{{Short description|American wine critic}} {{Infobox writer | name = Antonio Galloni | occupation = Wine critic | nationality = American | subject = Wine | influences = | influenced = }}
'''Antonio Galloni''' is an American wine critic. He is the founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Vinous for which he is also the lead critic covering the wines of Bordeaux, California, Italy, and Champagne.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-15/vinous-ceo-antonio-galloni-aims-to-upend-robert-parker-s-wine-world | title=This Ex-Banker Has Wall Street-Sized Ambitions as a Wine Critic | newspaper=Bloomberg.com | date=15 January 2018 }}</ref>
From 2006 to 2013, Galloni was a tasting staff member of Robert Parker's publication ''The Wine Advocate''.
In May 2013, Galloni founded Vinous.<ref name=sf/><ref>Official Vinous website (May 20, 2013). [http://vinousmedia.com/statics/about About]</ref>
== Early life and education == Galloni was born in Caracas, Venezuela to an Italian father and American mother. When he was eleven the family moved to Sarasota, Florida where his parents sold Italian wines at retail. This early exposure to wine began a lifelong fascination with wine. Galloni's maternal grandmother introduced him to the wines of Burgundy, while his father instilled in him that "there are two great wines in the world: Barolo and Champagne".
Galloni received a degree from Boston's Berklee College of Music in jazz composition and guitar.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/food/la-xpm-2013-feb-12-la-dd-antonio-galloni-leaves-wine-advocate-to-start-his-own-wine-site-20130212-story.html|title=Antonio Galloni leaves Wine Advocate to start his own wine site|first1=S. Irene Virbila S. Irene Virbila is a former restaurant|last1=critic|first2=wine columnist for the Los Angeles Times She left|last2=in 2015|date=February 12, 2013|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> After a stint as a musician and waiter, which led him to get to know many of the new California wineries of the time, he took a job with Putnam Investments and was soon after sent to Putnam's Milan office.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/this-former-deutsche-banker-has-the-best-job-ever-2011-6|title=This Former Deutsche Banker Now Has The Best Job Ever|first=Katya|last=Wachtel|website=Business Insider}}</ref> This opportunity was a total immersion in Italian wine and culture. Galloni returned to the United States to acquire a formal business education, where he earned an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management.<ref name="auto"/>
==Career== In 2004, while studying for an MBA at MIT's Sloan School of Management, Galloni began publication of the ''Piedmont Report'' newsletter profiling the wine of Piedmont. At the time the only critic who had been writing about the wines of Italy in English was James Suckling. Within weeks ''Piedmont Report'' had subscribers in more than 25 countries and quickly established itself as the premier guide in the world for Piedmont wines. Galloni turned down an offer to write for Robert Parker's ''The Wine Advocate'' to work for a brief stint at Deutsche Bank in New York City.
In 2006, he accepted Parker's offer to join ''The Wine Advocate'' as a reviewer of Italian wine,<ref>{{cite web|last= Goldberg |first= Howard G., ''Decanter.com'' |title= Parker announces new staff |url= http://www.decanter.com/news/wine-news/487005/parker-announces-new-staff |date=September 1, 2006 }}</ref> and became a contributor to Parker's ''Wine Buyer’s Guide''.<ref>{{cite web|last= Comiskey |first= Patrick, ''Los Angeles Times'' |title=Robert Parker shares his soapbox World of wine scores |website= Los Angeles Times |url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-oct-15-fo-parker15-story.html |date= October 15, 2008 }}</ref>
In January 2011, as Parker restructured the coverage of his staff of reviewers and announced he would no longer review California wine, Galloni's area of coverage was expanded to include California, Champagne, Chablis and the Côte d'Or.<ref name=sf>Bonné, Jon, ''San Francisco Chronicle'' (February 7, 2011). [http://insidescoopsf.sfgate.com/jonbonne/2011/02/07/robert-parker-passes-the-california-torch/ Robert Parker passes the California torch]</ref><ref>Yarrow, Alder, vinography.com (February 5, 2011). [http://www.vinography.com/archives/2011/02/the_end_of_an_era_robert_parke.html The End of an Era: Robert Parker Stops Reviewing California Wine]</ref>
Galloni has stated in ''The Wine Advocate'' issue 186 that he will only review Champagne that provides a disgorgement date so he may accurately rate a Champagne by its release.<ref name=sf/><ref>Colman, Tyler, drvino.com (December 29, 2009). [http://www.drvino.com/2009/12/29/champange-champagne-values-bargains-bordeaux/ SIPPED: upgrading label info?]</ref>
In 2013, Antonio left ''The Wine Advocate ''to start his own website, ''Vinous''.<ref name="auto"/> At the time of his departure, Galloni was the lead critic at ''The Wine Advocate'', and had authored one-third of the reviews published by ''TWA'' in 2012. Galloni also ran the world's most followed bulletin board on Italian wines and spearheaded ''TWA''’s production of video content. He developed tailored public events & seminars such as the highly-anticipated “La Festa del Barolo,” vertical tastings focused on the benchmark wines of Italy, and numerous charity dinners.
===Vinous=== In February 2013, following the announcement by Parker that he was stepping down as editor-in-chief of ''The Wine Advocate'' and had sold a controlling stake to a Singapore investor, Galloni announced himself that he would leave the publication and establish his own internet publication,<ref name="nyt13">Asimov, Eric, ''The New York Times'' (February 12, 2013).[http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/12/a-new-web-venture-for-antonio-galloni/ A New Web Venture for Antonio Galloni]</ref><ref>Barmann, Jay, ''GrubStreet.com'' (February 12, 2013). [http://sanfrancisco.grubstreet.com/2013/02/robert-parker-antonio-galloni-wine-advocate-web-venture.html Robert Parker Protégé Antonio Galloni Leaves The Wine Advocate to Launch New Web Venture]</ref><ref name="deca-ag">Woodard, Richard, ''Decanter.com'' (February 14, 2013). [http://www.decanter.com/news/wine-news/530861/galloni-leaves-wine-advocate Galloni leaves Wine Advocate]</ref> launched under the brand Vinous. Aimed towards a broader demographic of wine consumers, Galloni has stated he would continue to report on the wines of Italy, Champagne, California and Burgundy and will cover wines from Bordeaux from the 2013 vintage, as well as craft spirits.<ref name="deca-ag" />
Vinous has since acquired Stephen Tanzer's ''International Wine Cellar'' and the apps Delectable and Banquet.
==Lawsuit==
In March 2013, it was reported that ''The Wine Advocate'' had filed a federal lawsuit against Galloni five weeks after his departure for breach of contract, fraud and defamation.<ref name="sf-sue">Bonné, Jon, ''San Francisco Chronicle'' (March 20, 2013). [http://insidescoopsf.sfgate.com/blog/2013/03/20/the-wine-advocate-sues-antonio-galloni/ The Wine Advocate sues Antonio Galloni]</ref><ref name="dec-sue">Lechmere, Adam, ''Decanter.com'' (March 21, 2013). [http://www.decanter.com/news/wine-news/583732/robert-parker-s-wine-advocate-sues-antonio-galloni-for-fraud-and-defamation Robert Parker's Wine Advocate sues Antonio Galloni for fraud and defamation]</ref><ref name="nyt-sue">Asimov, Eric, ''The New York Times'' (March 21, 2013). [http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/21/robert-parker-vs-antonio-galloni/ Robert Parker vs. Antonio Galloni]</ref> The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Maryland, advancing the complaint, was never served.<ref name="shk-sue">''Shanken News Daily'' (March 21, 2013). [http://www.shankennewsdaily.com/index.php/2013/03/21/5406/parkers-advocate-suing-former-contributor-galloni-in-federal-court/ Parker’s Advocate Suing Former Contributor Galloni In Federal Court]</ref> All the articles cited in the case have subsequently appeared on Galloni's Vinous Media website.<ref>Official Vinous website. [http://vinousmedia.com/articles Articles]</ref>
According to Robert Parker, ''The Wine Advocate’s'' efforts were “simply a matter of retrieving a service we paid for,” rather than “an attempt to stop Antonio from moving on; we continue to wish him our very best.”
==See also== *List of wine personalities
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== *[http://www.vinousmedia.com/ VinousMedia.com] official site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Galloni, Antonio}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:American people of Italian descent Category:American wine critics Category:MIT Sloan School of Management alumni