Steven Olson is dedicated to the education and consultation of degustation for appreciation and celebration. He teaches, lectures, and writes all over the world about wine, beer, spirits, sake, and virtually any other beverage under the sun, discussing their integral cause-and-effect relationship with food as he preaches the gospel of his mission: making tasting fun by removing the intimidation factor and the pretense.
Olson’s company, aka wine geek, based upon his standing as one of America’s foremost experts and most sought-after lecturers in the business, and his 30+ years of experience in the restaurant business, specializes in beverage and service consulting, and has focused on the professional presentation of beverage education for the trade, consumers, press and the media since 1992, always striving to empower both members of the trade and consumers to make their own decisions, and to trust their own palates.
Over the years, Steve has hosted a few of his own TV series’ and been a guest on many others, and has served as host of several trade education and product information videos, including being the voice of Virtual Bartender kiosks in retail stores nationwide. He was also selected as Santé Magazine’s Spirits Professional of the Year for 2003, awarded CHEERS Magazine’s Beverage Innovator of the Year, a lifetime achievement award in 2005, chosen to judge at the 2012 Diageo Reserve World Class Finals, and honored as Best Bar Mentor at the Spirited Awards at the 2012 Tales of the Cocktail.
Olson may be best known to many, however, for his restaurant and bar consulting, having designed the innovative beverage programs and service systems for several nationally acclaimed operations, including the Relais Chateau, Mobil Five Star award-winning Mayflower Inn in Connecticut, New York City's #1 Zagat-rated restaurant, Gramercy Tavern, the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City, and the Adam Tihany-designed Summit at the Mobil Five-Star, AAA Five-Diamond BROADMOOR in Colorado Springs. Olson designed the beverage programs for OTG Management, which exclusively operates dozens of restaurants and wine bars in airports, and designed the beverage programs for Aqua in Cancun, Mexico, the prize jewel of Grupo Posadas, which opened in 2008. His most recent venture are Isola, Hudson Lodge, Hudson Common, and Reserve Bar, each in Manhattan, where Olson and team act as beverage consultant to the Morgan Hotel Group in NYC.
aka wine geek, LLC is more than Steve Olson. It is a network of employees and contracted consultants, including several speakers and sommeliers, bartenders and servers throughout the US, that collaborate to make his vision happen. Steven Olson and Melissa Rosete are the company officers. Other full-time employees include Special Projects Director Sarah Tirone, Office Manager Kate Burgess, coordinator and bartender Leo DeGroff, and regularly scheduled and contributing contractors that include Craig Colton and John Lermayer based in Florida; Andy Seymour, Willy Shine, Aisha Sharpe, Philip Ward, Richie Boccato, Tim Cooper, Justin Noel, Michael Flannery, and Don Lee, all based in NYC; Bob Borchardt, Charles Joly and Matty Eggleston, based in Chicago; Anthony Alba and Patricia Richards, based in Las Vegas; Eric Alperin, Chris Bostick, Joseph Brooke, and Marcos Tello, based in los Angeles; Jacques Bezuidenhout, Jon Santer and Carlos Yturria, based in San Francisco; Misty Kalkofen and Jeff Grdinich in Boston; Sean Kenyon in Denver, also covering Arizona and the Rocky Mountains; Ricky Gomez in Portland, also covering Seattle; Danny Valdez in New Orleans, covering the South, and many others.
aka wine geek acts as a liaison between all strata of the industry, serving in an educational and advisory capacity between producer, importer, distributor, sales force, restaurateur, retailer, management, servers, and all others involved in the presentation and sales of beverages, creating the opportunity for successful interface with the consumer. The company has now been in operation for 20 years, under the guidance of Olson, the design of Melissa Rosete, and with partner and 16-year veteran Andy Seymour managing and coordinating all educational activities and events.
In March 2006 in New York City, Olson, along with four partners, Dale DeGroff, Doug Frost, MS, MW, Paul Pacult, and Dr. David Wondrich, started Beverage Alcohol Resource, LLC (BAR). Andy Seymour was added as a partner in 2008. BAR is an independent organization whose mission is to educate, guide, and propagate the healthy, enlightened, and responsible use of beverage alcohol products. The school is in a unique position to create and teach a series of courses that will not just train, but actually educate those who take them, be they service industry professionals, members of the media, or curious consumers. BAR was chosen as CHEERS Magazine Beverage Innovator of the Year 2007.
For more information, visit www.beveragealcoholresource.com.
Restaurant / Consulting Credits:
Gramercy Tavern (New York)
The Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa (Atlantic City, NJ)
Mayflower Inn (Connecticut)
Suenos (New York)
Russian Tea Room (New York)
Christopher's (Phoenix)
Mirezi (New York)
Typhoon Brewery (New York)
Road Trip (Boston)
Different Pointe of View, Pointe Resorts (Phoenix)
The Oyster Bar at Grand Central Station (New York)
Kokachin at the Omni Berkshire [for Elka Gilmore] (New York)
OTG Management, over 30 restaurants and bars in airports across the country
The Broadmoor Hotel, Resort and Spa (Colorado Springs, CO)
AQUA Resort and Spa (Cancun, Mexico)
Two Steak and Sushi Den (Long Island NY)
Viktor & Spoils (New York)
Isola (New York)
Hudson Lodge (New York)
Hudson Common (New York)
Reserve Bar (New York
Writing / Literary Credits:
Wine and Spirits Consultant for Bon Appetit Magazine
Restaurant Business Magazine (former wine columnist "The Wine Seller")
Sante (contributing editor; columns "The Geek Speaks" & "Pourings")
Food & Wine Magazine
Food Arts
Wine & Spirits Magazine
Wine Enthusiast
Market Watch
Food & Wine's Wine Tastings (CD Rom)
Arizona Trends (monthly column)
Sommelier Society of America Newsletter
Film and Television Credits:
Host, The Bartender
Host of the documentary, The New Wines of Greece
QUENCH, Co-Host w/ Andrea Immer, on Food Network
Host, SPIRITS BASICS on CPTV in Canada
NorthWest Airlines and Food & Wine Magazine in-flight video
Host, The American Mix
Several training videos and product information videos for the trade
Wine Consultant, various feature films
Many guest appearances on television and radio, including as a judge on Iron Chef
Wine [and winelist] Awards:
Olson has received many accolades for his work in wine, and has won several competitions, including the Western regional competition (in L.A.) of the Grand Prix SOPEXA du Sommelier in 1991. Later that year, he went on to finish first runner-up in the National competition. In 1994, he won the Eastern regional competition (in N.Y.), becoming the first ever to win the competition on each coast, and then repeated his performance in the Nationals, retaining his ranking as the #2 sommelier in America.
other accomplishments:
Sake Service Institute of Japan, Kikisake-shi (Sake Master)
Court of Master Sommeliers, Advanced Level Keeper of the Quaich
Wine Spectator Grand Award ---Etienne's Different Pointe of View, Pointe Resorts
Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence---Christopher's Mayflower Inn
New York Magazine Best Wine Bar, NYC---Gramercy Tavern runner-up, Oyster Bar
Sante Magazine Best Beverage Program, Bistro---Mirezi
USA Today Best New Wine List---Christopher's
Many restaurant awards, including Mobil Five Stars, AAA Five Diamond, Esquire Best New Restaurant, Relais & Chateau
Educational, Lecture, and Speaking Credits:
Food & Wine Magazine's Aspen Classic ('91-2008)
Epcot Int’l Food and Wine Festival, Walt Disney World (1996-2008)
Restaurant Business Menus
Telluride Wine Festival (1995-2011)
Cheers Magazine Beverage Conference, master of ceremonies (2000-2006)
DeGustibus at Macy's (1995-2010)
Bon Appetit Magazine Wine and Spirits Focus
International Pinot Noir Celebration [in Oregon] (‘96, ‘98, ‘99, 2002)
Winter Wine Escape, Master of Ceremonies [in Hawaii] (1998-2002)
Boston Wine Expo
Washington DC Wine Expo
DiRONA National Conference
Cornucopia, Whistler, BC, Canada Wine & Food Festival
Fine Art of Cuisine Food & Wine Festival, Tysons Corners, Washington DC
Boca Raton Food & Wine Festival, Master of Ceremonies
Food & Wine Magazine’s Puerto Rico Getaway (with Jacques Pepin '93, '95)
Pinehurst (NC) Wine Festival, Master of Ceremonies
Russian River Festival
Wines of Spain "Rioja with Bold Foods" series
Taos Wine Festival
Twin Cities Food & Wine Experience
Bon Appetit Magazine / Crystal Cruises
Vermont Wine and Food Festival
Food and Wine Magazine / Crystal Cruises
Windows on the World “Windows on Wine” w/ Kevin Zraly
International Wine & Food Society
Wines from Spain (1992-2011)
Food & Wines from France (1991-2011)
the New Wines of Greece (2010-2011)
All About Greek Wine (1993-2011)
Italian Trade Commission
German Wine Information Bureau
Cornell University
UCLA
California Culinary Academy
Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, NY
Culinary Institute of America, Napa Valley, CA
Institute of Culinary Education (formerly Peter Kump's)
French Culinary Institute
Swiss School of Hospitality, Beverage Management Instructor ('93)
Co-creator and Director/Lecturer---- Tanqueray Mentor Program (‘94-’98)
Co-creator and Lecturer w/ Doug Frost----Sterling School of Service and Hospitality Spirits Program (‘97-2001)
Co-creator and Director/Lecturer----Grand Marnier Trade Education Program (‘98-2011)
Co-creator and Director/Lecturer----Absolut Vodka Trade Education Program (‘99-2007)
Co-creator and Director/Lecturer----Sherry Trade Education & Awareness Program for Wines from Spain (‘99-2011)
Co-Creator and Director / Lecturer Jerez-Alsace-Rhone for SOPEXA and EU
Co-Creator and Director / Lecturer BNIC Cognac education program with EU
Co-Creator and Director / Lecturer Greek Spirits educational campaign with EU
Vice Chairman of National Board of Sommelier Society of America Co-chair, Education committee (‘97-’99)
Judge, ASA Best Sommelier in America Competition, for ASI Concours Mondial
Judge, San Francisco International Wine Competition
Judge, San Francisco International Spirits Competition
Judge, Ultimate Spirits Competition
Judge, Ultimate Wine Competition
Judge, Ultimate Cocktail Competition
Santé Magazine’s Spirits Professional of the Year 2003
CHEERS Magazine Beverage Innovator of the Year 2005 [lifetime achievement award]
Tales of the Cocktail Best Bar Mentor [Nominated] 2012
Founding Member of Board of Directors, Manhattan Cocktail Classic
Bar Convent Berlin, lecturer
James Beard Foundation Awards Committee member
James Beard Awards Wine and Spirits Chairperson
Founding Partner, co-Managing partner, Beverage Alcohol Resource, LLC (2005-2012)
Co-Creator and co-Director / Lecturer Drinkwell for DIAGEO
Co-Creator and co-Director / Lecturer Barsmarts for Pernod Ricard
Founding Partner, aka wine geek, LLC (1992-2013)
Current Consulting Clients:
HUDSON COMMON
HUDSON LODGE
RESERVE BAR
ISOLA
DEL MAGUEY SINGLE VILLAGE MEZCAL
KAPPA
GRAND MARNIER
TANQUERAY TEN
WINES FROM SPAIN
NEW WINES OF GREECE
BNIC / SOPEXA / EU
SPIRITS OF GREECE / EU
JEREZ - XERES - SHERRY / FEDEJEREZ / ICEX
PERNOD RICARD
DIAGEO
MOET HENNESSY
SAZERAC / GEMINI SPIRITS (AGAVE PORTFOLIO)
CHRISTIANIA
VIK MILLAHUE
DIAMOND IMPORTERS (SKOURAS, ALPHA ESTATE, SIGALAS, VERINO)
TELLURIDE WINE FESTIVAL
GOURMET LATINO
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