NYC wine power list #4: Daniel Johnnes
Daniel Johnnes is the fourth most influential person in wine in New York City according to our survey of industry elites.
Johnnes, who has been aptly called the dean of NYC sommeliers, wears many hats. He made a name for himself at Drew Nieporent’s Montrachet in the 1980s and 1990s, building it into a not just a wine destination, but a Burgundy destination. At that time Bordeaux wines were more popular, so New Yorkers can partially thank him for laying the foundation for the city’s current Burgundy obsession.
He feeds that obsession every two years through La Paulée de New York (which alternates years with La Paulée de SF), a multi-day Burgundy bacchanal, building it into the foremost collectors’ event on the calendar. As I discovered recently, sommeliers request to work the events months in advance, making it something of a “Burgundy University” for them.
He’s also the wine director for all the Daniel Boulud (Dinex) restaurants. And he has his own import label where, among other things, he imports some estate wines from. . .Bordeaux!
On March 26th, 2013 at 10:25 am ,Daniel wrote:
Well deserved!
Daniel has worked very hard over the years.
On March 26th, 2013 at 5:31 pm ,Gary York wrote:
Questionable choice at best.
On March 26th, 2013 at 11:42 pm ,gabe wrote:
meh
On March 27th, 2013 at 9:18 am ,Aaron Meeker wrote:
Have to agree. Solid choice. Have to look at whole body of work and impact over a period of time.
On March 27th, 2013 at 12:00 pm ,Chris Miller wrote:
I agree with the Burgundy influence in NYC… was all Bordeaux and Napa in NY fine dining restaurants till early millenium.
Still wondering how many Sommelier and industry wino’s Kevin Zraly has impacted and therefore how deep his influence has been to the NY wine scene and continues to be due to that trickle down.
On March 27th, 2013 at 11:50 pm ,Wino wrote:
Did somebody ask Gary York? No.
On March 27th, 2013 at 11:52 pm ,Wino wrote:
Oh yeah. Gary York lives in Richmond, Virginia and not in New York. So he knows what about the New York market? Has he ever actually worked there?
On July 11th, 2013 at 4:12 pm ,Tony wrote:
Can a Wine Director buy wines on behalf of the restaurant he works for from his own import label?