Jon McDaniel is the founder & CEO of Second City Soil, a Chicago-based wine consultancy with the mission of growing Chicago’s wine culture through winery and restaurant marketing and education partnerships. McDaniel is recognized as one of the top wine professionals in the U.S.

He has recently named the United States Academy Chair for “World’s Best Vineyards”.Winner of Food + Wine Magazine’s Sommelier of the Year in 2018, Wine Enthusiast “40 Under 40 Tastemakers” in 2017 and Riedel Crystal International Sommelier of the Month in November of 2016, Jon has been featured in Wine Spectator, Wine + Spirits Magazine, Forbes, and World of Fine Wine Magazine. In 2017, 5 of World of Fine Wine Magazine’s Top 100 Wine Lists were under Jon’s direction and many more on the list.