As I delve deeper into my wine curiosity, I’ve discovered that the more the bottle costs, the more I tend to like it. It’s just an early observation (sure to be debunked), and I won’t let it lure me into splurging.  That’s when I’ll jump ship from the wine-buying altogether.   However, that rule of thumb has really been guiding my buying from the start: Look for expensive wine offered at a discount.  The price breaks can come from a volume seller like Kroger, or getting 10% off for buying six or more at World Market , or taking advantage of a local shop’s bulk buy offer like Strawberry Street Vineyards or Once Upon a Vine’s bargain basement sections.  And then there’s Crazy Gary, the bombastic online powerhouse of wine wheeling and dealing.  His new daily deal at CinderellaWine.com is delivering BIG flavors at reduced prices.  The few bottles I’ve purchased did not disappoint. We’ll hear from Gary Vaynerchuk, himself, in a moment.

These wine buying scenarios have been a real adventure for me.  And clearly, the fever is starting to take hold, because I don’t feel right if I don’t open a new bottle each night.  It’s like I’m missing an episode of Dexter or True Blood, depriving myself of delicious red red kroovy.  But I have to admit that my limited framework for analyzing/appreciating wine sometimes gives me the feeling that even the well-chosen cheap stuff often tastes of sameness – a good same, but unspectacular.  I’m sure that will change as I figure out how to buy a wide variety and keep it interesting.  Regardless, I’m starting to feel like Morgan Spurlock, halfway into his 30 days of McDonalds meals.  Ugh, not the same fast-food version of wine again!  But, I soldier on.

If you’ve heard of Gary Vaynerchuk, you probably know that he’s trying to “change the wine world.” His past four years of daily video blogs, profiling wines and educating wine drinkers, has meant big things for small wine artisans as he’s shaped the buying habits of enthusiasts.  He even schooled me about ways to sharpen my palate for identifying flavors in wine (need to start that project… but, licking rocks? Seriously?)  Now, his Wine Library online retailer has spawned an off-shoot that truly speaks my language: Nearly always 1/2 priced wines that score high, and (as Gary likes to put it) “bring the thunder” in the flavor department.  When Cinderella Wine’s prices have dipped down to the level that peaks my interest, I’ve bought a few bottles, always with free shipping when I buy above a certain threshold number of bottles.  I’m also excited to have also purchased $10/lb parmesano reggiano cheese from his newest site, Gourmet Library.  Now, let’s hear from Gary.

Interview with Gary Vaynerchuk about CinderellaWine.com

Me: How exactly does CinderellaWine.com work?
Gary V: It’s very simple. One ridiculously discounted wine each day, starting at 9 PM Eastern, for 24 hours or until it sells out.

-Who is your target market?
People that want to expand their palates and save mucho dolares while doing it!

-I really want to support my locally owned wine shops (like River City Cellars and Once Upon a Vine- shout-out!), but I have a hard time passing up the deep discounts on your site. How do you think my readers should spread their wine buying around?
That’s a very personal, individual decision. As an entrepreneur I feel you should buy from where you get the best prices and service.  But if you want to support your local retailer, I completely understand and respect that.

-I’m a cheapskate. Can I expect to find seriously good wines under $10 on CinderellaWine.com?
2-3 times a month at best. Under $20, consistently more often than that.

-Why should I trust the scores that CinderellaWine.com uses to promote its wines and how do I find out more about a wine before I buy?
You shouldn’t trust them. We’re regurgitating reviews from the 5-10 major critics in the world like every retailer does. What I want is for people to trust their own palates. However, most people don’t have the luxury of tasting thousands of different wines. There are user review sites like Cork’d and Cellar Tracker, or to find out more, there is this crazy site called Google, and you’ll be surprised at what you find just through a simple search. We do try to present as much information as possible to help people make a good purchase.

-I’ve learned a few things about wine from your video blogs on WineLibraryTV.  Do you review the wines that you sell on CinderellaWine.com?
It could happen occasionally, but in general I don’t want to mix the two. WLTV is not sales-driven.

-Congrats on your new baby, Misha Ava, and best selling book, Crush It! What’s next on your BIG todo list?
I want to continue to grow Cinderella, Gourmet Library, VaynerMedia, and Cork’d.

Thanks for your time.  Come visit us in Richmond soon.
Cheers,
Jason Guard/RVA foodie

If you don’t know of Gary Vaynerchuk, disregard my “Crazy Gary” characterization.  He’s very sane, just passionate. And animated. And possibly OCD and TMI and very NYC by way of NJ and USSR.  When he asked his million plus Twitter followers if anyone ran a site about bargains, he invited those of who responded to interview him.  After a short time in the now best-selling author’s queue of wannabe collaborators, I got my mostly informational questions answered.  However, there was some provocation that triggered a thoughtful response. Please use the comment section to share your stories about the pursuit of wine bargains, what you’ve gleaned from WineLibraryTV or Gary’s new business book, or any advice you have for my new hobby.  And please tune back in here for more report backs about my personal wine education.