EP 549 A Very Cool Winemaker Visits the Thunder Show

Charles Smith of K Vintners shares his wine philosophy and tastes 4 of his Washington state wines with Gary Vaynerchuk.

Wines tasted in this episode:

2007 Kung Fu Girl Riesling
2007 Chateau Smith Cabernet Sauvignon
2006 K-vintners OvideColumbia Valley Red Meritage
2006 K-vintners Morrison Lane SyrahWashington Syrah

Links mentioned in todays episode.

Latest Comment:

View More

Luca Bercelli

92/100

line of the day – ‘It’s like that gorgeous 47 year old woman who’s a class act, but if you go wrong on her she’ll rip your face off.’

Great feelgood episode with an interesting and knowledgable guest and Gary keeping it real with his scores

Tags: cabernet, red, review, Riesling, Syrah, Video, washington state, white, wine, wines

Episodes >


  • Charles cracked me up! I loved this episode—I need some Kung Foo Girl.

  • Well, that was wonderful and a little bizarre.

    Unfortunately, all we can get out here in the stix is the House Wine stuff, but granted this is no bad thing for the price.

    Road trip.

  • Well, that was wonderful and a little bizarre.

    Unfortunately, all we can get out here in the stix is the House Wine stuff, but granted this is no bad thing for the price.

    Road trip.

  • QOTD: I’ll make it out to Walla Walla when I get settled out of school and start traveling. So basically, a little while from now. It will be cool, I can almost guarantee that.

    It’s so awesome to see one person who is serious and passionate about what they do. The two of you together is even better!

  • QOTD: I’ll make it out to Walla Walla when I get settled out of school and start traveling. So basically, a little while from now. It will be cool, I can almost guarantee that.

    It’s so awesome to see one person who is serious and passionate about what they do. The two of you together is even better!

  • Anonymous

    Strong guest. Great personality. How do we all fit in the camera? Ummmm…. we fast, then we exhale and we grease ourselves up like Greco-Roman wrestlers. It’s a little tight, but we’re all pretty friendly.

    QOTD – Walla Walla next fall baby. Amy and I will definitely check out the K Vineyards.

  • Eliot (in the Lou)

    Strong guest. Great personality. How do we all fit in the camera? Ummmm…. we fast, then we exhale and we grease ourselves up like Greco-Roman wrestlers. It’s a little tight, but we’re all pretty friendly.

    QOTD – Walla Walla next fall baby. Amy and I will definitely check out the K Vineyards.

  • You think you had fun watching to show!?! Hey, you can’t even imagine how amazing, wonderful, fun (and yes, sometimes frustrating), and unpredictable he is to work with! We all have learned so much about wine, about having fun, and especially about living in the moment, from Charles.

    Hey, if you can’t find K Vintners or Charles Smith Wines products in your area, e-mail us at [email protected], and we’ll try and point you to our distributors (for example, one commenter wanted to find wines in Wisconsin, and they are available from Purple Feet Wines – you can call them at 262.970.7200 and ask where they distribute in the part of the state where you live).

    Too bad about the Ovide – we just sold out at the winery in the last few days! Hey, we’ll make more!

    You want to see some interesting labels – visit kvintners.com, and look at Old Bones, Heart, and Skull (we actually have a few cases of Heart left).

    Come visit us – our next big event is the first weekend in December (Holiday Barrel Tasting), and our place rocks!

    Cheers, S

  • cma82

    Very cool Gary. Great show–lots of good interaction. I’ve been a big fan of the K wines for a couple years, particularly the “el jefe”. Great stuff.

    QOTD: As sooooon as I can

  • You think you had fun watching to show!?! Hey, you can’t even imagine how amazing, wonderful, fun (and yes, sometimes frustrating), and unpredictable he is to work with! We all have learned so much about wine, about having fun, and especially about living in the moment, from Charles.

    Hey, if you can’t find K Vintners or Charles Smith Wines products in your area, e-mail us at [email protected], and we’ll try and point you to our distributors (for example, one commenter wanted to find wines in Wisconsin, and they are available from Purple Feet Wines – you can call them at 262.970.7200 and ask where they distribute in the part of the state where you live).

    Too bad about the Ovide – we just sold out at the winery in the last few days! Hey, we’ll make more!

    You want to see some interesting labels – visit kvintners.com, and look at Old Bones, Heart, and Skull (we actually have a few cases of Heart left).

    Come visit us – our next big event is the first weekend in December (Holiday Barrel Tasting), and our place rocks!

    Cheers, S

  • cma82

    Very cool Gary. Great show–lots of good interaction. I’ve been a big fan of the K wines for a couple years, particularly the “el jefe”. Great stuff.

    QOTD: As sooooon as I can

  • AMAZING!!! Best in a while G…I loved it. By the way, you better get Troy POLAMALU’s name right or he’ll blitz you and break you. Go STEELERS!!!

    QOTD: Gosh, I’d luv to make a trip out west for some wine time. Maybe sometime sooner than later.

  • AMAZING!!! Best in a while G…I loved it. By the way, you better get Troy POLAMALU’s name right or he’ll blitz you and break you. Go STEELERS!!!

    QOTD: Gosh, I’d luv to make a trip out west for some wine time. Maybe sometime sooner than later.

  • DAve A

    YOUR HAIR! it’s shrinking! Mom, I shrunk my hair! ahhh.

    Love this dude. wow. what a hoot. He can down a glass of wine… haha. Bet he sleeps well at night. chuckle. i can imagine his parents were hippies in California and he moved to Walla Walla. I really liked him. It also proves you don’t have to be a genius to make good wines. (no offense) Foot crushed, ugh? loved it. A guy I’d invite to my parties.

    I will look for these wines. He said the 2006 was bottled in June… so you put the year of the wine based on the harvest date, not bottling? hmm. I learned.

    QOTD: I’m in NC – hope to get to W-W and K-dude wines someday. Dude, how do we fit into that camera? You are funny.

  • YOUR HAIR! it’s shrinking! Mom, I shrunk my hair! ahhh.

    Love this dude. wow. what a hoot. He can down a glass of wine… haha. Bet he sleeps well at night. chuckle. i can imagine his parents were hippies in California and he moved to Walla Walla. I really liked him. It also proves you don’t have to be a genius to make good wines. (no offense) Foot crushed, ugh? loved it. A guy I’d invite to my parties.

    I will look for these wines. He said the 2006 was bottled in June… so you put the year of the wine based on the harvest date, not bottling? hmm. I learned.

    QOTD: I’m in NC – hope to get to W-W and K-dude wines someday. Dude, how do we fit into that camera? You are funny.

  • That was a fantastic episode, I’m totally ordering some of this guys wine when I get a little extra coin laying around.

    QOTD: Washington huh, never thought to visit there but someday I could make the trip.

  • That was a fantastic episode, I’m totally ordering some of this guys wine when I get a little extra coin laying around.

    QOTD: Washington huh, never thought to visit there but someday I could make the trip.

  • QOTD – What a small world. Look where I was this past weekend.http://flickr.com/photos/drewclover/2905691205/

    38 wineries in 4 days. We rocked Walla Walla and Walla Walla rocked us!

  • QOTD – What a small world. Look where I was this past weekend.http://flickr.com/photos/drewclover/2905691205/

    38 wineries in 4 days. We rocked Walla Walla and Walla Walla rocked us!

  • Scott from Salt Lake

    Nice show GV & Team, I love it when you bring guests on that Change the Wine World.

    QOTD: I used to live in Walla2 in the early nineties. I go up every other year and its been great to watch the transition into a fantastic winecentric community

  • Scott from Salt Lake

    Nice show GV & Team, I love it when you bring guests on that Change the Wine World.

    QOTD: I used to live in Walla2 in the early nineties. I go up every other year and its been great to watch the transition into a fantastic winecentric community

  • 750ml

    I was at Apple Jacks in Denver this summer and they were really talking up the Charles Smith, but I have to admit the label turned me off of the Kung Fu girl and I went with a Mosel. Definitely a lesson for me as I am very excited to try it now that I see his passion and actually know his thought process.

  • Tim Wiseman

    Really digging the style and passion of Charles. Great show, really interested to try some of these wines. I love what they stand for, and the vision behind them. They all sounded tasty.

    QOTD: I need to get to Washington state sooner than later – SERIOUSLY!

  • 750ml

    I was at Apple Jacks in Denver this summer and they were really talking up the Charles Smith, but I have to admit the label turned me off of the Kung Fu girl and I went with a Mosel. Definitely a lesson for me as I am very excited to try it now that I see his passion and actually know his thought process.

  • Tim Wiseman

    Really digging the style and passion of Charles. Great show, really interested to try some of these wines. I love what they stand for, and the vision behind them. They all sounded tasty.

    QOTD: I need to get to Washington state sooner than later – SERIOUSLY!

  • Chris in Tulsa

    WOW! Very cool show! Love it when you have a guest but this was the best guest so far. Really got me excited and wanna try some of his wines!

  • Chris in Tulsa

    WOW! Very cool show! Love it when you have a guest but this was the best guest so far. Really got me excited and wanna try some of his wines!

  • Anonymous

    QOTD: Would love to come and see you in Walla Walla. Will definitely check out K Vintners on a trip to WA.

    Lots of hair–hope none landed in the wine. Does he crush the grapes with his pedicured feet?

    The Ovide sounds sensational!!

  • WineWoman

    QOTD: Would love to come and see you in Walla Walla. Will definitely check out K Vintners on a trip to WA.

    Lots of hair–hope none landed in the wine. Does he crush the grapes with his pedicured feet?

    The Ovide sounds sensational!!

  • I don’t know which question to answer?!?! Fun stuff.

  • I don’t know which question to answer?!?! Fun stuff.

  • Kevin

    First off, Charles you’re from Washington and there is no other NFL team for hundreds of miles how bout you show the hawks some friggin support, none of this Brett Favre crap. Second off, post 9/11 I would really expect better security at wine library. That knife represents a major security breach. And yes I will be at Jets-Hawks game where the Hawks will crush those NYJs.

  • Kevin

    First off, Charles you’re from Washington and there is no other NFL team for hundreds of miles how bout you show the hawks some friggin support, none of this Brett Favre crap. Second off, post 9/11 I would really expect better security at wine library. That knife represents a major security breach. And yes I will be at Jets-Hawks game where the Hawks will crush those NYJs.

  • Great ep – great guest!
    Keep on rockin’ in the free world…

  • Great ep – great guest!
    Keep on rockin’ in the free world…

  • Gary! This was one of the best WLTVs ever! I haven’t watched in a couple weeks, you have me re-hooked.

  • Gary! This was one of the best WLTVs ever! I haven’t watched in a couple weeks, you have me re-hooked.

  • AndrewG

    Killer show, I love the K wines I’ve tried and am only stoked to try more. This sort of episode is why i tune in, good work Gary!!!

  • AndrewG

    Killer show, I love the K wines I’ve tried and am only stoked to try more. This sort of episode is why i tune in, good work Gary!!!

  • Robert Howells

    That was one of my favorite WLTV episodes of all time.

  • Robert Howells

    That was one of my favorite WLTV episodes of all time.

  • QOTD: How we all fit into that little camera of Motts – two words for you. Quantum Superposition. Yes. Or.. something.

    Anyway, great show. I hope to make it up to Washington at some point. That would be really awesome.
    Great show, keep up the great work.

  • QOTD: How we all fit into that little camera of Motts – two words for you. Quantum Superposition. Yes. Or.. something.

    Anyway, great show. I hope to make it up to Washington at some point. That would be really awesome.
    Great show, keep up the great work.

  • Fantastic episode. Gary, it felt like you were maybe scoring the wines one point higher than you believed they were. Or maybe you were learning each wine’s amazing story and that helped them garner the extra point.
    Charles, you can count on me visiting your winery next time I’m in the Northwest. It’s not very often I see someone match Gary’s passion for life… or wine. I hope Gary has you on again. I’d love to see you do a tasting of other people’s wines.

  • Fantastic episode. Gary, it felt like you were maybe scoring the wines one point higher than you believed they were. Or maybe you were learning each wine’s amazing story and that helped them garner the extra point.
    Charles, you can count on me visiting your winery next time I’m in the Northwest. It’s not very often I see someone match Gary’s passion for life… or wine. I hope Gary has you on again. I’d love to see you do a tasting of other people’s wines.

  • CindyW

    My hubby and I just visited K Vintners’ tasting room in Walla Walla. The wines were wonderful, and the atmosphere is super fun. Now I want to head downstairs to open up The Creator, which was full of veggies and dark fruit and made me very happy. 🙂

  • It’s about time yuo had a really cool wine maker on the show!!!!!!!

    I’m planning a trip out there for sure as soon as I get back from my HA run.

    That guy is cool!!!!!!! I like him.

    I’m buying some now to try. Joining the listy and drinking heavily just like him…!!!!!!

    I can wait to get started. I might jus gop out there and buy a winery.

    That guy is having too much fun!!!!!!!!!!

    Tell him to take good care of me when I come out there.

    Thanks bro!!!!!!

  • CindyW

    My hubby and I just visited K Vintners’ tasting room in Walla Walla. The wines were wonderful, and the atmosphere is super fun. Now I want to head downstairs to open up The Creator, which was full of veggies and dark fruit and made me very happy. 🙂

  • It’s about time yuo had a really cool wine maker on the show!!!!!!!

    I’m planning a trip out there for sure as soon as I get back from my HA run.

    That guy is cool!!!!!!! I like him.

    I’m buying some now to try. Joining the listy and drinking heavily just like him…!!!!!!

    I can wait to get started. I might jus gop out there and buy a winery.

    That guy is having too much fun!!!!!!!!!!

    Tell him to take good care of me when I come out there.

    Thanks bro!!!!!!

  • Phil G

    That looked like fun – I really enjoyed watching and hearing Charles talk about his wine. It sounds like he has a great outlook.

    qotd – I would love to visit K-vintners, but not sure when this would be possible. Hopefully soon…

Close

Not Subscribed to WLTV yet?

Never miss an episode and get notifications on the hottest wine deals!

No thanks.