Gary Vaynerchuk's Wine Library TV combines an irreverent approach to wine and a shrewd social media strategy. It won him web fame and the cachet to spin off book deals, new businesses and his own entrepreneurship consulting firm.

Why you should listen

Bestselling author and entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk began his career in his family's business, Shopper’s Discount Liquors. He soon rebranded the store as Wine Library, launching a retail website and boosting its revenue from $4 million to $60 million.

In 2006 Vaynerchuk launched Wine Library TV, a daily video blog about wine. With the tagline "changing the wine world," the show offers an unpretentious approach to a historically stuffy subject. As the audience grew and word spread of his informal and unorthodox approach to wine, Gary made numerous national television appearances and landed a book deal.

He's recently launched a new consulting venture, VaynerMedia, which works with personal brands, consumer brands, and startups.

What others say

“[Vaynerchuk] ... brings a hyperkinetic style to the normally dry business of judging syrahs and merlots.” — Slate

Gary Vaynerchuk’s TED talk

More news and ideas from Gary Vaynerchuk

New Best of the Web talk: Gary Vaynerchuk

March 13, 2010

Gary Vaynerchuk: Do what you love (no excuses!) At the Web 2.0 Expo, entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk gives a shot in the arm to dreamers and up-and-comers who face self-doubt. The Internet has made the formula for success simpler than ever, he argues. So there’s now no excuse not to do what makes you happy. Watch […]

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