1 Wine Dude

Why Everyone Hates Us1 min read

Posted on by 1WineDude

in commentary, wine news

Because… well… THIS:

Wine geeks and wine pros are taking it on the chin right now (for a hilarious and totally NSFW example, have a listen to this podcast by Internet comedy icon Maddox). We are accused of just about everything uncool, from being fond of snobbery to displaying nepotism to having bullsh*t jobs to engaging in major douchebaggery.

The image problem, though, is understandable, particularly when we have things like the Lalique “100 Points” leather briefcase by James Suckling and Salvatore Ferragamo, available for $8500 USD. At least you get a couple of bottles of wine with it. Go ahead, watch the video on James’s website. And if you order one, do me a favor and unsubscribe from my blog, okay?

James, why are you doing this to us, bro???

Fellow geeks, please make a good name for yourselves and other wine nerds by not carrying personal stemware around unless there’s a life-changing wine drinking experience expected that evening.

Also, please, please, please don’t wear scarves inside the house!

Cheers!

27 thoughts on “Why Everyone Hates Us1 min read”

  1. Bravo! I had seen the whole Ferragamo thing a few days ago, and was flabbergasted. Wasn't sure how to respond, and I think you've nailed it. Nicely done.

    Z

  3. Hi Joe,
    Point taken on the Ferrangamo box however I think you can make a few exceptions.

    1) RE: Personal Stemware – For college issued personal stemware for vit/enology students. I had to carry around two plastic cases with my glasses encased in foam for my years at Cornell. It was practical for the university because it left the students in charge of maintaining their own glassware.
    2) RE: Scarves inside – I think it would probably be ok for women to wear scarves inside right?

    I always enjoy your references to douchebaggery. It is rampant in our industry but kudos to you for remaining above it. :)

    Cheers!

    1. Cigar – sorry, I’ve got no idea what you’re talking about there… ;-) Seriously, the whole thing (the concept, the price, the focus on “perfect/100 point” wines, the scarf… it’s just too much distancing all happening at once!

  7. OK a few things.
    1. 4800 Euros is not $8500 US. It's more like $6000 ish. So…. what gives? https://www.google.com/webhp?q=4800+euros+in+USD#…

    2. This is really hilarious. A lot of people don't go broke selling to the 1% though. Haters are gonna hate. Ditto for the scarf.

    3. I defy anyone to actually watch that full video all the way through without skipping!

  9. Dude!

    You awarded yourself an EXTRA POINT on the self-aggrandizing "user reputation score" (goldenrod-colored oval next to your moniker) — from "120p" to "121p"?

    Oh man, I can just hear the brickbat comments now . . .

  10. To be perfectly honest, I did think the wines might've been a decent-ish investment for the purchase price (including LCBO level markups), until I realised that you get only two of the five. For carrying wines, I have this newfangled item described as "boxes". As for the glasses, when I need to bring them (to class, mostly), I also have a box, decorated with a picture of a candle and a rabbit.

    Also, if you've been invited to a wine tasting, unless they request you bring your own glasses, isn't it bad form to assume they don't have glasses or that they'd be inappropriate? I see it a bit like a Thanksgiving dinner you've been invited to and you bring your own side-dishes, and when the host asks why, since there are plenty of side-dishes he or she has prepared already, you go ahead and accuse his or her sweet potatoes as being for Commies.

    Finally, there is an appropriate time I can think of to have a scarf on indoors–when you're leaving the house when it's really cold outdoors and you're zipping up your winter jacket. I suppose the inverse, when you're taking off the outwear when coming back indoors, is also acceptable, and you're allowed to take the coat, boots, and/or hat off, first. Also, if you've got tracheostomy scars, or have a hickey and/or have been bitten by a vampire, it might also be appropriate. That's about all I can think of at the moment, though.

  11. I sometimes use my sample carrier (padded nylon wheelie) to transport stemware to professional tastings where we need to bring our own. I admit I feel kind of douchey carrying it around – I usually make a mad dash from car to door and back.

  12. Haha, I love this. Too true. Another example of the minority making things difficult for the majority. I have to say, as a young wine enthusiast (23 yo) who writes for a wine magazine, i'm really trying to get the 'younger' generation involved with wine on a more serious level than something to drink before a night out. Proving difficult when folks like this come along though…

  13. James Suckling is a douchebag is not news. James Suckling is a fun guy you'd like to have a few drinks with would be stop the presses news.

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