The Wine List

Steve Matthiasson studied philosophy in college, but thankfully moved on to horticulture in grad school at UC Davis, finding his way into the vineyards and orchards working for a small sustainable agriculture firm. Steve started consulting on vineyard practices and helped co-write the book on these practices in California. In 2003 Steve started primarily focusing on his family farm and winemaking...

Dan Petroski is the winemaker at Larkmead Winery and owns Massican, a winery devoted to crafting Italian white grapes like Ribolla Gialla and Tocai Friulano. The SF Chronicle name Dan Winemaker of the Year for 2017. Jason Heller is a Master Sommelier, ran wine programs for Thomas Keller and Richard Reddington, sales at Harlan, Bond, and Dana and is currently a partner at Scale Wine Group. Dan and...

Eduard and Stephanie Tscheppe-Eselbock from Berganland, Austria took on the task and challenge of restoring a 17th century winery, a 200 year-old-press, and vines that were ignored for over 20 years. What they created was a family of wines based on the personality of these wines with now iconic labels of different family members. Their winery Gut Oggau produces living wines with great energy and i...

Yannick Benjamin was born and bred in NYC to French parents. He visited Bordeaux at age 13 and got the wine bug early. He started in hospitality at a young age working his way through Le Cirque, Jean Georges, Atlas, and eventually becoming a Somm at Felidia in NYC. In 2003 Yannick experienced a life-changing event that would set a different course in his life. Yannick is an advanced Sommelier work...

Colorful and legendary Australian winemaker David Powell made his mark in 1994 when he started Torbreck Vintners in Barossa. Torbreck is one of the most awarded wines in Australia. After almost 20 years, David moved on to start Powell and Son with his son Callum. They grow Rhone varietals from the Barossa and Eden Valleys in a a traditional and minimalist style. The Grape Nation is powered by Simp...

Lettie Teague is an award winning author and columnist for the Wall Street Journal. Her column "On Wine" appears weekly in the Journal. Lettie has received three James Beard Awards including the MFK Fisher Distinguished Writing Award. Lettie Teague was formerly the wine columnist for Food and Wine Magazine ("Wine Matters") and it's wine editor for over 12 years. Lettie has published three books, "...

Marquis Piero Antinori is Vintner and Honorary President of Marchese Antinori. Mr. Antinori is the patriarch of his family's wine business in Italy with vineyards in Umbria, Chianti Classico, Brunello, Bolgheri, Napa and beyond. Piero Antinori along with his three daughters oversee the six-century old storied family wine business. The Grape Nation is powered by Simplecast See Privacy Policy at htt...

Seattle born Morgan Harris made his way to NYC and jumped into the wine game full time in 2011. He cut his wine teeth with Master Sommelier Laura Maniec at Corkbuzz Wine Studio, did a short stint at Jean Georges before moving to Charlie Palmer's Aureole in NYC as head sommelier. Morgan was named Wine and Spirits "Best New Sommelier" holds an advanced sommelier certificate and is an instructor at t...

Victoria James got an early start in the restaurant biz at 13. She blazed her path as a server, bartender, and sommelier working at Harry's at Hanover Square, Aureole, Morini, Piora, and now as Beverage Director at Cote in NYC. Victoria became a Certified Sommelier at age 21, has been named a Wine and Spirits "Best New Sommelier", Forbes and Zagat's "30 Under 30" and a Wine Enthusiast "40 Under 40...

Olivier Krug is Directeur de la Maison Krug and a member of the Krug tasting committee. Olivier grew up in Reims, France and is the eldest of Henri Krug's five children, Olivier joined Krug in 1989 and is now Krug's house director. Olivier talks about Krug's rich history since 1843 and the transformation of Champagne in the past 20 years. The Grape Nation is powered by Simplecast See Privacy Polic...

Yumiko Munekyo and Jason Geiger are the co-founders of Sake Suki. Yumiko was born and raised in Fukui Prefecture and Ishikawa Japan, famously know for thier rice and Sake production. Yumiko came to the US in 2011 with the intention of bringing great Sake to the US and focusing on small production regional artisan Sakes known as Jizake. Jason Geiger is a Certified Sake Adviser from the Sake Service...

Belgian born Cedric Nicaise grew up in a family of wine enthusiasts. Cedric worked his way downstate to Charlie Palmer's Aureole in NYC, later becoming a sommelier at Eleven Madison Park and eventually the Wine Director. Cedric oversees the wine and beverage program at the three Michelin starred, New York Times four starred, and the Best Restaurant in the World from the World's 50 Best Restaurants...

Alsatian born Michael Engelmann is a Wine and Spirits "Best New Sommelier", he has won the American Sommelier Association's "Best Sommelier in America" and is a Master Sommelier. Michael is one of only 14 Master Sommeliers to receive the Krug Cup, awarded to those who pass all three parts of of master Somm test on the first day. Michael Engelmann is the Wine Director at Danny Meyer's The Modern at...

Jon Bonne is an award winning author and journalist. He is Senior Contributing Editor for Punch, an online magazine featuring wine, spirits, beer and cocktails. He is the former editor of the San Francisco Chronicle. Jon is the author of "The New Wine Rules", his current book and "The New California Wine". He is working on his next book, "The New French Wine". We'll talk to Jon about his new book...

We will look back to 2017, the year in wine with Josh Greene, Editor and Publisher of Wine and Spirits Magazine. Josh has been at the helm of the magazine for over three decades and has a unique perspective of wine, wine regions, restaurants, sommeliers, trends, and much more. The Grape Nation is powered by Simplecast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at...

We look back at the past year on The Grape Nation to present six awards recognizing past guests, trends, and wine including Favorite Wine & Food Pairing, Best Rant, Favorite Wine Guest, Favorite Restaurant and/or Wine Bar, & more. Winners call in to accept their awards. Plus we do a quick dive into Central Coast/Santa Barbara wines with winemaker Tyler Thomas of Dierberg & Star Lane Vi...

Peter Liem is an American wine writer and author of the new book "Champagne The Essential Guide to the Wines, Producers, and Terroirs of the Iconic Region". He is the author of of the online site ChampagneGuide.net, a comprehensive guide to the wines and producers of Champagne. Peter splits his time between New York and is the only English wine writer living in Champagne. Peter is the co-creator o...

Ryan Arnold is a Divisional Wine Director of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, one of Chicago and the county's most successful restaurant groups owning a diversity of restaurants. Ryan oversees the wine programs at some of Lettuce's finest restaurants, each focused on a different cuisine and wine program. Ryan was a 2015 Star Chefs "Rising Star." The Grape Nation is powered by Simplecast See Priv...

Peter Hellman has been at it over 40 years as a wine journalist and best selling author. Based out of NYC, Peter has written for Wine Spectator, The NY Times, The NY Post, and the WSJ among others. He has penned multiple best sellers including "When Courage Was Stronger Than Fear", "Chief", and "50 Years After Kitty Genovese". Peter started following and writing about Rudy Kurniawan in 2008, which...

Master Sommelier Dustin Wilson & Sommelier Thomas Pastuszak are among the most highly respected & regarded people in the wine world today. Dustin & Thomas are award winning Somms with a deep background in wine & service at the best restaurants in the country...think Eleven Madison Park, The Nomad, RN74, Colicchio & Sons, Frasca & more. Both Dustin & Thomas make their ow...

Isabelle Legeron is a Master of Wine and founder of the Raw Wine Fair. She is the author of the newly revised book "Natural Wine" The Raw Wine Fair advocates fine natural wine made by small independent producers who cherish biodiversity and sustainable wine production. Tony Coturri of Coturri Winery in Sonoma County, California embraces the Raw Wine philosophy remaining true to the traditional met...

Katie Morton was voted on of "The Best New Sommeliers of 2017" by Wine and Spirits Magazine. Katie attended the Culinary Institue of America, worked at Eleven Madison Park and The Nomad, moving on to the Union Sq. Hospitality Group's Maialino for over two years finally landing as the Wine Dir. at Marta and the newly opened Vini e Fritti, all in NYC. The Grape Nation is powered by Simplecast See Pr...

Thomas Carter, Proprietor of Estela, Cafe Altro Paradiso, & Flora Bar and Louis Fabbrini, Bev. Dir. of Estela and Cafe Altro Paradiso oversee the wine and food at some of NYC's hottest restaurants. Both come to the game with a strong restaurant background where wine is as interesting and as important as the food. The Grape Nation is powered by Simplecast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com...

Alabama born John Paterson made his way to NYC arriving on the wine scene to cut his teeth at Craftbar, The Nomad, and now as Wine Director of Frankies Spuntino Restaurant Group since 2014. John shares time between Brooklyn and the West Village overseeing and curating an interesting and eclectic list of wines to complement equally eclectic menus. The Grape Nation is powered by Simplecast See Priva...

Austrian born Aldo Sohm is a true Super Somm. He has been awarded the Best Somm in Austria four times, The Best Somm in America, and Best Somm in the World. Aldo Sohm is the Wine Director at Four Star Le Bernadin, where he received a James Beard Award for "Best Wine Service". He is proprietor of Aldo Sohm Wine Bar in NYC. He is Brand Ambassador for Zalto wine glasses and makes Gruner Veltliner in...