Thatcher Baker Briggs has dealt with more revered wines in his young career than most industry types do in a lifetime. The 29-year-old consultant and sommelier sources some of the most coveted wines in the world for collectors all over.
Based in San Francisco, Briggs got his start in wine through restaurants. He did time at some great ones, like Saison in the Bay Area and Takazawa in Tokyo. Along the way, he sharpened his palate, tried some amazing wines, and developed relationships with lauded producers. It was the makings of his current venture, which involves highly curated wine wisdom and sourcing as well as an online shop of his own rare finds, which he launched over the summer.
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His restaurant era set him up for success today. Briggs says it was a combination of exposure to extensive wine lists and learning the human aspect inherent to hospitality. “A lot of what happens in restaurants is also similar to what we do now,” he says. “When you cook, you often learn how to multitask and be quite focused on the things that need to be handled quickly. Working in fine dining and having an understanding of service and hospitality is make or break in this business.”
Selecting wines for somebody is about as subjective as things come and Briggs gets the importance of real connection, something he absorbed on restaurant floors. “We are such a niche service that understanding of what clients want is incredibly important,” he adds.
Liz Daly
Like too many other industries, wine has a history of not being the most welcoming and inclusive. It remains mostly run by older white males, although it is evolving. Briggs doesn’t dwell on the subject, noting that somebody has to be the first one through the door. He thinks we should step back and question the entire scenario.
“There has been a lot of press on how the wine world isn’t diverse,” he says. “I think rather than focusing on how there is a lack, perhaps we should be asking ourselves why that is the situation. For me, I have been far too worried about living up to my own standards to worry about if someone feels that when they first look at me, if they feel I am capable of doing my job.”
It’s fair to say Briggs doesn’t carry himself like a lot of twenty-somethings. He displays a maturity earned from an early start in the business. Being the youngest person in the room is often a challenge, “But I started in restaurants at 13 and it’s how I have lived my whole life,” he says. Briggs adds that he was at a dinner recently and somebody at the table tried — and failed — to point out his inabilities on account of his age.
“I laughed after and decided to read even more about the particular subject that was being debated,” Briggs says. “I tend to focus on goals rather than people’s tones.”
Liz Daly
Wine is steeped in tradition but it’s not above progress. Younger people are entering the scene as younger consumers are flocking to wine. Briggs thinks the efficiencies of today’s world naturally breed younger, more capable people, no matter the industry. It might be more obvious in wine because the realm has simply been pretty stale for quite a while.
“I think that we are in such a big window of change,” he says. “The world of wine — which has been a rather dull, quiet, and outdated world — is gaining spice! It is not just a group of ten guys in the room talking about how big their … wine collection is. It is a connected community of men and women who are passionate about who is making the wine, and where it is from, and the intricacies of winemaking or the environment.”
Industry types are increasingly asking questions about the structure and nature of the wine world. Briggs sees the same curiosity among collectors, which he finds thrilling. “I am excited for all the young people to take a chance and push the limits,” he says. “If it is building a retail platform that is very niche, or reviewers taking the time to taste with young winemakers and bring them to everyone’s attention, or collectors wanting to not collect just what is known but who are looking for the next big thing. It is an exciting time in wine!”
Loch Lomond is launching a new series of single malt whiskies with a 16-year-old
Loch Lomond is a rising name in the world of Scotch whisky. This is made more evident with the news of its new collection of whiskies that were crafted to pay tribute to the distillery’s home along the body of water called Loch Lomond and its history in the Trossachs (an area of wooded glens near the loch).
The Waypoint Series was created for a specific ‘Waypoint’ in the National Park. The first age-statement single malt whisky is a 16-year-old expression.
Loch Lomond Waypoint 16-Year-Old
10 fascinating things you didn’t know about wine harvest
Things you didn't know about wine harvest
The funny thing about wine is that there are so many knowns and unknowns. Experts speak an entire wine language, and there are countless grape varieties. At the same time, each vintage is dependent on the weather, something we have very little control over.
One of the biggest closed-door scenarios in the industry is the annual grape harvest. Sure, we've all heard about the frenzy that occurs every fall, but many of us have never witnessed what happens behind cellar room doors.
This $35K wine collection is the most luxe gift for the wine lover in your life
Because if you can, you should.
There's a likely chance you have a wine enthusiast on your holiday list this year. And because you've already gifted them with a lovely decanter and perhaps a top-notch corkscrew, you may find yourself frantically scouring the internet's abundant lists of great gifts for wine lovers. After all, there are many beautiful items to choose from, but with the wide selection, the search can be a bit overwhelming. Thankfully, you needn't search any further, because we have the perfect gift for the oenophile in your life. That is, if you don't mind spending a mere 35 grand. Because, who needs a downpayment on a house, anyway?
This holiday season you can gift that wine lover Château Ducru-Beaucaillou's limited-edition Celebration Collection: one of their most sought-after offerings. Annually released, this one-of-a-kind collection houses 21 bottles of the Maison’s estate wine, Ducru-Beaucaillou, and is made in limited quantities, with less than 33 units produced per year. Featuring several large biblical formats, this collection is ideal for the cult wine lover who can either indulge immediately or store in the wine cellar for years to come.
Produced annually in limited quantities, this extravagant collection includes the equivalent of 100 bottles of wine allowing you to celebrate rare occasions in style for nearly 20 years.
