Note: Part 2 of the Silver Springs Winery fiasco is here.
I just recieved a note in my email from Lenn Thompson of the award winning wine blog Lenndevours. He forwarded the following email to me from John Zuccarino, co-owner of Silver Springs Winery in New York.
Lenny,
some sick shit is going on …a blogger came in and told me today that you and PinotBlogger are selling child porn…I thought for a min, thinking this is really strange…
They told me child protective services will be contacted ASAP and something about Jax and a wine bottle…
This just blew me away…you can be a bad wine scorer that’s ok , but this child porn is over the top…
maybe we can get Twitter to out this person…
Please tell me it’s not true…???
John
Then I checked my @reply Twitter stream, the public one, and saw this:
Classless Tweets - Click to Enlarge
As Lenn pointed out in his email to me, one can say what one wants about us professionally. That’s fair game. Lord knows I’ve had lots to say about the way Mr. Zuccarino chooses to conduct his business affairs via industry talks I’ve given at Jacuzzi and Beringer Winery.
Here are copies of the relevant slides I’ve shown to both Winery HR and Winemaker groups. They detail interaction that John Zuccarino had with Lenn via comments on Lenndevours a few months back.
His comments then were shocking, but clearly I hadn’t seen anything yet.
Bottom line is this: When you decide to bring innocent children into the discussion, and in such a base and evil way, all talk must end.
I sent Mr. Zuccarino this email in response.
Mr. Zuccarino,
If I ever see or hear about this vile use of children in an attempt to further a professional grudge with me either via email, twitter or any other form of media ever again, I will take the absolute strongest form of action that both my pocketbook and the law will allow.
Do not contact me. Do not Tweet me. You are a wretched, evil person and I want nothing whatsoever to do with you.
Josh Hermsmeyer
I humbly beseech wine drinkers everywhere to consider the type of wineries that you choose to support with your time, attention and treasure.
There are some exceedingly disturbed people out there that are undeserving of your patronage. John Zuccarino is one of them.
- Josh
Greg
1 year ago
Unbelievable. I don’t even know what to say. Who does this? Everyone I meet in the industry will hear about this. Is that presentation all he is basing this on? How did he get through middle school? Totally ugly behavior. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help unspread the word.
Greg
Randy
1 year ago
Clearly Mr. Zuccarino should have been at the Wine Bloggers Conference listening to David Honig scare the crap out of everyone with his talk about what’s “over the line” and actionable.
Ryan Reichert
1 year ago
Ridiculous. Sorry this is what you got to start your weeks out with. What a crummy individual.
John Corcoran
1 year ago
Josh, an unbelievable turn of events. Hopefully this terribly misguided individual has been kicked off twitter and Facebook, and if not, then totally shunned by the wine community. Also, this is not only beyond the pale, but, seems to have crossed into the actionable area. Not only do I, but in my estimation you and Lenn are held in the highest regard by the wine community. Thanks for sharing the story. As I first learned when I moved to FL after college, turn on the light and the roaches run for cover.
Jeff
1 year ago
I’m flabbergasted. Child pornography “jokes” are as base and reprehensible as it gets.
There are special places in prisons for pedophiles, mostly because even axe murderers have some soul and sensitivity for children.
For this guy to “joke” about something like this requires a cease and desist letter pronto.
Horrible.
Jeff
Prob
1 year ago
Zucc is a total nutjob. Classless, whacked out grandiose paranoid schizophrenic. Nice way to conduct himself in public. As if his white merlot was anything more than plonk
El Jefe
1 year ago
I know I’m pretty far out there with my humor at times, but this is so far beyond the pale. I’m stunned.
mike
1 year ago
I think he should be called to task right now. The bully will continue unless he gets bloodied. Maybe if he had to shell out some cash to an attorney to defend his idiocy it would make him think twice next time. Otherwise he will only continue.
David Honig
1 year ago
How can I help?
Vinquisition
1 year ago
I was following @DonGiovanniWine but blocked him after the kiddie porn diatribe. He seems to have quite a bone to pick with anyone who has anything to say slightly against him or his wines. Was enjoying the tit-for-tat exchange between him and @DonGiovanniSucks last week. He doesn’t seem to understand trademark law along with social media. Also saw him going after @FLWineLady for accepting money to promote the Finger Lakes wine region… pretty stupid, as she’s the president of the FL wine country organization. He’s giving himself and social media a bad name.
Karen G
1 year ago
I am shocked and appalled that anyone would go to such lengths. I wish you the best in your dealing with this situation, and I sincerely hope that the outcome deters any business from such slanderous approaches from now on. You have my full support. Press on!
Karen G
1 year ago
I am shocked and appalled that anyone would go to such lengths. I wish you the best in your dealing with this situation, and I sincerely hope that the outcome deters any business from such slanderous practices from now on. You have my full support. Press on!
Lenn Thompson
1 year ago
I wouldn’t often speak for Josh, but I think I can in this case…thanking you all for your support in this frustrating time.
It is being dealt with. Not to worry.
David…Josh and I have both emailed you.
Tom Mansell
1 year ago
josh:
great presentation, bonus points for using KeyNote!
John Kelly
1 year ago
Josh – this is unspeakable! I’m incredulous that this db thinks he can pull this kind of stunt. He is about to find out the real power of soclal media. Sorry you have been made his target.
John Kelly
1 year ago
follow-up: any chance Zuccharino’s twitter account was hacked?
Josh
1 year ago
As I am evaluating my options currently, I won’t be commenting on the Zuccarino mess on the blog any more.
As Lenn said I really appreciate all your comments. Please do keep them coming. It makes me and my family very heartened to see your notes of support and encouragement.
Thanks everyone.
Tom Higgins
1 year ago
Josh –
This is simply unbelievable! I wish you the best in the outcome of this unfortunate situation.
I hope you understand that there are many wonderful wineries in the Finger Lakes and the support that we have for each other is amazing. I hope this situation does not detract from the beauty of the region and the outstanding wines we are crafting.
Cheers,
Tom Higgins
Heart & Hands Wine Company
Strappo
1 year ago
Even for JZ this is a new low. Digging his way to hell.
My condolences. And fuck that crazy shit.
Seth
1 year ago
Josh-
I don’t even know what to say other than I’m sorry man. Totally crazy. The word abhorrent comes to mind. You need to sue his ass.
The best man,
Seth
Elise
1 year ago
Sounds like you have a good case for libel here. I would pursue it legally. This guy needs to be shut up and punished.
SFDoug
1 year ago
If he really made those statements, he should be held accountable. This is too serious to sweep under the rug. Posting defamatory remarks — especially false ones — causes harm because erasing them is virtually impossible. I am so sorry you are experiencing this.
Gabriella Opaz
1 year ago
I am absolutely with Doug! Posting defamatory remarks of this nature is not only harmful but emotionally and psychologically abusive! No one should go through this, and the mere fact that you have to deal with this- regardless if he did, or didn’t make this statement – infuriates me on so many levels. It’s wrong, immoral, unfair, aggressive, and again, abusive. Please know that both Ryan and I support you and if we can do anything, we are here!
Hardy Wallace
1 year ago
Josh and Lenn,
I’m sorry you have to deal with this– You have my support.
Jill
1 year ago
Reprehensible.
Josh, you and Lenn are two of the nicest guys I’ve met, true mensches and hardworking family men who shouldn’t have to go through this. So sorry.
Denise Slattery
1 year ago
This is really insane. I had this person in my follow and I had no idea He was such a frickin’ freak. Ach. It makes me sick. So sorry you and Lenn are having to be confronted with this. But I suppose now we all are in a way. Creepy. Creepy.
Sonadora
1 year ago
Wow. I don’t even know what to say about this. I missed this whole thing being offline pretty much all week. I cannot believe that anyone would publicly level such baseless accusations against the two of you. Utterly ridiculous and way over the line of slander.
Tish
1 year ago
Josh, you handled this amazingly well, considering the sordidness.
Lisa deBruin
1 year ago
Sick and sad. Count me in for support…however we can help.
More on John Zuccarino and Silver Springs Winery | Pinotblogger: the Capozzi Winery blog
1 year ago
[...] the Capozzi Winery blog « A Classless Display From John Zuccarino More on John Zuccarino and Silver Springs [...]
larry schaffer
1 year ago
This also goes to show how ‘powerful’ blogs, twittter, facebook, etc. can be. ALL should take a close look at ALL interactions here . . . and my guess is that not all are out in the open . . . to learn how best to conduct ourselves in this truly new age of information getting and gathering . . .
Cheers!