When people ask me what’s good wine, I say ‘Whatever you like to drink…’ if you love something that costs $5 a bottle, knock yourself out. That’s terrific—good news for you!
(From May 2024 interview in Omaha Magazine)
From writing about the wine industry in books and magazines to giving public talks on how the wine industry is fighting back against global climate change, Mark is heavily involved in the world of viticulture. For more than ten years he has been a contributor to such publications as Wine & Spirits, Napa Valley Life, Edible Marin & Wine Country, and many more. Presently, Mark is working on an extensive collection of essays chronicling the history and people of the Napa Valley’s Oakville AVA.
Mark’s passion for wine and philanthropy intersect at the vinNEBRASKA Foundation, where he proudly serves as the President of the Board of Directors. Over the past thirty-five years, vinNEBRASKA has raised more than $8 million for important local charities. Between 2022 and 2024, vinNEBRASKA raised more than $1.3 million to help support The Stephen Center. Beginning in 2025, vinNEBRASKA will benefit Completely KIDS. Under Mark’s tenure, the Foundation has begun offering scholarships to students and aspiring wine professionals, launched the Women of Wine Symposium at the College of Saint Mary, and partnered with the Court of Master Sommeliers to offer wine certification courses on an annual basis.
Visit vinnebraska.com to learn more, attend, and support the foundation’s work.
Mark’s most recent book is a history of the Napa Valley centered around the Judgement of Paris, a wine tasting in 1976 portrayed in the movie Bottleshock which turned the world of wine upside down and opened the doors to international markets. To purchase The Rise of Napa Valley Wineries: How the Judgement of Paris put California Wine on the Map, click the button below.
