Quick Bites: Taste Maker

There are fewer than 300 in the entire world, and one lives right here among us. No, it’s not an endangered animal—but he’s pretty exotic in his own right.
Richard Peck, wine educator for Table 301’s restaurant collection, which includes Soby’s, Devereaux’s and the Lazy Goat, is perhaps better known as the founder of the Greenville Wine Meetup group, which gathers regularly around town to discuss and enjoy the latest and greatest grapes. But, as of this fall, he’s also one of only 289 Certified Wine Educators in the world, making him a rare vintage indeed.

For Peck, also G Magazine’s wine columnist, wine has been a lifelong passion. “It enhances health, stimulates conversation, and makes meals more enjoyable,” he offers. Before relocating to Greenville, he was on staff at Chateau St. Jean, one of Sonoma Valley’s premium wineries. He is also a certified sommelier, member of the Court of Master Sommeliers, and has been a specialist in wine in the Society of Wine Educators, devoting hundreds upon hundreds of hours to furthering his education in all-things-vino.

His latest achievement puts him in even more exclusive company, though. In October, Peck completed—and passed—his Certified Wine Educator examination with the Society of Wine Educators. Passing takes more than just a knowledge of wine—it requires a highly discriminating palate. In addition to written examinations, test takers must identify eight different wines in a blind tasting, as well as seven common wine faults in another blind tasting.

A glass act, to be sure.