Marvin R. Shanken, Longtime Publisher and Editor of Wine Spectator, Dies at 83
Marvin R. Shanken, the longtime publisher and editor of Wine Spectator, has died in Manhattan aged 83. He helped make wine more accessible to American consumers and raised the profile of the US wine industry, including Napa Valley.
Shanken bought the industry newsletter Impact in 1972 and the struggling Wine Spectator newspaper in 1979, turning it into a glossy magazine with more than 100,000 subscribers. Its 100-point rating system helped readers choose fine wines, while its influence extended to how wineries made them. He also founded Cigar Aficionado and other trade publications, established Wine Spectator’s Restaurant Awards and created its scholarship foundation.
In short
- Marvin R. Shanken has died aged 83.
- He transformed Wine Spectator into a magazine with over 100,000 subscribers.
- Its ratings helped shape wine buying and production.
Explained simply
Wine Spectator is an American magazine about wine, covering producers, regions and bottles for both enthusiasts and trade readers. Its ratings and reviews gave consumers a way to compare wines, while its coverage helped bring attention to American wine regions such as Napa Valley.
Marvin R. Shanken built a publishing business around specialist magazines and trade newsletters. Wine Spectator’s 100-point scoring system became a familiar guide for buyers and retailers, and its restaurant awards recognised venues with notable wine lists.
The magazine’s reach matters because ratings, coverage and awards can influence what people buy and how wineries present their wines. Shanken also founded Cigar Aficionado and supported wine education through a scholarship foundation.