JOHN OSBORNE
As Wine Director for Restaurant Latour and the Crystal Springs Resorts in Hamburg, NJ, John is a member of a very exclusive club - his is one of only 72 restaurant wine cellars worldwide to currently hold the Wine Spectator Magazine's Grand Award of Excellence. With over 64,000 bottles and over 4,000 selections, John presides over one of the most outstanding wine collections in the world. "It's like having all the greatest works of art of all the grand masters in one museum", says John.
John has been a leading figure in the wine world's largest and most diverse market, New York City, for almost 30 years. After stints as Wine Buyer, Sommelier and General Manager for top Manhattan restaurants including Gotham Bar & Grill and Rosemarie's, John spent 9 years as the Wine Director for Astor Wines & Spirits, one of New York's top wine retailers. More recently, he consulted on the opening of New York City's most exciting wine shop, Crush Wine Co., Food & Wine Magazine's "Top New Wine Shop of 2005". He travels to all the major wine regions in the world and stays in touch with many of today's top wine stars, including Château Latour's Frederic Engerer, Screaming Eagle's Andy Erickson and super-consultant Michel Rolland.
John brings his lifelong passion for fine wines and great food to the floor of Restaurant Latour every evening in what is one of the dream jobs for a sommelier. Whether he's creating wine-pairings for Latour's 7-course Tasting Menu, helping Latour diners navigate one of the world's top wine lists or putting together a once-in-a-lifetime private dining experience in the Wine Cellar, he delights in wowing customers with an exceptional wine and food experience. He also leads corporate and private wine tastings and classes at Crystal Springs and is the host for the Wine Academy Weekends held along with the resort's gorgeous new hotel, the Grand Cascades Lodge.
