Rick Rubel's guest appearances

Rick Rubel

The Southern Fork

Heritage Radio Network On Tour

Cameron Read

Femi Oyediran

Tandy Wilson

Daniel Doyle

Maneet Chauhan

Cheetie Kumar

Rodney Scott

Carrie Morey

Todd Richards

Steve Palmer

Bob Cook

Bill Thomas

Mickey Bakst

Ted Lee

Johnny Caldwell

OwlTail

As godfathers go, Rick Rubel is an exceptionally nice one. But he is one nonetheless, a key player in the growing wine excellence that Charleston, SC is becoming known for. As an advanced sommelier and wine director of Charleston Grill, Rick’s been studying and serving wine for close to 25 years, but it’s not just his encyclopedic knowledge of the biz and the bottles that make him noteworthy -- Rick inspires and mentors, sharing knowledge with anyone who’s interested, even really Southern food writers who horribly mispronounce words on wine labels on occasion. The Grill has held a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for years, and with more than 1200 selections in its cellar rooms, there’s one man who knows information about them all. And he’s here to help you navigate your bottle selection this season. 

As godfathers go, Rick Rubel is an exceptionally nice one. But he is one nonetheless, a key player in the growing wine excellence that Charleston, SC is becoming known for. As an advanced sommelier and wine director of <a href="https://www.charlestongrill.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Charleston Grill</a>, Rick’s been studying and serving wine for close to 25 years, but it’s not just his encyclopedic knowledge of the biz and the bottles that make him noteworthy -- Rick inspires and mentors, sharing knowledge with anyone who’s interested, even really Southern food writers who horribly mispronounce words on wine labels on occasion. The Grill has held a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for years, and with more than 1200 selections in its cellar rooms, there’s one man who knows information about them all. And he’s here to help you navigate your bottle selection this season.

163: Rick Rubel, Charleston Grill (Charleston, SC)

Rob Mondavi Jr

For this special on-location episode of The Grape Nation, Sam Benrubi welcomes wine luminaries Rob Mondavi Jr. and Rick Rubel. Rob Mondavi, Jr is a fourth generation winemaker who has been part of the industry for over thirty years. He was raised on a vineyard in the Napa Valley and worked in a variety of roles at the family winery while growing up. He is an entrepreneur who started bike tour and a cigar importing businesses and has also worked at a major wine distributor. He spent time in sales and marketing for the Robert Mondavi Corporation but transitioned back into winemaking in 2004 after he and his parents and sister started the Michael Mondavi Family Estate. He took over duties as head winemaker in 2012 and focuses on green winemaking and modern practices under the Isabel Mondavi, Animo and “M” by Michael Mondavi labels. Rick Rubel began his career in wine at the ripe age of 21, speed tasting wines at England’s Glyndebourne Opera House—an establishment known for its fast fine dining. Tasting an average of 100 - 200 wines per night, Rubel’s curiosity grew with his palate. Upon returning to the states, he landed a job with the Unique Restaurant Corporation (now the Matt Prentice Restaurant Group), where he landed an apprenticeship under Madeline Triffon, the first female master sommelier in the United States. Rubel worked with Triffon for 10 years, honing his skills and together developing more than 14 restaurant beverage programs. Rubel is now the wine director at the Belmond Charleston Place and sommelier of the hotel’s Charleston Grill.

For this special on-location episode of The Grape Nation, Sam Benrubi welcomes wine luminaries Rob Mondavi Jr. and Rick Rubel. Rob Mondavi, Jr is a fourth generation winemaker who has been part of the industry for over thirty years. He was raised on a vineyard in the Napa Valley and worked in a variety of roles at the family winery while growing up. He is an entrepreneur who started bike tour and a cigar importing businesses and has also worked at a major wine distributor. He spent time in sales and marketing for the Robert Mondavi Corporation but transitioned back into winemaking in 2004 after he and his parents and sister started the Michael Mondavi Family Estate. He took over duties as head winemaker in 2012 and focuses on green winemaking and modern practices under the Isabel Mondavi, Animo and “M” by Michael Mondavi labels. Rick Rubel began his career in wine at the ripe age of 21, speed tasting wines at England’s Glyndebourne Opera House—an establishment known for its fast fine dining. Tasting an average of 100 - 200 wines per night, Rubel’s curiosity grew with his palate. Upon returning to the states, he landed a job with the Unique Restaurant Corporation (now the Matt Prentice Restaurant Group), where he landed an apprenticeship under Madeline Triffon, the first female master sommelier in the United States. Rubel worked with Triffon for 10 years, honing his skills and together developing more than 14 restaurant beverage programs. Rubel is now the wine director at the Belmond Charleston Place and sommelier of the hotel’s Charleston Grill.

Rob Mondavi Jr. and Rick Rubel at CHSWFF18

Thomas Rivers Brown

Morgan Calcote

Sam Benrubi

For a special episode of The Grape Nation, Sam Benrubi gathers wine all-stars Thomas Rivers Brown (winemaker and owner of Rivers-Marie), Morgan Calcote (General Manger at FIG), and Femi Oyediran and Rick Rubel from Charleston Grill.

For a special episode of The Grape Nation, Sam Benrubi gathers wine all-stars Thomas Rivers Brown (winemaker and owner of Rivers-Marie), Morgan Calcote (General Manger at FIG), and Femi Oyediran and Rick Rubel from Charleston Grill.

Episode 43: CHSWFF17: Wine Roundtable - Thomas Rivers Brown, Morgan Calcote, Femi Oyediran, and Rick Rubel with Sam Benrubi of The Grape Nation