Weekend Book Giveaway: '101 Wines' by Gary Vaynerchuk
Gary Vaynerchuk describes himself as "the wine guy for the average Joe," and if you've ever logged on to his Wine Library TV site to watch his hugely popular wine video series, you couldn't disagree with that. His enthusiasm, energy, and unique way of describing vino are infectious—180 degrees away from what you normally think of when you think "serious wine discussion."
His book, 101 Wines, which came earlier this year, is true to the personality that has turned his fans into "Vaniacs." In describing Lachini Vineyards' Estate Pinot Noir 2005 (Willamette Valley, Oregon), for instance, he references "poop" when talking about its nose.
I do mean it in the best possible way. The nose of this wine is somewhat awkward, with an enormous amount of ostrich poop, lamb poop—not your typical Burgundy cow and horse poop, but other farm animal manure. (Don't ask me how I know the difference.) There is a little sulphur in here too. Overall, this nose is funk, funk, funky! I think a lot of people might be taken aback by this, so if you don't like a lot of poo in your wine, consider this a warning.
I don't think anyone else could pique my curiosity and have me itching to try "poopy" wine.
Anyway, thanks to the good folks at Rodale Books, we have five (5) copies of 101 Wines to give away this weekend. All you have to do to win is write a wine haiku in the comments section here. Our top five favorite haikus, as determined by the Serious Eats staff, will win a copy.
Contest will end and comments will close at noon ET, Monday, September 29, 2008. One entry per community member. The standard Serious Eats contest rules apply.
Comments are closed: 57 Comments:
I don't drink much wine
However, I'm intrigued by
Gary Vaynerchuk
bytemyfoot at 1:34PM on 09/27/08
Wine it is I seek
A Cabernet Sauvignon
Must drink it, I will
dlayphoto at 2:05PM on 09/27/08
O hai, is that wine?
Then i must slurp and swallow
To great content
jpschust at 2:12PM on 09/27/08
Whining I just do
To drink a friend's beer supply
When I have no wine
LunaPierCook at 2:17PM on 09/27/08
Who would not be charmed
by a sommolier who
makes poop wine sound good?
smargot at 2:29PM on 09/27/08
I wish I knew more
Wine is intimidating
This sounds like fun
KateNonymous at 2:56PM on 09/27/08
fresh lamb excrement?!
Vaynerchuck smells things I don't
I still want the book
BenNYC at 2:56PM on 09/27/08
Impress the ladies
Use words like "nose" and "bouquet"
To describe Boone's Farm
shalomblack at 3:03PM on 09/27/08
grapes in grandest veins
drunken bastard i am not
love the best cheap swill
lowcajones at 3:03PM on 09/27/08
merlot, cabernet
vintage, up from the cellar
pop the cork, decant
chipper202 at 3:36PM on 09/27/08
Would like to be more
Serious, since now I just
Buy wine for the name.
jessie at 3:50PM on 09/27/08
Wine rocks my socks off
I am kissing up big time
Please send freebie now
FastNFoolish at 3:54PM on 09/27/08
Estate Pinot Noir,
Vaynerchuck thinks it kinda
Smells like ostrich poop.
amanda0730 at 4:19PM on 09/27/08
Wine makes me happy
especially when my day
is long and poopy
mommamia at 4:35PM on 09/27/08
i drink as i write
wine, it makes me so happy
white, red, bring it on
finsbigfan at 4:57PM on 09/27/08
Bottle, box or bag,
slowly sip a fine Montrachet,
guzzle warm Cold Duck.
PerkyMac at 5:11PM on 09/27/08
I can't remember the rules
or how to write a haiku
but I love to drink wine.
Chaos at 5:39PM on 09/27/08
The flavor infused
Berries, chocolate, and pepper
A glass of red wine
charmon at 5:42PM on 09/27/08
what wine will i choose
complex fruity tanic deep french leather blackberry
i will go with Bordeaux
hoff_83 at 7:23PM on 09/27/08
Tanins pucker mouth,
The legs, longer than the days,
Pass the camembert
akharaz at 7:34PM on 09/27/08
Pinot noir is red
Reisling, chardonnay are white
What the heck is blush?
madball911 at 7:35PM on 09/27/08
harvest crush ferment
oenologist's long season
beer waits at day's end
vtoenophile at 7:42PM on 09/27/08
Drinking wine right now
Too many glasses to count
puppy cherry *hic*
Sigma_Greg at 8:33PM on 09/27/08
Pinot Noir my love
I worshipped your berry softness
Long before Sideways
Playful Grigio
Illicit honeyed citrus
Tempting me to stray
hmneilson at 8:42PM on 09/27/08
oh my, what color!
pity the bouquet of farts
from the sniffy sniff
prangster at 9:18PM on 09/27/08
Cristal and dirt, Mott
Sweaty socks for you, Conan
Vaniacs unite
jboylan at 10:29PM on 09/27/08
a bottle of wine
sharing it with some good friends
makes me more relaxed
atsev7 at 11:50PM on 09/27/08
GOOD FOR THE BELLY
BOTTLE, JELLY JAR, OR BOX
HANGOVERS NASTY
sandy89 at 1:07AM on 09/28/08
Delicate flavors
Swish to enhance the bouquet
Sensory delight
blueviolet at 7:21AM on 09/28/08
a bottle of wine
makes me more lively and relaxed
wwe11 at 7:36AM on 09/28/08
Round my mouth
dark chocolate and red zin
let heaven begin.
slowdownandeat at 9:00AM on 09/28/08
Red drops on counter
Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet?
No, cut by corkscrew.
Holly at 9:58AM on 09/28/08
Wine is good for us
The doctors do all agree
Send a book my way
betty at 10:07AM on 09/28/08
I love wine bad at Haikus lets drink it up
dove1960 at 10:26AM on 09/28/08
Round plump orbs hanging
nostrils anticipating
aroma of dung
grimmouse at 10:41AM on 09/28/08
Bottle in front of me
Frontal lobotomy
The prior I choose
uofu4u2 at 10:44AM on 09/28/08
I am so intrigued
Of wine I need to learn more
This book will help me
Tina12312 at 11:18AM on 09/28/08
Delicious red wine
Bottle collection growing
Whoops - here's another
kfarrel3 at 11:51AM on 09/28/08
White wine Seven-Up
Manzanilla mint leaf ice
Sent me somewhere else
negtiveEclipse at 1:17PM on 09/28/08
Afternoon drinking
Mouth drowsy and brimming with
Tart red legs stretched out
lesliepariseau at 2:02PM on 09/28/08
Know no aroma
sweet, nutty, or acidic
Book is my passage.
BaguettenBrie at 2:12PM on 09/28/08
Wine is delicious,
A heart-healthy potion
Platelets in motion!
tinymomo at 4:35PM on 09/28/08
I like wine
The best costs less
As long as it agrees with me
cuddles115 at 4:52PM on 09/28/08
Lo, worship Bacchus.
Palette praise his vine gifts,
whether white or red
spanklin at 5:21PM on 09/28/08
White zin in a box
cheap bulk wine, a waste of time
blush if you drink it.
pourgirl at 6:14PM on 09/28/08
taste is only a
moment of this symphony -
senses come awake.
redhead at 6:45PM on 09/28/08
I lift up my glass full
of Cabernet Sauvignon
Always good when shared.
atreau at 8:57PM on 09/28/08
wine is good for the soul
fancyfeet48 at 10:22PM on 09/28/08
Wine red and flowing
A taste that fills my head
Sweet but dry too
cdziuba at 11:37PM on 09/28/08
juicy berry kiss
oh I'll have another glass
purple lips be damned
Littlebluesiren at 11:49PM on 09/28/08
A Marsala wine
Poured over sauteed chicken
Is pure happiness
gkran at 12:02AM on 09/29/08
Take some grapes
Add some feet
Wine is done
foodie51 at 8:51AM on 09/29/08
Celebrating the evening.
Then ushering our satisfied palettes.
Into night's rest.
squiqwe at 8:51AM on 09/29/08
Dear fermented grape,
Who knew you could be so good?
I will drink to that.
gastronomeg at 10:45AM on 09/29/08
red, white or between
wine is sexy and serene.
long, leggy vixen
Sugary Chic at 11:51AM on 09/29/08
My honey drinks wine
I don't appreciate it
Gary teach me, please
kathleenyohanna at 12:57PM on 09/29/08
And we have our winners! Congrats to jpschust, shalomblack, jboylan, Holly, and kathleenyohanna. But a toast to all who came out with their wine-kus. It was fun reading them all as they came in over the weekend. Winners will b contacted by email, and you can always see a list of recent winners on our Contest Winners page. Thanks!
Adam Kuban at 1:48PM on 09/29/08