Jon McDaniel is the Founder + CEO of Ottantadue, a global hospitality and beverage strategy firm that includes the critically acclaimed Second City Soil, The Vine Hive and Lone Star Soil.

He is one of the most awarded wine professionals in America, named Food + Wine Magazine’s Sommelier of the Year, Wine Enthusiast “40 Under 40 Tastemakers”, LuxLife Best Sommelier in America and Riedel Crystal International Sommelier of the Month. He has been knighted by two historic wine and food organizations in Italy, a regular guest speaker at wine conferences and events across the globe and serves as a professor and guest lecturer at multiple universities across the U.S. including Harvard Business School, Stanford University and Chicago’s Roosevelt University. Jon was the Beverage Director for the 2010 World Cup, is the acting U.S. and Canada chair for the World’s Best Vineyards Awards and in 2020 was nominated for a Daytime Emmy alongside Chef Wolfgang Puck. In 2016 & 2017, five of World of Fine Wine’s Top 100 Wine Lists in the World were under Jon’s direction. He is also the owner and winemaker of Amos Cellars, based in Sonoma County.

Jon serves as the Director of Product + Education for Scout & Cellar and was one of the founding members of the United Sommeliers Foundation, a not-for-profit that raised over $1 million dollars for at-risk and medical relief for wine professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

When he isn’t teaching, tasting or traveling for wine, Jon is listening to Miles Davis, watching his beloved Azzurri and drinking drinks only meant for 85-year-old nonni while searching for the world’s best risotto.