Wine Spectator Founder Marvin Shanken Dies at 83

Marvin R. Shanken, the veteran editor and publisher who built Wine Spectator into a leading wine publication, died Thursday in Manhattan at 83. He entered the wine business in 1972 after purchasing a modest trade newsletter called Impact, which quickly became a go‑to source for wine and spirits professionals. In 1979 he acquired the then‑floundering Wine Spectator newspaper, moved its offices from San Diego to San Francisco and transformed it into a glossy magazine that eventually attracted more than 100,000 subscribers. Under his guidance the magazine introduced a 100‑point rating system that made wine selection easier for casual buyers and helped raise the profile of regions such as Napa Valley. Shanken also launched Cigar Aficionado, bought Food Arts and the malt‑focused publication later renamed Whisky Advocate, and created Market Watch and Shanken News Daily through his M. Shanken Communications group. He started Wine Spectator’s Restaurant Awards, revived the Wine Experience weekend that links producers with drinkers, and set up a scholarship foundation for aspiring wine professionals. An obituary from the magazine praised him for educating millions of Americans about wine and for urging winemakers to strive for quality. W. Blake Gray of Wine‑Searcher said the magazine, alongside Robert Parker’s guide, could steer winemaking practices worldwide. Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Shanken earned a business degree from the University of Miami and an MBA from American University in Washington. He began his career on Wall Street, where a project financing a California vineyard sparked his lifelong passion for wine. He is survived by his wife Hazel Rudy, daughters Jessica, Allison and Samantha, four grandchildren and two sisters. ## Context Wine Spectator remains one of the most influential wine magazines, and its ratings continue to shape consumer choices and winery reputations worldwide.