Günther Jauch is unwilling to engage in idleness
Revamped Blog Post
Günther Jauch, the German TV legend and "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" host, sees no signs of retirement on the horizon. Instead, he's deep in the grape game as a winery owner in Kanzem, Rhineland-Palatinate. "I ain't got no plans for eternal lazy days," he tells the German Press Agency, laughing off the idea of a retirement filled with nothing but leisure. "That's a crock if ya just got nothin' left to do," he quips, expressing admiration for those who find joy in such a lifestyle but insisting it's not his cup of tea.
Kanzem, located southwest of Trier, is where Jauch's Othegraven estate resides. A quick glance might suggest a peaceful paradise, but don't be fooled—it's a bustling agricultural operation. "It's heavenly here, but there's always work to be done," he admits. In fact, Jauch and his wife Thea make their visits nearly every month, lending a hand wherever they can, from chatting with vineyard workers to serving customers their own wine.
At the moment, that work includes keeping a weather eye on the drought. "Springtime ain't been rainy enough again, and it's putting a squeeze on the young vines," Jauch explains, concerned about the impact on their crops. Drought resistance comes at a premium in this business; fortunately, the old vines, with roots up to 15 meters deep, seem to be weathering the storm.
So how did this television titan become a vintner? In 2010, Jauch scooped up the renowned Riesling estate just as it was about to change hands after nearly 200 years. There's a familial connection to the property, too—his grandmother Elsa von Othegraven was the sister of Maximilian von Othegraven, the previous estate owner. As the new boss, Jauch went to work, expanding the winery from five hectares to 15, learning the ropes, and setting about modernizing the whole shebang.
Though Jauch doesn't see himself as a full-fledged winemaker just yet, he's more of a perpetual apprentice, he insists. "I'm still learnin' the tricks of the trade," he admits, quick to steer clear of bossing around the cellar master or telling the vineyard workers what's what. Instead, he and Thea hang their hats as the external affairs department of the winery, handling the business side of things.
Trading the bright lights of television for the quiet charms of the vineyard may sound like a dramatic shift, but Jauch sees it as just another chapter in his story. "It's all a lot more real, raw, and honest here," he muses, noting the camaraderie among the vintners on the Saar. "If somethin' goes wrong, everyone pitches in to help out. There's a sense of community in this business," he says.
In 2024, Jauch took a licking when a high water event flooded parts of the estate and frost destroyed 70 percent of the harvest. Yet despite those setbacks, he's proud of what he and his team have accomplished. "We've managed to bring the winery back to respectability in Germany and overseas," he boasts, pointing to recent titles like "Winemaker of the Year" in 2023 and 2025 as evidence.
Tourists and locals alike stop by the estate, drawn by the chance to sip Jauch's hard-earned wines. One recent visitor, a woman from Berlin, couldn't help but gush over the place. "You're doing great here!" she enthused. Jauch, ever the gracious host, simply smiled and posed for a few photos with her family on the terrace.
Despite spending quite a bit of time in Kanzem, Potsdam remains Jauch's first love. He has no intention of uprooting himself and his winery from its picturesque setting to call Potsdam home. Instead, he plans to soak up the sights, soothe his soul with a good book, and tend to his vines, content to let the simple pleasures of life carry him forward.
- Günther Jauch and his wife Thea find joy in their active lifestyle, frequently visiting their winery in Kanzem to work alongside vineyard workers and serve customers their own wine.
- In the realm of home-and-garden, Günther Jauch has made significant changes, growing the Othegraven estate from five hectares to 15, and modernizing the winery.
- When it comes to relationships, Günther Jauch values camaraderie among the vintners of the Saar, admiring the sense of community that binds them together, even in the face of adversity.
