Sake Tasting on Wine Library TV

Sake Tasting on Wine Library TV – Episode #355

November 21, 2007

We have waited too long for the Sake episode and finally Gary Vaynerchuk sits down and tastes away and on this day before Thanksgiving.

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Comments on this episode(139) Leave a comment ›

“Great to see that you are willing to try different things. Great show….” by Adrian aka AnGkEr
“Cool episode, Gary! Didn’t know you were a big sake fan!
QOTD: Otok…” by Logan
View all 139 ›

Wines tasted in this episode:

Tozai Snow Maiden NigoriJapanese Sake
Shadows Of Katano Nigori SakeJapanese Sake
Ginga Shizuku Sake Divine DropletsJapanese Sake
Nanbu Bijin Sake Ancient PillarsJapanese Sake

139 Responses

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November 22, 2007

BigBob
Sake served hot is the cheap sake. If they offer you hot sake it is like going to a restaurant and drinking out of a bag-in-the-box. Good sake should be served room temp or cool. Nigori sake is dessert sake. The rice is in the bottom of the bottle and you need to shake it up.

90% of the sake sold in the USA is NOT from Japan. Know what you are buying… Sake has terroir and the best ones come from Japan are are made with water from a specific area and the highest grade of rice that is highly polished.

The difference in quality of sake is the level of polishing of the rice. The outer husk is bitter and impure. When you polish it close to the core you get a more pure, quality sake.
November 22, 2007

eyeguy
I think you became mellower because you weren’t really spitting that sake……:>
Happy Turkey Day!
November 22, 2007

Derek
I was never a big fan of Sake, dont people drink that heated up???
November 22, 2007

TROC
I think you’re going to have to put some of that Sake in the Jets waterbottles in order to beat Dallas, but I’m thinking an upset is due, 34-13 Jets.
November 22, 2007

fatdoi
i never liked sake in a sense that every time i had it, it’s served hot, hot…… they just taste like boiled alcohol, any subtlties you mentioned just ain’t there….. maybe next time i’ll drink it room temp…….
November 22, 2007

YoungDave
QOTD: I’ve only had a couple, so I guess I’d have to say Daiku; a creamy, orange-flavored sake that I usually pair with a yellowtail hamachi dish at the restaurant where I work.
November 22, 2007

Andy Drinkard
By the way, were you drinking those at room temperature? Is that typical?
November 22, 2007

Andy Drinkard
Great show, Gary! If your Jets can pull one over the Cowboys, maybe my homeboys the Falcons can do the same to the Colts. Aaaahhhh, Thanksgiving football…
November 22, 2007

J Sake daisukeezy
QOTD: First of all thanks for doing the show…but yo, where’s the shout out for all the vayniacs in Japan? Am I the only one?? C’mon! Give us some sushi love, homie. Best sake, Tsukinoi Junmai Daiginjyo. It’s floral, elegant, perfume, rich, seductive, powwerful, flirtaceous…everything you could ever look for in a premium sipping sake. For the next sake show try them out of Riedel’s Sake Sommelier series glass. Happy Thanksgiving.
November 22, 2007

medo
What a show! I MUST try serious Sake now! Now way to do it not. Thx for that visual experience!
November 22, 2007

KC Dan
good ep G very interesting . Qotd : never had a sake but will have to now !!! Thanks G and have a great turkey day .
November 22, 2007

Timothy Burke
Loved the Sake episode, I’ve been looking to get into Sake for awhile now (Huge fan of Japan and all it offers) so seeing this episode helped push me in the right direction. I will be ordering some Sake soon, hopefully within the next week.

Gary keep up the great work, I cant wait to see the Thanksgiving Episode!
November 22, 2007

Mark Antonio
Sara,
Yes Sake can be aged and sometimes the Sake makers age it themselves. Whereas Sake in Japanese is referred to as “nihon-shu”, aged sake is referred to as “ko-shu”. Aging is normally applied to only the purest types of sake made from rice that has has it’s outer casing ground away in order to erradicate impurities and increase the smoothness. You will see a % on labels sometimes eg. 50%, 60% most commonly. This is the % remaining after the grinding process. So basically, the lower the % remaining, the more age-worthy the sake However, this is not the whole story. Sake is complicated..
November 22, 2007

portland guy
This was an excellent episode, GV. But you missed a ‘teaching moment’ by not discussing desired serving temps for sake, storage issues, longevity, etc., and perhaps some food matching beyond sushi.

I will ALWAYS pull for the team facing the Cowgirls — but with the incentive you thru out, and with that Duck at QB, it will be a big double pull. But careful, GV, if the Jets win, that #1 pick is slippin away (but seems Miami has that locked up anyway).

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your fam. Enjoy the day!
November 22, 2007

Totte
Great episode G.V

No fav. Sake for the moment but will keep you posted on my forthcomings.

Shoo

Swedish T
November 22, 2007

mrzitro
QOTD: never had premium sake before. The last time I had sake was about 15 years ago at a Japanese restaurant.

I can pull for the Jets on this one. In fact whatever team plays against T.O., I’ll root for.
November 22, 2007

Harley Stan
Cool twist today with the Sake’, GO JETS!!!!!

QOTD- I can’t say I have had a great Sake’ that really impressed me and I have had it on several occasions.
November 22, 2007

bundydb
QOTD: I’ve never tried one because I was waiting on someone to show me the way! Thanks Gary!

Hope all have a great and safe Thanksgiving!!!
November 22, 2007

vivaitalia
QOTD: for some reason, all sake tastes like really cheap 100 proof vodka to me. Actually, it tastes more like the moonshine I get from my family in West Virginia. I’ve even tried ones that i’ve had to spend 10-15 dollars a tiny little shot glass on. I do love some of the plumb wines i’ve had from Japan. I’ve got to say kudos to you Gary, only you could keep me interested in a show about something I don’t like at all. Happy Turkey Day everyone!
November 22, 2007

Vinsant
A Dallas fan and you don’t friggin’ ship to WA state…..GO COWBOYS!!!
November 22, 2007

H-Why
Happy Thanksgiving, Gary. Thanks for giving us this wonderful show to enjoy all year long.

QOTD: I’ve never tried Sake, but I’m a huge Sushi fan! So, I’m ready to dive into the Sake ocean. Hopefully, I won’t have too much memory loss.
November 22, 2007

Jason
Can anyone else say go Jets!!!

I think Gary is going to get me to care about Football.

QOTD: Only had it a couple of times. We have this great sushi place we go to and the owner brings out his favorite Sake on occasion and insists on a round for all of us. I have to say, it isn’t hard for me to oblige him. It is good stuff. But with all the crazy names, I can;t remeber what any of it is called. The bottle looked a lot like the last one that Gary tasted, but I don’t think that it is the same stuff.

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone.
November 22, 2007

Jason
Can anyone else say go Jets!!!

I think Gary is going to get me to care about Football.

QOTD: Only had it a couple of times. We have this great sushi place we go to and the owner brings out his favorite Sake on occasion and insists on a round for all of us. I have to say, it isn’t hard for me to oblige him. It is good stuff. But with all the crazy names, I can;t remeber what any of it is called. The bottle looked a lot like the last one that Gary tasted, but I don’t think that it is the same stuff.

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone.
November 22, 2007

Mark Antonio
Hi enjoyed the show. I’ve been living in Japan close to ten years now but I’ve never tried Sake….only joking! Just like wine there are thousands of brands and many many varietals. I’d look into the region (prefecture) within Japan that the sakes are made also as this will give you more insight into the variations at play. I’m particularly keen on sakes from the west of Japan between Kyoto and Hiroshima (Hyogo prefecture, Yamaguchi prefecture etc.) as they are more full bodied and complex in flavour and you’ll find lots made with the yamada nishiki type of rice there too. Ehrmm.. this mails getting too long. Shout me for some recommendations anytime.
November 22, 2007

Billr
I loved the show….I have been waiting on this one for a while….GREAT

QOTD: I have never had a Sake but I am going to order one now…. Have a GREAT TD