A Master Sommelier From Germany Stops By To Talk Wine

A Master Sommelier From Germany Stops By To Talk Wine – Episode #605

January 7, 2009

Master Sommelier Hendrik Thoma from Germany stops by and chats wine, german wine and shows us his great personality.

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Comments on this episode(423) Leave a comment ›

“I missed the favorite song question at the end there. ,…” by Bob78
“Terrific episode. Great guest, great Bulava video tacked on at the en…” by Daria Kushmelyn
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Wines tasted in this episode:

1992 Zilliken Saarburger Rausch Spatlese RieslingGerman Riesling
2007 Cartagena GewurtztraminerOther Chilean White Wine
2006 Becker Pinot NoirOther German Varieties
2006 Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling AusleseGerman Riesling

Links mentioned in today’s episode.

If you want to contact Hendrik

423 Responses

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January 10, 2009

Doc S
Great guest, great episode, great clips, and Holy Mott!

QOTD – I’ve had serviceable, good wines at $8, but nothing so far that’s really had me looking for more. I’ve had lots of success in the $10 range, though – there’s more tasty vino out there for a ten-spot than one would think.
January 10, 2009

Jessica St
I am a new viewer and love the show. A couple of years ago a tried to explore wine and found it over welling. Then I watched the show and decided to just explore my pallet and not worry what other people think.
January 10, 2009

Antony
Great guest. A gentleman who deserves an answer… but it’s a tough question that’s complicated further by exchange rates. Living in the UK, things have gone crazy of late. The pound has fallen about 30% – maybe 40% over the last couple of years. French and Italian wine has definitely got more expensive, American has always been at crazy prices. I guess $8 is like £5 which is always like a landmark price for me only it’s probably really more like £4 because of the high duty we pay. Anyways… to answer the question. YES! It’s possible in two ways. 1. A supermarket offering a crazy deal. Very often these are on dodgy Australian wines and alike but there’s occasionally an offering from somewhere like Chile that’s genuinely good. Whether it’s a good deal for the winery is another thing. 2. Honest simple wine. It’s possible to buy stuff like Gamay that’s young and uncomplicated, unadulterated and fine to drink. There you have it dudes.
January 10, 2009

Callie
Having a guest like this on the show is such a treat! It’s nice to see another point of view.

P.S. Now that I’ve watched 100 or so episodes to catch up…I think I am ready to come out of lurker status.

P.P.S. 90% of the Germans I have met have all been really animated, tigerkite….and surprisingly I’ve met most of the in Atlanta, Jim.
January 10, 2009

Eli
I was expecting Hendrik to be a snob, but he was GREAT. Nicely done.
January 10, 2009

tigerkite
Hey Jim in Atlanta. I’m in Germany and I’d definitely agree. Germans are not an animated bunch, a fairly reserved group of people.
January 10, 2009

Glen,....winecrazy.com
Opps…. you ARE CHANGING!!! I hate typos!
January 10, 2009

Glen,....winecrazy.com
Great Great GREAT show Homey!!!!! Here’s to another great year!!!

You are a great guy my man!!!!!!!!

Keep having fun doin what you do and I’ll keep having fun watchin you.

Thanks for all you do and the effort you put into your show.

You ARE….CHNAGING….and HAVE CHANGED…The WINE WORLD…!!!!!!!!

With Love & Respect,

Glen

QOTD: I think they can….but why would they when they can make an $8 bottle of wine and sell it for $40…. HAHAHA
January 10, 2009

Ohio Bruce
QOTD: I sure hope so! We had a ‘value’ tasting NY Eve of 10 under $15 wines and many were quite decent, though none were “great.” However, that was a GREAT show!
January 10, 2009

TROC
You two make a great team. Great show! Best under $8 wine has been Riesling, Scheid vineyards had a sale. Now, to try and find some Donhoff.
January 10, 2009

Jim in Atlanta
Wow! What a great show. He is more animated than the German people I know. You should have him back soon. QOTD – I seriously doubt a really good wine can be made for under $8, but we can always hope it happens.
January 10, 2009

Steve
Excellent episode and fantastic guest! You guys had great on screen chemistry.

QOTD: Probably yes, but not for long. It seems there are some really good South American wines and a few newcomers in Portugal, maybe Cava from Spain that are really very good at that price, BUT, once they deliver the goods, the price will go up over $10.

It sure is fun finding them, though. Keep spreadin’ the Thunder, Gary!!!!
January 10, 2009

wayno da wino
This Episode was soooo GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD…….I think I’ll watch
it again !!!
January 10, 2009

MattM
This was my favorite guest show yet! Video at the end was also great.
January 10, 2009

Lance Bradstreet
Fantastic episode, one of my favs, really like the guest, and liked learning more about German wines!

QOTD – Yes, and I think most of the really decent 8 dollar wines seem to be coming from South America and South Africa. I am at a point when I am out shopping for wine I head straight to the South American region shelf to hit up the deals on the wines I know I am going to enjoy. So the answer is yes, but a little foggy, because the 8 bones is really coming from a under valued currency situation when compared to the U.S. Dollar and the Euro, but I’m not going to complain!
January 10, 2009

Zach
Great episode and great guest. You guy had a great chemistry together and the show was one of the better ones. We laughed, we cried, we wanted more. Get him back to be a regular.

Oh yeah, nice choice on the wines too…lol.

QOTD – GREAT wine for under $8.00? Probably not. But a very good wine for $8.00 I think so.
January 10, 2009

Heka
Very nice guest. I liked this episode alot.
January 10, 2009

Rob R
I’ve only been watching for around 150 episodes, but this was my favorite. Great guest and great wines. And what a great clip at the end. “Link this up Vaynerchuk!” That had me rolling. I may be partial since my last name is Rausch
January 10, 2009

apj_bobswineguy
The guest episodes are my favorite.
Everyday people like the knitting girl or the Masters like Jancis, Hendrik and the others (or when your dad drops in).
Really good info mixed w/ some outrageous comments and enjoyed the food pairing notes that Hendrik gave us.
Great guest!
January 10, 2009

apj_bobswineguy
QOTD: CAVA?!? maybe…
January 10, 2009

Kevin Trottier
Great show. luv za germans and the buying at room temp debate.
January 10, 2009

vinoBlue
QOTD: I think great wine at $8 is possible, but only under exceptional – and unfortunately, unsustainable – circumstances. For instance, in a developing wine region (e.g. South Africa) great wine could be produced that is simply unmarketable at higher prices due to a lack of branding and inherent lack of history. Also if a country was suffering from a terrible exchange rate things could get a bit crazy. However, in general I think the answer is: unlikely.

In other news, bring Hendrik back to WLTV as soon as you can get him. Since he’s working on that new project for Bravo (presumably in the States) that shouldn’t be too difficult. But my vote is affirmative for the first regular WLTV guest. Also, to everyone who thinks GV talks to much – you’re just plain wrong, esp in this instance.

Great show, better clip show, and big ups to the Mottster!
January 9, 2009

KenP
Quite an elegant ep.

QOTD: Not a serious question. A small winery could not make money, a large winery would not find it in their commercial interests to produce a high quality product in direct competition to their quotidian swill.
January 9, 2009

David T
Amazing guest, I’d chip in to have him back. Hendrik, let Gary know whenever you’ll be back Stateside and stop in!

QOTD: I don’t know if a great (above 90pt) wine can be had for $8, but there are certainly some values to be had for that price- two of my favorites (within a buck or two) from the past 6 months are from Washington: the 2006 Hogue Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2006 Columbia Crest Two Vines Vineyard 10 white.
January 9, 2009

Laurie in VT
BTW, if you could have Hendrik as a frequent guest that would be sweet.