Nathan’s passion for wine developed as the natural consequence of a decade spent living, working, eating and drinking in New Orleans. After tiring of the hospitality industry’s late nights and working a couple of years with a software startup, he decided in early 2013 to pursue his passion full-time and joined his friendly neighborhood fine wine shop, The Vineyard, as part of the sales team. As Buyer and GM, he has programmed the shop’s inventory of unique, hard-to-find wines from small producers around the globe since 2016. He completed the Wine and Spirits Education Trust’s (WSET) Level 4 Diploma in Wine and Spirits in 2018 and is currently a stage two Master of Wine (MW) student, pursuing the wine world’s most coveted and respected credential. His role curating The Vineyard’s selection is a simple one, he says. “I’m always looking at quality-to-price ratio. Whether the bottle you’ve chosen costs $9 or $1900, the bottom line should always be value. I’m here to make sure you’re getting more than you pay for, no matter what you pay.” When he isn’t tasting, tasting, tasting for work and study, he’s usually on a bike somewhere.

Chris was a chef in San Francisco for 15 years after attending Le Cordon Bleu in Scottsdale, Arizona. He’s always been obsessed with wine, fueling that obsession further by taking the Court of Master Sommeliers’ introductory course while still working in the back-of-house. After realizing that a career in wine didn’t have to mean the crazy hours of a restaurant somm, Chris joined The Vineyard’s team in January 2020. Of wine, he says, “Understanding wine means you have to understand history, chemistry, geography–so many different disciplines!–as well as understanding how food traditions develop in wine-centric cultures. It’s a never-ending pursuit.”

Dave’s first “Aha!” wine moment was blind-tasting the 1980 Carneros Creek Fay Vineyard Cabernet shortly after its release. (“Yes,” says Dave, “I’m that old.”) Since then he’s enjoyed many Napa Cabs along with all the other usual suspects—Bordeaux, Burgundy, Barolo, Rioja. Lately, all the young wine lovers at The Vineyard have convinced him that white wines can be just as complex and delicious as reds. His major weakness is still Sauternes (all dessert wines, really), and of course there’s still nothing that compares with a great Champagne.

Sharon loves her job as The Vineyard’s Chief Financial Officer, Accountant and all-around Numbers Queen. “The staff is always willing to help me learn more,” she says, “both about wine in general and specifically what I enjoy. Clif is a great boss, and who wouldn’t want to work in the best wine shop in Denver!”