#AskGaryVee Episode 160 - The Sommeliers of Uncorked

TL;DR

Gary Vaynerchuk discusses the wine industry, master sommeliers, and the impact of social media on the industry.

Transcript

• On this episode, I turn back the clock and talk a lot of wine. (hip hop music) You ask questions and I answer them. This is The #AskGaryVee Show. Hey everybody, this is Gary Vay-ner-chuk and this is episode 160 of The #AskGaryVee Show. Nice rainy Tuesday. We're scoping on the Periscope. We continue to bring in friends from the Vayner Media famil... Read More

Key Insights

• 😋 Marketing wine as a food could potentially change people's perception and create more usage occasions for the product.
• 🍷 Shake Shack has the potential to revolutionize wine culture by introducing great wines in a casual setting.
• 😋 The impact of eliminating tipping and raising food prices on the industry is uncertain and might affect factors such as service quality and customer perception.
• 👀 The future for master sommeliers looks promising, with increased exposure through social media and the potential for more events and tastings.

Questions & Answers

Q: What if the wine industry marketed wine as a food instead of just another alcohol?

Gary believes that marketing wine as a food could open up the category and create more usage occasions for the product. However, he thinks it is unlikely to change people's perception of wine as a beverage rather than a food.

Q: If you could be a sommelier at any restaurant in New York City, which one would it be and why?

Gary would choose Shake Shack because of its mass appeal and the opportunity to introduce more people to great wine in a casual setting. He believes a serious wine program at Shake Shack could change wine culture in New York City and beyond.

Q: What is the impact of the recent news of Union Square Hospitality moving away from tipping on the industry?

Gary finds the concept of eliminating tipping and raising food prices to take care of staff intriguing. However, he is unsure about how it will be received by consumers and whether it will affect the service quality and customer perception of the restaurants.

Q: What do you think the future holds for master sommeliers in light of the proliferation of social media, bloggers, and powerful wine critics?

Gary believes that sommeliers have a unique opportunity to leverage social media, bloggers, and wine critics to amplify their expertise and broaden their appeal. This could lead to more events, private tastings, and opportunities for growth in the industry.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Gary Vaynerchuk talks about a wine-themed episode of The #AskGaryVee Show.

• The episode features questions from individuals working on a wine-related TV show and focuses on topics like marketing wine as a food and the future of master sommeliers.

• Gary also discusses the impact of social media on the wine industry and the potential of Brazilian sparkling wine.