EP 605 A Master Sommelier From Germany Stops By To Talk Wine

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

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.

Latest Comment:

View More

Jacqui Nichols

I think you two should do more shows together. I had a BLAST watching you two together!!

Tags: Auslese, Chilean, German, Gewurtztraminer, Pinot Noir, Video

Episodes >


  • great show gary, I think it can be done in a few years. the problem is the $8 is not going to be worth much soon…it will be like making a wine for 2 bucks. however, I don’t doubt with a renewed interest in wine amongst the young americans we could get some agriculture/engineering geeks to figure out better ways of making wine for cheaper.

  • great show gary, I think it can be done in a few years. the problem is the $8 is not going to be worth much soon…it will be like making a wine for 2 bucks. however, I don’t doubt with a renewed interest in wine amongst the young americans we could get some agriculture/engineering geeks to figure out better ways of making wine for cheaper.

  • Clubby Hans

    Clubby Hans from foggy Germany is writing:
    Great Show Gary, awesome guest Hendrik, perfect entertainment!
    I’m sure, that it is very difficult to transport the flavors of wine into TV but you both as a team were able to do it! Hendrik with his fine, trained nose and Gary with his entertaining qualities and enthusiasm.
    QOTD: To find the “ultimate wine-bargain” seems to be a sport for many, even wealthy people. Wines cheaper than 8 bucks will never bring the depth and length since so many people have to make money with it: producer, label printer, bottle maker, importer, transporter, sales men……so what. Invest more money – have more fun. Every bottle might be the last one in your life

  • Clubby Hans

    Clubby Hans from foggy Germany is writing:
    Great Show Gary, awesome guest Hendrik, perfect entertainment!
    I’m sure, that it is very difficult to transport the flavors of wine into TV but you both as a team were able to do it! Hendrik with his fine, trained nose and Gary with his entertaining qualities and enthusiasm.
    QOTD: To find the “ultimate wine-bargain” seems to be a sport for many, even wealthy people. Wines cheaper than 8 bucks will never bring the depth and length since so many people have to make money with it: producer, label printer, bottle maker, importer, transporter, sales men……so what. Invest more money – have more fun. Every bottle might be the last one in your life

  • cahe

    Great show :). You’re getting better with the guests! I like the longer format a lot. And – another portion of knowledge is absorbed by mi braincellz ;). Keep it up, and thank you.

    QOTD: I think you can. I’m drinking one right now 😉

  • cahe

    Great show :). You’re getting better with the guests! I like the longer format a lot. And – another portion of knowledge is absorbed by mi braincellz ;). Keep it up, and thank you.

    QOTD: I think you can. I’m drinking one right now 😉

  • Bob in Nashville

    QOTD: Yes, but only from an underappreciated area that hasn’t yet been “found” (or perhaps has been forgotten), and at that price it won’t be off the map for long.

    Great guest. Great subject matter. German wines are so underappreciated probably because so many of the ones that make it to the States are cloyingly sweet and overpriced. They have some great trocken wines–some like in Franken found few other places: Kerner, Bacchus, Rieslaner–great way to expand your palette. Bring out some bocksbeutels!

  • Bob in Nashville

    QOTD: Yes, but only from an underappreciated area that hasn’t yet been “found” (or perhaps has been forgotten), and at that price it won’t be off the map for long.

    Great guest. Great subject matter. German wines are so underappreciated probably because so many of the ones that make it to the States are cloyingly sweet and overpriced. They have some great trocken wines–some like in Franken found few other places: Kerner, Bacchus, Rieslaner–great way to expand your palette. Bring out some bocksbeutels!

  • Renato Fonseca

    Gary,

    Your best show ever…great german guy helped a little!!!! Hey, if you ever have the chance, try out INNOMINABILE (2006 – five varietals), a serious effort from Santa Catarina (planted at 1400m above sea level) from Brasil, would you believe it?!?!

  • Renato Fonseca

    Gary,

    Your best show ever…great german guy helped a little!!!! Hey, if you ever have the chance, try out INNOMINABILE (2006 – five varietals), a serious effort from Santa Catarina (planted at 1400m above sea level) from Brasil, would you believe it?!?!

  • Sorry Mott for the G-Men’s loss. Next weekend games will be total disasters.

    Goooo Eagles? Who really cares?

  • Sorry Mott for the G-Men’s loss. Next weekend games will be total disasters.

    Goooo Eagles? Who really cares?

  • Saftig

    What a great episode!!!! I lived in Germany for over a decade and get very nostalgic about their wine. It’s lighter, fruitier and so food friendly. Thanks to Hendrik for letting me walk down memory lane. Great show. Please have Herr Thoma on again, really entertaining and engaging.

  • Saftig

    What a great episode!!!! I lived in Germany for over a decade and get very nostalgic about their wine. It’s lighter, fruitier and so food friendly. Thanks to Hendrik for letting me walk down memory lane. Great show. Please have Herr Thoma on again, really entertaining and engaging.

  • Guest

    QOTD…Where labor is cheap, under 7 bones good wine is possible. Let’s have a show on Chinese wine.

  • gotsha

    QOTD…Where labor is cheap, under 7 bones good wine is possible. Let’s have a show on Chinese wine.

  • Grapedigger

    Great show Gary. Hendrik Thoma is very cool and entertaining! I love German Rieslings and I am looking forward to try some other varietal from the region.
    To answer the question of the day, Yes I think it might be possible to make a very good wine at under 8$, provided that soil and climate conditions are perfect. Obviously this wuld not generate a lot of profit as the yield would be expected to be low, but hey it’s certainly possible but again with limited quantities.
    Cheers & Happy new yr. Awesome video at the end by the way

  • Grapedigger

    Great show Gary. Hendrik Thoma is very cool and entertaining! I love German Rieslings and I am looking forward to try some other varietal from the region.
    To answer the question of the day, Yes I think it might be possible to make a very good wine at under 8$, provided that soil and climate conditions are perfect. Obviously this wuld not generate a lot of profit as the yield would be expected to be low, but hey it’s certainly possible but again with limited quantities.
    Cheers & Happy new yr. Awesome video at the end by the way

  • Dino

    Great guest but my favorite guest is still Joanne Colan from Rocketboom. Bring her back Vaynerchuk!
    QOTD: Maybe not great for under $8 but very good. Bought a Chilean Meritage from Costco this weekend for $7.99. Google Cameron Hughes.

  • Dino

    Great guest but my favorite guest is still Joanne Colan from Rocketboom. Bring her back Vaynerchuk!
    QOTD: Maybe not great for under $8 but very good. Bought a Chilean Meritage from Costco this weekend for $7.99. Google Cameron Hughes.

  • nnothing

    QOTD: I think there are a lot of very good Spanish wines in the $8ish range… I don’t know about great but definitely enjoyable.

  • nnothing

    QOTD: I think there are a lot of very good Spanish wines in the $8ish range… I don’t know about great but definitely enjoyable.

  • EF

    Is your new years resolution to do the minimum amount of shows and still have a following?

  • EF

    Is your new years resolution to do the minimum amount of shows and still have a following?

  • ex-lurkdawg

    Thanks for another great episode. I really enjoyed this guest and would like to see him on the show again. I really enjoy the sometimes contrasting opinions of two experienced wine professionals.

    qotd: No, I don’t think so. I want to say yes and there are plenty of adequate (acceptable to good) wines at or below that price, but even those I think are only from certain less popular regions and grapes (some Portuguese whites among others). As far as very good or great wines below $8 retail, I have yet to find any. In case it is possible, I’ll keep checking on Chile, but I don’t expect to find anything that fits the bill.

  • ex-lurkdawg

    Thanks for another great episode. I really enjoyed this guest and would like to see him on the show again. I really enjoy the sometimes contrasting opinions of two experienced wine professionals.

    qotd: No, I don’t think so. I want to say yes and there are plenty of adequate (acceptable to good) wines at or below that price, but even those I think are only from certain less popular regions and grapes (some Portuguese whites among others). As far as very good or great wines below $8 retail, I have yet to find any. In case it is possible, I’ll keep checking on Chile, but I don’t expect to find anything that fits the bill.

  • PACO

    ONLY THREE SHOWS IN 13 DAYS ON JANUARY !!!!!!! THIS SUCKS!!!!!!!

  • PACO

    ONLY THREE SHOWS IN 13 DAYS ON JANUARY !!!!!!! THIS SUCKS!!!!!!!

  • Josh S

    PACO: You obviously take your free content very very seriously… If you’re suffering GV withdrawals, you could watch his keynote from yesterday: http://blog.affiliatesummit.com/2009/01/12/video-of-gary-vaynerchuk-keynote-at-affiliate-summit/

  • Josh S

    PACO: You obviously take your free content very very seriously… If you’re suffering GV withdrawals, you could watch his keynote from yesterday: http://blog.affiliatesummit.com/2009/01/12/video-of-gary-vaynerchuk-keynote-at-affiliate-summit/

  • Chippewamike

    Awesome show. . . just got to it. BTW Gary where are you???

    QOTD: Good wine for $8. . . yes. . . great. . . no.

  • Chippewamike

    Awesome show. . . just got to it. BTW Gary where are you???

    QOTD: Good wine for $8. . . yes. . . great. . . no.

  • Leigha

    ..right now I am having some seafood chowder chilled…for sure some flaws I think I may have paid to much for it.

    Interesting show…maybe they should switch seats??? Just a thought.

    Amount of shows…Hmmm…you know its always good to over deliver then under deliver…so be careful about the expectations you set up…..I guess WE ARE NOT CHANGING THE WINE WORLD until G.V. gets back to it……..

    The BBD is calling, so excited to here the excuses and….and and

  • Leigha

    ..right now I am having some seafood chowder chilled…for sure some flaws I think I may have paid to much for it.

    Interesting show…maybe they should switch seats??? Just a thought.

    Amount of shows…Hmmm…you know its always good to over deliver then under deliver…so be careful about the expectations you set up…..I guess WE ARE NOT CHANGING THE WINE WORLD until G.V. gets back to it……..

    The BBD is calling, so excited to here the excuses and….and and

  • Andy Cross

    Great show, keep the guest coming. Gary we need you back!!! I am lost without the show!!! Is everything ok!!!!!!

  • Andy Cross

    Great show, keep the guest coming. Gary we need you back!!! I am lost without the show!!! Is everything ok!!!!!!

  • Great episode. The first I’ve ever watched. Need to drink more German wine!

    QOTD. Sadly, no. Most everything I taste in the $8 range is just ok, everyday drinker stuff.

  • Great episode. The first I’ve ever watched. Need to drink more German wine!

    QOTD. Sadly, no. Most everything I taste in the $8 range is just ok, everyday drinker stuff.

  • Peter from Sweden

    Best show ever! You just got to have that guy on the show again. The two of you became very intensive together. Lovers? No, seriously, you were very entertaining.

  • my2cents

    WOW 10 pages of responses since I left mine. Feels like waiting for another season of a tv show. I thought that was why I was here in the first place.?

    I hope Gary had a fun time in Vegas and has some time with family before getting back to the thunder of things.Got to tend the garden of relationship first and foremost Gary, then the vayniacs.

    That said, I feel a great disturbance in the force when I don’t get my WLTV!

    I do realize I have become quite attached to my evening viewing of WLTV. After the kid is asleep and I can’t bare the thought of uncovering the regular tv, let alone actually turn it on for wine’s sake! Sometimes a glass of wine and a snack accompany me and other times a cup of tea. I look forward to the few minutes we share. When the shows run long as with great guests, like Hendrik, it makes it even more enjoyable. Thanks for the time.

    I am writing this in anticipation of an impending show, I hope I hope, perhaps Motted together after a hasty taping in a hotel room or elevator.It’s 12:45 on the west coast but having never paid attention to the timing of the show releases I have no idea when to expect one to pop up or even if one will.

    The nation waits!

  • Peter from Sweden

    Best show ever! You just got to have that guy on the show again. The two of you became very intensive together. Lovers? No, seriously, you were very entertaining.

  • my2cents

    WOW 10 pages of responses since I left mine. Feels like waiting for another season of a tv show. I thought that was why I was here in the first place.?

    I hope Gary had a fun time in Vegas and has some time with family before getting back to the thunder of things.Got to tend the garden of relationship first and foremost Gary, then the vayniacs.

    That said, I feel a great disturbance in the force when I don’t get my WLTV!

    I do realize I have become quite attached to my evening viewing of WLTV. After the kid is asleep and I can’t bare the thought of uncovering the regular tv, let alone actually turn it on for wine’s sake! Sometimes a glass of wine and a snack accompany me and other times a cup of tea. I look forward to the few minutes we share. When the shows run long as with great guests, like Hendrik, it makes it even more enjoyable. Thanks for the time.

    I am writing this in anticipation of an impending show, I hope I hope, perhaps Motted together after a hasty taping in a hotel room or elevator.It’s 12:45 on the west coast but having never paid attention to the timing of the show releases I have no idea when to expect one to pop up or even if one will.

    The nation waits!

  • CS

    Garys missing in action.

  • CS

    Garys missing in action.

  • Fun episode and great fan video especially Mott at the end. Under $8 and great. Yeah in 1975.

  • Fun episode and great fan video especially Mott at the end. Under $8 and great. Yeah in 1975.

  • Drew

    Best episode ever! Mr Thoma is great. Informative, entertaining and a great complement to GaryV. You need to have him back again, and incredible respect for being a Master sommelier. It’s gotta be incredibly tough to pass that test! Keep them coming Gary we all need our fix! Oh, and yes you can make a great wine for 5 bones. It will eventually come down to science, always does. Something will emerge from the geek squad to make it happen as long as there is interest and honest intent.

  • Drew

    Best episode ever! Mr Thoma is great. Informative, entertaining and a great complement to GaryV. You need to have him back again, and incredible respect for being a Master sommelier. It’s gotta be incredibly tough to pass that test! Keep them coming Gary we all need our fix! Oh, and yes you can make a great wine for 5 bones. It will eventually come down to science, always does. Something will emerge from the geek squad to make it happen as long as there is interest and honest intent.

  • Gar,

    You gotta bring this guy back. He’s awesome.

    Congrats about your baby. +1 to the Vayner Nation.

  • Gar,

    You gotta bring this guy back. He’s awesome.

    Congrats about your baby. +1 to the Vayner Nation.

Close

Not Subscribed to WLTV yet?

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

No thanks.