| Mark Oldman | |
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Mark Oldman in 2011 |
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| Born | Mark Stanford Oldman January 5, 1969 Manhattan, New York |
| Occupation | Wine critic |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Stanford Law School (J.D.) Stanford University (M.A.) Stanford University (B.A.) |
| Subjects | Wine |
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[markoldman.com markoldman.com] |
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Mark Oldman (born Mark Stanford Oldman, January 5, 1969) is an American entrepreneur and internationally recognized wine personality. He is the wine expert for Pottery Barn[1] and wine columnist for the Food Network[2]. Oldman was called the "ideal mix of wine connoisseur, showman, and everyday dude" by Publishers Weekly and his approach was described as "wine speak without the geek" by Bon Appétit.[3] He has twice won the Georges Duboeuf Best Wine Book of the Year Award.[4]
Contents |
In 2010, Oldman released Oldman’s Brave New World of Wine, published by W.W. Norton. Filled with unique stories and graphics, the book focuses on helping readers make the most of the unprecedented diversity of wines now available.[5] It details several dozen insider wine types of moderate cost and maximum appeal, and also includes the exclusive wine picks of oenophiles such as Jodie Foster, Hilary Swank, Antonio Banderas, John Lithgow, and Guy Fieri.[6]
Winner of the 2011 Georges Duboeuf Best New Wine Book of the Year Award,[7]Oldman's Brave New World of Wine was called "the perfect book for someone who's just caught the bug, or would like to" by The Wall Street Journal.[8] Marie Claire called the book “amazing, hilarious, and fascinating”[9] and the Huffington Post called it a “book you will cherish”.[10] Mediabistro.com wrote of Oldman's "exceptional voice" in an article which describes his book deal with Norton.[11]
In 2005, Oldman wrote Oldman’s Guide to Outsmarting Wine, published by Penguin Books and winner of the Georges Duboeuf Best Wine Book Award. Recommending it in 2010, The New Yorker called it the "perfect primer—concise, evenhanded, fun, and practical".[12] A contributor to Publishers Weekly commented that "robust, hearty, and full bodied describe not just a Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon but also this comprehensive wine guide for the novice oenophile." The book is published in Japan by Sony and in France in four volumes by Editions Solar, which also publishes the French volumes of American wine critic Robert Parker.
Oldman is lead judge in the PBS TV series The Winemakers,[13] filmed in Paso Robles wine country in California. Season two of the PBS series has finished casting and has commenced filming.[14]
Oldman writes and lectures widely on wine. He delivered the keynote address at the Boston Wine Expo and appears at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival, the Food Network New York City Wine and Food Festival, and the Aspen Food and Wine Classic,[15] among other top festivals. He also contributes to several lifestyle magazines, and has written a wine column and chooses the wine picks for the magazine Every Day with Rachael Ray. He is a regular on Martha Stewart Radio's "Living Today" program on Sirius Satellite Radio. He is also the wine expert for Pottery Barn stores.
In 1997, Oldman co-founded VAULT.com,[16] a popular media company focusing on career information. He served as president of Vault.com until its successful sale in 2007 to a major private equity firm.[17] With his co-founders H.S. Hamadeh and Samer Hamadeh, Oldman won Crain’s Top Entrepreneur's Award,[18] and the Harvard Business School Club’s Entrepreneur of the Year.[19]
Oldman is an investor and advisor to health, wellness & beauty web site Zeel.com[20].
Oldman received his B.A. and M.A. in English from Stanford University, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa. He also received a J.D. from Stanford Law School, where he won the Hilmer Oehlmann Jr. Prize for excellence in writing. Oldman has served on four major boards of Stanford, including its Board of Trustees.