Gary for putting out a reference guide to some of the best wines available. This book will withstand years of use at least until the second edition!

I bought three books to give to a few friends.

Well written, just like Gary talks. Very informative and entertaining. Not only will you get an education in wine but you will get a laugh or two.

And don't forget the special offer that if you buy two books you get free shipping on any order from Wine Library.

Victor Caballero

Gary Vaynerchuk's 101 Wines not only expertly navigates the novice through the wonderful world of wine; it's a fun and informative romp for wine afficionadoes as well. Thank you Gary ! Naples Kathy aka Champagne Lady

Gary Vaynerchuk's 101 Wines really gives everyone a chance to enjoy wine. I was a little worried Gary would have a tough time translating the energy of his www.winelibrarytv.com show into a book...But he did it, and he did it well.

Take part of Gary's description of the $44 a bottle Mas de la Barben, Les Calices, 2003: "...I'm listening to my glass and instead of 'snap, crackle, pop,' I hear these lusciously plump berries whispering, 'Gary, you know you want me.' All that fruit is mixed with this taffy-toffee thing and some sticky cough syrup." Ever hear any other wine expert talk about wine like that? In language you can relate to? That's Gary.

I also like two other components of the book: First, Gary has little side bars where he tells you about the particular grapes in each wine, and gives you the down low on the regions they're from. Make no mistake about it, Gary knows his shizzle. The second feature of the book that's worth the price itself is Gary's easy to see and scan break down of different wines. Gary has a Top 5 list for Top-Ranked Merlot, Most Expensive Reds, Top-Ranked Dessert Wines, Top-Ranked Fruit Bombs (my wife loves these), many more, and even Best For The Beach.

There's a wine for everyone in this book - meaning type and price. Gary's biggest contribution to the wine world is making it fun, and prodding people in a fun way to expand and trust their palate - not any wine critics, including himself. If you're a pretty sharp wine person already, you'll appreciate Gary's amazing list of 101 Wines. If your a novice (like me), you'll appreciate Gary teaching you about wine, making it fun, and never making you feel like you don't belong.

There's so much to Gary's spectacular first book than this review can tell you. You can tell how much effort he put into it.

And as a final note, for anyone who's crossed paths with Gary, he's one of the nicest people you would ever expect to meet. And maybe that doesn't mean anything to some people, but I have a feeling that many people like to know they're going on fun little journey with someone who genuinely cares about them. I think in the end, Gary's love for people trumps his love for wine. And maybe that's what makes Gary's book so smooth, so easy, so friendly, and yet so complex on the palate. Enjoy!

Mark Fitzpatrick

Gary's passion for wine jumps out of the pages in this book. I can't wait to try some of the wines he recommends.

Gary Vaynerchuk's book bring his unique prospective on wine to the wider world. What is really great about the book is that the effort is not to influence folks to buy the same old wines, but Gary really shows the very wide diversity of wines that are available and very enjoyable. Gary provides 101 recommendations that span the world and most if not all of the styles of wine that people can buy. Gary is trying to change the wine world through education and his enthusiasm that jumps off of every page. His show and this book take great strides toward that goal. I enjoyed the book, enjoyed the refreshing views on wine and on life too. The philosophy that Gary brings to the book is that wine is to be enjoyed with family and friends and not hid in a cellar. I gave the book to a friend to help spread the virus that Gary represents to changing the wine world, an infection that is good for you! Enjoy!

I am loving this book. I watch the show and had no intention of buying yet another wine book that I won't actually read. I started looking through the book at Borders and read half of it at the bookstore. I was compelled by the writing style and a little out of guilt to purchase the book.Now my book has many many pages dogeared with the wines I will purchase to expand my PAL.

Although I am a big fan of Gary's, I was initially a little skeptical about this book, thinking, "oh great - I need one more wine book like a big ol' hole in my head." But I have to tell you it was the most entertaining and enjoyable wine read I've ever had the pleasure of picking up. And it's not "just a list" approach either - there's plenty of real learning to be had. All in all, "the QPR is just ridiculous," as Gary might say!

Really great "anti-wine guide." Gary does not intimidate and wants everyone to be included in the wine world. It's an interesting book, giving you tips and fun facts about wine. Not only did I learn about new varietals, but I laughed and was entertained throughout. Loved the "Palate Primers" and "Vaynercabulary" as well.

This book is great for wine nerds and newbies alike. Rejoice all, the Thunder was brought!

As a wine newbie, I have not been able to experience very many different wines so I really did not know what to look for when I started tasting wine. After watching Gary and breezing through this book I think I am beginning to develop an understanding of the complexities of wine, and the fun associated with trying different wine/food pairings and different "weird" wines in general. Growing up I always thought wine to be gross, my thought was why drink fermented Welch's grape juice? Anyways Gary has done a magnificent job making wine accessible to the average person while breaking me of my fermented Welch's belief. I especially like the inclusion of inexpensive wines as I am a college student on a tight budget. Great job Gary, keep bringing the THUNDER!

I read this book basically at one sitting. The book gives 101 of Gary's wine picks--they vary from white to red, sparkling, dessert, etc. For each wine he imparts a lot of information, both about the grape, the wine and where it is from which could be boring if from another writer. However, Gary makes it fun and interesting to read with his written words sounding almost exactly how he sounds on Wine Library TV. I also liked that he gave suggestions at the back of the book with wines for specific events. I would recommend this book especially for someone who is just getting into wine as it will be informative, but not boring.

Gary's straight shooting guide to wine isn't a book about finding the perfect wine for a meal or a chronicle of wine history. It's a survey of 101 different wines that show you the differences in wines out on the market which are value based and available. Gary promotes self reliance and understanding your own tastes. His humble and down to earth approach is refreshing in the wine world which is notoriously snobby.

If you've had the opportunity to be able to sit down and watch [...] Gary VAY-NER-CHUK in action on the Thunder Show, you will have realized that there are some people born to do certain things in this world, and an even more rare select few who actually find what that is they are actually supposed to do and end up doing it.

Gary Vaynerchuk was meant to bring the Thunder to the world, and not only does he do that on WLTV, he also does it with "101 Wines Guaranteed to Inspire, Delight, and Bring Thunder to Your World.

I appreciate the fact that Gary owns the camera when he's in front of it, and owns the pages when he writes on them. He's never tried to be a seller of wine, just a friendly voice trying to inspire people to trust your own review and drink the wines you enjoy, but also to try different things.

Here are 101 options that he find the best of his taste. You might not like them all, you might love them all, but you're gonna have a blast experiencing them and that's what matters.

Wine elitists and wine noobs alike can understand what Gary is writing about and I'm looking forward to the next adventure into the journalistic saga that is the Wine Mind of Gary V!

Great job man

THUNDER = BROUGHT

Gary's book reads exactly like he reviews the wines in his show. He's down-to-earth, funny, and just tells it like it is. What really makes it fun is how he brings wine down to the basest level and makes it easy to understand. I had a bunch of laughs remembering Grape Ape and Big League Chew.
What's also great is that, even though he has fun with it and jokes, he still has the little bits of wisdom on the side, giving us a history of the label of some of the wines, the area, and about the grapes themselves.
I'm definitely looking forward to the sequel, "Gary Vaynerchuk's 101 Wines: Guaranteed to Depress, Cringe, and Bring Lots of Oak to Your Pal.

I loved this book. Not only did you disseminate a lot of the wine information for me, you made it fun and very educational. I respect your accomplishments Gary and I love this product. #1 sounds like an amazing choice!

Gary never ceases to captive me with his expert knowledge and insight into the wine world, and this book is no exception. His energy and passion for making wine fun and entertaining is clearly evident in this book. No doubt you'll learn some new and interesting things. I hope there will be MANY more books to come!

Overall, a GREAT pool-side summer read with a glass of YOUR favorite vino!

The book is amazing. Do not buy just one copy. Buy several and give them out to all your friends. I have been watching Gary for about a year and he seriously cracks me up. I cannot wait everyday for the new episode. Every description in the book screams GARY. I can hear him saying each hilarious comment. I started the book at 4:30am because I couldn't sleep and found myself reading it all day long. I have already been searching the internet to find some of the wines. He is definatly changing the wine world and WE LIKE IT.

Get this book immediately if you are tired of reading the same old stuffy wine guides. Gary has written a fun yet informative book that offers insight to many of the hidden gems that Gary has stored in his memory banks. Only regret I have is not getting it signed when he was in the city. Hope I get to run into him at the store one day.

I'll have to admit something. Until recently, I've never heard of Gary Vaynerchuk before. I had no idea what Wine Library TV was. Then a couple months ago, I decided to finally join this little website called Twitter. It all went downhill from there! (haha) To make a short story long, when I first saw mention of this internet wine show, I was thinking - oh, sure - THAT sounds like a blast; probably some snobby, obnoxious old fart who waxes philosophical about wine and thinks his opinion is more sacred than Mother Teresa. (Have you met a "serious" wine critic before? I have. I'd rather be poked in the eye.) Well, you should never judge a book by it cover (no pun intended) and I bit the bullet and saw a few episodes of Gary's little wine show called Wine Library TV.

I was hooked. I don't think I've ever run across anyone more sincere and passionate about wine before, who is more anxious to teach the world not about wine technique and history lessons, but to teach people to have fun with wine. To remove all the stereotypical stigmas associated with drinking wine. That it's ok to pop open a bottle for a football game. If you want a glass of Napa Cab with your cheeseburger - why not?

It's this passion that really shines in Gary's book. He makes it perfectly clear that the book is not a "wine guide". It's not. Yes, at the end of the day, its just another man's opinion on wine - 101, to be exact. But trust me, you will learn a thing or two. And, like me, you'll want to run out and buy wine you've never tasted or heard of before. The way Gary writes here - "bringing the thunder", the "oak monster", "obnoxious silkiness" - or a wine can taste like Cinnamon Toast Crunch or smells like poop (poop? Yes, poop) - it's just downright fun. The book is just filled with great stuff and little "fun facts" run rampant throughout.

So Gary - I sincerely thank you. To the world - buy this book and hopefully you'll get as much as I did.

This book truly does "Inspire, Delight and Bring Thunder to your World." When I did a quick flip of the pages (similar to the swirling of the wine) and then took my first look (sticking your nose in the wine) I was delighted. I got a taste of an amazing book that inspired the mind (similar to a wine inspiring you taste buds). From start to finish this book is amazing and a must read. Start from number 101 and read it through, number one will surprise you, it shocked me :) I was so inspired I went and tried to find a handful of these wines. Additionally talked to customers and employees at the wine story and told them about the book and have a few of them going to check it out as well. Gary Vaynerchuk is an amazing author, wine expert and overall amazing person. Two thumbs up. So good I now have three copies ! One to keep, one to give away and a backup.

I've been watching Wine Library TV since almost the beginning. I understood his passion and mission from the very first moment. He's a kindred soul. Since I first met him in person at the Boston Wine Expo, he knew I was a kindred soul as well. We've developed a friendship so I'm so proud that my pal has written this book. Knowing him, it's no surprise that the book is great. It captures his loving, energetic personality and knowledge of and passion for wine. This book is an indispensable guide to not only wine, but to life and love as well. Consider it Gary's love letter to each of you.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R18VKRI7DFLN3B Gary Vaynerchuk's 101 Wines: Guaranteed to Inspire, Delight, and Bring Thunder to Your World Gary has democratized wine and lured me over from the beer side. Thanks for the ongoing education, Gary.

I've been using the wisdom of Gary for a while now. He's shaped the way I taste and think about wine. While our tastes in wine differ (to a degree), his passion for grape juice and approaching wine with an opened mind have been a BIG influence.

His first book is a great way to get to know Gary and I'm sure you'll appreciate his wisdom and passion as I did.

~Tooch

Wine Library is a retail store in Springfield, N.J., and Gary Vaynerchuk is the director of operations. A few years ago he started to record wine tastings - usually just himself, a glass, a spit bucket and a few bottles along with an infectiously unrestrained enthusiasm:

"This wine coats your palate with so much obnoxious pineapple - not a normal pineapple - a pineapple that is obnoxious. What I mean by that is very ripe and huge with flavor, like the best pineapple-flavored candy you've ever had, and I've never had a pineapple-flavored candy."

As Eric Asimov wrote: "With much audible chewing of the wine and spitting, it's easy to see that the wine geek's life is not a pretty or telegenic one. It's the sort of thing best done in private, but this is stream-of-consciousness stuff, so editing wouldn't do. Mispronunciations stream forth - who am I to criticize?"

Ordinary wine lovers have joined the chorus of praise over the past several years:

"Agree with his palate or not, he IS entertaining. His descriptors are hard to beat. Been a fan of Gary's since he began."


"GaryV is great fun and actually pans many wines. this raises his credibility in my eyes. So far the customer service from WL has been superb."

"WLTV is great. GaryV takes time to answer questions and comments from viewers and has really given wine lovers a place to congregate with the entire Wine Library network of sites."

"I've been watching WLTV for a long time now, and am active in the WLTV Forum. I have found this video blog refreshing and educational. Basically its about finding what it is you like in wine . . . and trying all different kinds . . . expanding your horizons if you will. WLTV is one of the best things to happen to wine in America in a very, very long time."

etc. etc. etc.

The major criticsm has already been alluded to by Asimov; the spitting isn't pretty TV:

"While I certainly appreciate Mr. Vaynerchuk's enthusiasm and approachable style, I find the taste-spit-rattle off obscure flavors-give a numerical rating routine impractical. One critic tastes cassis and cigar box, another tastes wild berry and saddleback, another cherry skins and forest floor. Sure it's appropriate to name prominent flavors and aromas, but what does this really tell me about the wine? While Gary does usually give a little intro info about the wines he tastes, I think a more useful exercise (especially considering this is a non-blind setting) would be to spend less time on cold analytical analysis and more time framing the quality of the wine within the context of the producer, region, vintage, style, food pairing possibilities and so on."

For the fussy, this book is a wonderful introduction to Vaynerchuk's style without the yuckiness. Amazon has given a very generous sampling of his tasting notes, and the book may encourage you to take a look at the videos. Complete collections can be found by Googling Wine Library or Wine Lovers Page.

Every wine lover -- beginner or advanced geek -- owes it to themselves to take a look at both the book and at least some of the videos. There is a new, important force in the wine world.


Robert C. Ross 2008