Buy me some pinot and Cracker Jack: Meet the MLB’s first-ever master sommelier

Evan Goldstein can answer the burning question: what wine pairs best with garlic fries?
Evan Goldstein is joining the San Fransisco Giants as the first-ever master sommelier for an MLB team. (Photo by George Rose)

In September, the San Francisco Giants made Major League Baseball history—in fact, probably pro sports history—as the first-ever team to hire a master sommelier. Evan Goldstein, one of just 269 master sommeliers in the world, has spent decades working with wine and watching sports. Now he gets to combine those passions: it’s his job to bridge beer-loving baseball fans with the world of tannins and oak, introducing new wines to Giants games, striking partnerships across the country and introducing wine tasting events for fans.

Goldstein joins the Menschwarmers, our sports podcasters, for an rich dive into what the job will entail, the state of wine in ballparks across the world and what vinos pair best with hot dogs and garlic fries.

Credits

Menschwarmers is hosted by James Hirsh and Gabe Pulver, and produced and edited by Michael Fraiman. Our intro music is by Coby Lipovitch, and our outro music is “Organ Grinder Swing” by chēēZ π. This show is a member of The CJN Podcast Network. Follow the Menschwarmers on Twitter @menschwarmers or TikTok @menschwarmers. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.

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