Jeff Morgan (vintner)

Jeff Morgan (born October 3, 1953) is an American winemaker, writer, cookbook author, and co-founder of Covenant Wines.

The former West Coast editor of Wine Spectator magazine (where he worked from 1992 – 1999), Morgan began his wine career in his mid-30’s after working as a professional saxophonist in Europe (eventually as bandleader at the Grand Casino in Monte Carlo)[1] and in New York. In 2003 he co-founded Covenant Winery—dedicated to making "highly regarded" [1] kosher Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon among other wine varietals.

In 2000, Morgan was hired by specialty food purveyor Dean & DeLuca as Wine Director. During this time, he wrote his first cookbook—Dean & DeLuca, The Food and Wine Cookbook (Chronicle Books 2002). He has written an additional 7 cookbooks since, collaborating with his wife, Jodie Morgan, on winery and restaurant cookbooks for Domaine Chandon, PlumpJack,[2] Ruby Tuesday and Coopers Hawk. Other books include The Working Parents Cookbook,[3][4] and Rosé, A Guide to the World’s Most Versatile Wine (both with Chronicle Books). Most recently, Morgan and his wife published "The Covenant Kitchen: Food and Wine for the New Jewish Table" (Schocken Books, 2015).

In 2003, Leslie Rudd, owner of vineyard land in Napa and the proprietor of Dean & DeLuca became Morgan's business partner in Covenant Wines.[5]

In addition to his roles as winemaker and cookbook author, Morgan was a founding instructor (since 2003) at the Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies at the Culinary Institute of America, Napa Valley.[6]

Morgan's wines have received praise from Robert M. Parker, Jr. who dubbed the 2005 Covenant Cabernet one of the “finest kosher wines on Planet Earth.”*[7] And in March 2013, the wine critic Jancis Robinson said that Morgan has made, "The best kosher wine I have ever tasted."*[8]

References

  1. 1 2 Virbila, Irene S. "Across the Table: Kosher wine worth passing around" , The L.A. Times, Los Angeles, 23 March 2013; retrieved December 10, 2013
  2. ↑ Saekel, Karola. "Great Books For All Cooks" , SF Gate, San Francisco, CA, 6 December 2006, retrieved 10 December 2013
  3. ↑ Duggan, Tara. "Quick Recipes For The Working Parent" , SF Gate, San Francisco, CA, 16 June 2004, retrieved 10 December 2013
  4. ↑ Brown, Corie. "I'll Be Home For Dinner" , The L.A. Times, Napa Valley, 5 May 2004, retrieved 10 December 2013.
  5. ↑ Mackay, Jordan. "Making Kosher Wine, Finding a Path Back to the Fold" , The New York Times, Napa, CA, 19 March 2010, retrieved 10 December 2013
  6. ↑ Teague, Lettie. "Can Wine School Lead to a New Career?" , Food & Wine, Napa, CA, May 2009, retrieved 10 December 2013
  7. ↑ Freedman, Samuel G. "Napa Maker of Prized Kosher Wine Says His Faith Came Through the Vine" , The New York Times, Napa, CA, 5 October 2012, retrieved 10 December 2013
  8. ↑ Robinson, Jancis. "Napa Kosher Vertical" , JancisRobinson.com, Napa, CA, published 4 March 2013; retrieved December 10, 2013

External links

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