Wanda Mann joins Star Wine List as new NYC ambassador - adds 14 cool places
New Yorker, sommelier and writer Wanda Mann is our newest addition to our New York ambassador team. Mann will join Theo Lieberman to cover the big apple for wine lovers around the world. Her first selection adds 14 great wine places to our New York guide.
"I’m honored and excited to join Star Wine List. As a native New Yorker living in Manhattan, wining and dining are integral parts of my professional and personal life. Being a Star Wine List ambassador perfectly complements my career as a wine writer and presenter."
Wanda Mann's resume includes many prestigious current roles: She is the East Coast Editor at The SOMM Journal and Tasting Panel Magazines. She also contributes occasionally to Food & Wine and other consumer publications. Moreover, Mann presents tasting seminars for private clients and at major festivals, including the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, the Charleston Wine + Food Festival, and the Nantucket Wine & Food Festival. She publishes her Wine With Wanda newsletter on Substack. And she serves on the board of directors of the Society of Wine Educators and Les Dames d’Escoffier New York.
What are you looking forward to the most in your new role?
"I’m looking forward to spotlighting sommeliers and locations committed to creating quality wine lists and making the experience special and welcoming. I want to highlight some of my favorite places and make new discoveries."
How would you describe the dining and drinking scene in New York at the moment?
"New York's wining and dining scene is constantly evolving, and that's what makes it thrilling. In NYC, there really is a wine bar or restaurant for every type of wine drinker. In addition to our world-renowned restaurants with weighty wine lists, we are seeing a growth in small neighborhood wine bars that are creating their own narrative, emphasizing off-the-beaten-path wines and regions, and educating guests in a very engaging and accessible way."
How much has changed in recent years and what have been the biggest changes?
"Like everywhere in the world, the pandemic hit NYC's culinary community hard. But restaurants and wine bars are thriving again. People are clamoring to be together and connect over good food and wine. New wine bars and restaurants are opening at a dizzying pace."
What are the emerging drinking trends you are seeing?
"There will always be a love for the classics, but people are interested in going deeper into sub-appellations and regions that are less on the radar. They want to discover new wines. They want to taste wines side-by-side to understand the nuances better. They want to know the stories behind wine: Who made it? Is it sustainable? Can I visit the winery?"
What wines, styles, countries and regions are most in demand?
"In NYC, wines from Italy, Spain, and France will always be in demand, but there is increasing interest in trying lesser-known varietals and regions from those countries. Wines from the Southern Hemisphere are also popular: Chile, New Zealand, and Argentina. And let's not forget our hometown wines from New York State, especially the Finger Lakes and Long Island. There’s interest in skin-contact white wines and sparkling wines from all over the globe. "
To check out Wanda Mann's additions to New York - see the new additions in the links below!
Search like a Pro – explore 3,500+ wine lists
