MJ’s guest is seasoned sommelier, wine educator and founder of Volcanic Selections, Jeff Porter. Jeff has been featured in numerous major food and wine publications, such as The New York Times, Los Angeles Magazine, San Francisco Chronicle, Eater and The Financial Times. Jeff’s sommelier career began in Napa Valley, where he worked at Tra Vigne Ristorante in St. Helena. He joined the Bastianich Hospitality Group in 2009 at Osteria Mozza under the auspice of James Beard Award winning chef Nancy Silverton. In 2011 he moved to New York to become the wine director for Del Posto. In 2014, Jeff became the Beverage Operations Director, overseeing the beverage programs for Babbo, Del Posto, Esca, Lupa, Otto, Babbo Pizzeria and more. In 2019, Jeff left the Bastianich group and began his consulting career and a web series about wine, life, and culture called Sip Trip. And in 2020, Jeff opened Volcanic Selections, an import and distribution business. Outside of beverages, Jeff is an avid at-home cook, doting father, passionate traveler, and a lover of all things barbecue.

Jeff’s passion for food and wine comes through, literally, in this episode. Jeff is the first guest to bring a meal - burger and fries - to accompany his wine selection of A 2019 Dolcetto D’Alba and a 2013 Henskens Rankin of Tasmania Brut Rose’. Neither disappoint. Originally from Texas, Jeff understands a good meal, and it wasn’t until his college days - working at a German restaurant as a dishwasher - did he start to understand wine and all its beauty and complexities. MJ and Jeff have only just begun with this conversation, tackling items one by one such as how Jeff went from a small suburb north of Dallas to the inner city of Los Angeles working as a teacher for Teach for America, right out of UT-Austin. Jeff talks about the inspiration he gained from his father who gifted him WINE by Hugh Johnson; his time at Tra Vigne Ristorante and how he learned he had one job: make people happy; essentially throwing a party each and every night. It’s Part 1 with Jeff Porter, and it’s a juicy one. 

A huge thank you to Jeff Porter! 

Follow him on IG @drinkeatlove 

Check out Volcanic Selections

https://volcanicselections.com/ 

Follow them on IG @volcanicselections 

This episode’s in studio wine:

2013 Henskens Rankin of Tasmania Brut Rose’

2019 Bartolo Mascarello Dolcetto d'Alba

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Until next time, cheers to the mavericks, philosophers, deep thinkers and wine drinkers! 

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