As the Second Glass eagerly preps for the new installment of Wine Riot, we’re excited to introduce you to faces new and returning. These revolutionary winos have tirelessly worked to put on a Riot that is fun, information and simply fabulous. Listed below are the experts who will be pouring their knowledge during crash course seminars, or strutting the floor and making the Riot run smooth!
Stop by the John J. Moakley Courthouse on September 25 and 26 and meet them in person when Wine Riot takes over Boston’s Fort Point neighborhood!
Tyler Balliet
Don’t let his humbleness fool you – Tyler’s dedication, creativity and ambition has literally made Wine Riot a reality and he deserves praise (or at least a nod in his general direction!). For months Tyler, and his band of merry women (and men), have been bringing together some of the most unpretentious wine experts to create an arsenal that can educate you while entertaining you! He will be brimming with information about regions like Chile and Spain and the coolest new tech toys that will make the entire event virtually stimulating too. With the cute sideswipe of his hair and his height he’s hard to miss – but don’t let his laid back manner fool you either, he’s a suave business man and wino expert himself literally leading the revolution into the future!
Morgan First
Morgan is known for constantly juggling ten different projects and responsibilities at the same time. She never misses a beat and has brought Wine Riot to astonishing levels. Her marketing and networking abilities – along with her persistence and charm – makes her an unparalleled asset for both Wine Riot and the Second Glass. Easy to pick out, Morgan always looks stylish in her awesome vintage inspired outfit and is hard to miss with her gorgeous red hair.
John Hafferty
Bin Ends offers tremendous deals on close-outs with a Filene’s Basement style pricing system—which means owner and wine buyer John Hafferty knows a good deal when he sees it. During his Crash Courses, he’ll discuss
Joseph Carr
After working as a sommelier for a numerous major hotel chains, Joseph Carr decided to switch sides and become a winemaker. Now he bottles his own wines under the label Joseph Carr Napa Valley. Carr will discuss his experiences in northern California during his Crash Course.
Melvyn Master
Writer, winemaker, restaurateur and all around pro wino Mel Master has been involved in the wine industry for virtually his entire life. He currently makes wine in both France and California with the label Tortoise Creek. In his Crash Course, Master will answer the age old question: California or France?
Jeff Golden
This kick ass wine buyer keeps the shelves of DownTown Wine & Spirits stocked with some of our favorite bottles. If you’ve ever caught one of our weekly Crash Courses at DownTown, then you know all about Jeff’s devotion to the wine world. At this Riot, he’ll be spitting knowledge about Bordeaux, Chianti and German wines.
David Milligan
Wine importer and writer David Milligan has been bringing stellar wines into the U.S. since 1996. He started with French wines, then became an expert on up-and-coming regions like South Africa and Chile, with an eye for wines with great taste and terroir. At this Riot, he’ll be discussing wines from the Rhone region.
Alex DeWinter
Alex de Winter is the overlord of Grill 23’s ginormous (850-bottle) wine list, but he’ll never forget what it’s like to buy wine on a student budget. This top sommelier is always on the hunt for a big red at a reasonable price. He’ll be chatting about Veronese wines.
Be sure to check out additional Crash Courses from Yellow + Blue and Farnum Hill Ciders!
Wine Intelligence Unit
Since you’re bound to have questions outside of the Crash Courses, we’ve assembled a group of wine professionals to help guide you along the way. They’re all rock stars. Say hello to: Kerri Platt (owner, The Wine Bottega), Louis Krieger (wine director, Wine Gallery), Theresa Paopao (wine director, Oleana), Dale Cruse (urban terroirist, DrinksAreOnMe.net), Matt Mollo (Maestro Italiano, The Wine Bottega), Brett Vankoski (director of sales and marketing, 90+ Cellars), James Laurenti (e-Booze Consultant, Beverage Media)
Kick Ass Culinary Sponsors
You’ll be loving food from the Savant Project, Tavolo and the Daily Catch!
