Marvin Shanken, who died on October 29 at age 83, transformed how Americans encounter wine. He took Wine Spectator from a small California newsletter and turned it into a glossy magazine that reached millions of readers and helped make wine a part of everyday culture.

Shanken also launched or reshaped publications such as Cigar Aficionado and Whisky Advocate. But Wine Spectator had the greatest impact on its field. While wine critics helped popularize numerical ratings, the magazine paired scores and tasting notes with long-form stories about wine regions, wineries, and the people behind the bottles. It became the first American magazine devoted entirely to wine and the lifestyle around it.

For many writers, the magazine was also a career-launching platform. One pair of contributors landed an eight-page cover story about Rioja, Spain, in 2008. They never met Shanken, but accounts from former and current staff suggested he remained closely involved in the publication’s work. The story’s reach became clear when a friend later pulled a folded copy from her handbag and said she was planning a trip to Rioja based on its recommendations.

Shanken’s influence extended beyond the magazine’s pages. Wine Spectator helped set a standard for wine journalism, inspiring other publications and expanding public interest in the stories behind what people drink. Its annual New York Wine Experience has brought together hundreds of winemakers and winery owners, giving guests a chance to taste notable wines and meet the people who make them. Events like it helped popularize large-scale wine tastings around the country and contributed to the rise of the “superstar winemaker.”

Winemakers remembered Shanken as someone who championed both wine and the people who produce it. Vintner Jean-Charles Boisset said Shanken gave wine a voice by celebrating its dreamers and pioneers. Winemaker Adam Lee praised his commitment to print, noting that Shanken continued to create magazines filled with photography and stories that could introduce readers to interests they hadn’t yet discovered.

For the writers whose careers began at Wine Spectator, Shanken’s legacy is a world of wine drinkers curious about more than what is in the glass. The next time you open a bottle—whether it’s an old favorite or a new discovery—his influence is worth remembering.