Wine Critics & Writers Flashcards
He worked for Wine Advocate for 7 years before founded Vinous, where he writes articles on a large range of wine related topics
Antonio Galloni, wine critic
Which wine magazine did James Laube work for?
Wine Spectator. He is considered an expert on California Wines. in 1996 he won a James Beard award for best wine book of the. Year.
Former attorney who resigned to become a wine writer. He founded the Wine Advocate.
Robert Parker (retired in 2019). First wine critic inducted into the CIA Vinters Hall of Fame in 2013.
Robert Parker is not only the most powerful critic in the history of wine, but arguably the most powerful critic in any field in his era, with the ability to make the fortunes of obscure wineries overnight with just a paragraph in his newsletter. Parker has been a tremendous, long-standing booster of California wine, and his attention has unquestionably been a boon for the California wine industry.
Parker’s early-career criticisms of California wines that were poor attempts to copy French styles encouraged the entire industry to improve its appeal. Unlike other critics, Parker would not politely ignore badly made wines from big name wineries. His single-minded focus on the taste of wines rewarded wineries that improved their hygiene and technology.
Parker has always been a champion of small wineries, and his tendency against holding one region above another has helped California wines to compete on the world stage. In a field where many critics work on both sides of the business, his personal ethics have withstood years of intense scrutiny.
Powerful, fair and honest, Robert Parker has been a truly great critic and an undeniably net positive influence on California wine.
What did Stephen Tanzer do?
Stephen was editor and publisher of the critically acclaimed bimonthly International Wine Cellar, an independent journal read by wine professionals and other wine lovers in all 50 states and 34 countries, and the first American wine periodical to be translated into French and Japanese.
Tanzer is the author of The WineAccess Buyer’s Guide (Sterling Publishing), a concise yet comprehensive guide to the best bottles and producers from virtually every important wine region of the world. Tanzer has also served as Senior Editor and wine columnist for Food & Wine magazine and wrote Food & Wine’s Official Wine Guide in 1998 and 1999. Previously, he was the wine columnist for Forbes FYI.
Throughout his thirty-five year career, Tanzer sampled well over 10,000 wines annually, spending several months each year tasting and discussing wines with their makers, both in the U.S. and abroad.
Vinous acquired International Wine Cellar in 2014 and Tanzer remains on staff.
Andy Erickson is known throughout Napa and has worked for high end brands. TW carries his Leviathan Red Blend. Why is he important to know?
Although he’s originally from the Midwest, a summer in France convinced Andy Erickson that his calling was wine. Beginning his journey in Napa Valley and Sonoma, he soon moved to Mendoza in Argentina. Returning to Napa, he honed his craft, working under a number of renowned winemakers, including Paul Hobbs, John Kongsgaard, and Michel Rolland. After earning a master’s degree in enology, Andy worked as a winemaker at Harlan Estate and Staglin Family Vineyards, eventually establishing a consulting firm with his wife, viticulturalist Annie Favia, where he made such highly coveted wines as Screaming Eagle. Andy and Annie have recently established their own winery, Leviathan.
