Other
John Szabo
Principal critic
- Discipline
- Other
i. Biography
John Szabo’s trade is built across criticism, education, buying, cellar consulting, audio work, hotel-related wine work in Québec, and land stewardship. The through-line is practical wine judgment: tasting for print, selecting for a club, advising cellars, teaching trade audiences, and tending a regenerative organic field blend vineyard and orchard.
The Ascent
Cross-border wine work gave John Szabo an early base in consulting, school operation, and trade education: consultant at French-Hungarian wine group, wine school operator at Center For Vines Affairs in Toronto, and trade education seminar leader at Wine Council of Ontario. Current public-facing work centers on written assessment, selection, and editorial responsibility: writer (since 2004), partner and principal critic of WineAlign.com, buyer of WineAlign Exchange wine club, columnist of Modalina magazine, columnist of Monarch magazine, and columnist of MarQuee magazine.
Now
Wine criticism at WineAlign.com is the central platform for John Szabo’s present public work, where the principal critic role sits alongside buying for the WineAlign Exchange wine club. The combination keeps evaluation tied to selection, not only description. Magazine work extends that same register into column writing, including MarQuee magazine. Cellar practice enters through CellArt, where John Szabo serves as in-house cellar consultant. Audio work adds another format for trade conversation. The Wine Thieves podcast is co-hosted by John Szabo. Hotel-related wine work remains part of the current field through Accor/Fairmont/Sofitel Hotels in Québec. Land work closes the loop between tasting and growing. John Szabo tends his own regenerative organic field blend vineyard and orchard, keeping soil, vines, trees, and seasonality inside the same professional frame as criticism, buying, and consulting. Goju-Ryu Karate-do is also listed among his specialties, named alongside wine as part of his working discipline.
Signature
Sommelier practice here includes a defined focus on volcanic wines, with John Szabo’s work placing that category inside criticism, education, and public wine communication.
Peer Recognition
Drinks writing by John Szabo received the André Simon Award for best drinks book (2016).
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of John
What is John Szabo's current role?
John Szabo is principal critic.
Where did John Szabo work before?
Earlier in their career, John Szabo worked at French-Hungarian wine group, Center For Vines Affairs, and Wine Council of Ontario.
What recognition has John Szabo received?
André Simon Award for best drinks book (2016).
