About Me

My name is Christian Pillsbury, an American in Paris (or just South of). I am fascinated by the business of wine.

I am a San Francisco native who has been involved in the global wine industry for my entire career. I have been at times a sommelier, French wine importer and distributor, retailer, and wine industry commentator.

My blog takes its name from a tenth century form of the word “grape”. “Cwyst þu, gaderað man winberian of þornum” (By their fruits you will know them. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles?, Mathew 7:16). As for pronunciation, I'm too young... I wonder if Charlemagne ever sang "peel me a winberis"? Glad you asked, no?