The Details

On April 8, 2010, University Settlement hosted Taste of the Earth: Treasured Wines from Prestigious Places, its Sixth Annual Fine Wine Dinner  &  Auction at Christie's New York. Celebrity wine consultant Michael Green, along with top New York City sommeliers, led guests through a tasting of extraordinary wines from world-renowned vineyards and regions. A vigorous auction of fine vintages and other special wine-related lots led by John Kapon of Acker Merrall  &  Condit capped the evening. This exclusive dinner was limited to 130 guests.

Tables of 10: $25,000; single tickets $3,000.

All proceeds went to benefit University Settlement's diverse and innovative programming for New Yorkers of all ages.

Master of Ceremonies

Michael Green (formerly of Gourmet magazine) is a well-known media personality who appears frequently on the Food Network, CNN, CBS Marketwatch, and Fox News. He has been featured in such print publications as The New York Times, Washington Post, Business Week, U.S. News  &  World Report and House Beautiful.

A board member of the American Institute of Wine and Food, Green often shares his vast knowledge of wines at cooking schools around the country including the Culinary Institute of America and the Institute of Culinary Education.

Auctioneer

John Kapon is a third-generation wine merchant and President and Auction Director of Acker Merrall  &  Condit, America's oldest wine shop. In the past ten years, he has created one of the most dynamic wine companies in the world, taking a retail operation to the top of the auction world.

Over the past decade, Acker Merrall  &  Condit has grown 1,800% and is now considered one of the leading fine wine operations in the world. In addition, Kapon is an avid writer himself, describing the numerous fine and rare wines to which he is exposed on a yearly basis in his blog, Vintage Tastings.

Event Chair

Jim Finkel is the co-founder and CEO of Dynamic Credit Partners, LLC, an investment management firm specializing in structured credit. He has served on the Board of University Settlement since 2004.  Finkel's love of wine began in 1981 when he apprenticed at the Parisian Left Bank wine shop of Jean-Baptiste Besse.  He has been a wine a collector for over 25 years, has mounted many private tastings, serves on the Wine Committee at the University Club, is a Commandeur de Bordeaux and Costes du Rhone and is a Chevalier du Tastevin.  Jim recently translated A Tribute to the Great Wines of Burgundy, and has a special interest in ancient wine and wine history.

Guest Sommeliers

Mollie Battenhouse
Wine Director, Maslow 6











Health Branch
Beverage Director, eighty one








Joe Campanale
General Manager and Sommelier, Dell'anima













Chris Cottrell
Specialist, Fine  &  Rare Wine Dept., Crush Wine Co.











Roger Dagorn
Head Sommelier, Porter House










Will Di Nunzio
Wine Portfolio Manager, Italian Wine Merchants












Erin Fitzpatrick
Sommelier, The Waverly Inn











James Horn
Beverage Director/Manager, Faustina











Keri Levens
Sommelier, The Modern











David Lombardo
Wine Director, Landmarc and Ditch Plains










Greg Majors
Chef Sommelier, Cru









Ryan Mills-Knapp
Beverage Director, Tribeca Grill












Kristie Petrullo
Beverage Director, Craft Restaurant












Clare Shaheen
Sommelier, Tribeca Grill











Brian Smith
Wine Director, Clo Wine Bar

Evening Sponsors