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Anthony Dias Blue

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Anthony Dias Blue
Born(1941-01-05)January 5, 1941
Larchmont, New York, U.S.
DiedDecember 25, 2023(2023-12-25) (aged 82)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma materAmherst College[1]
Occupation(s)Author, editor, columnist, television personality
Spouse
Kathryn Koshland
​
(m. 1967)​
[1]
Children2

Anthony Dias Blue (January 5, 1941 – December 25, 2023) was an American author, columnist, television and radio personality and the owner of a food and wine event company in Los Angeles, California.[2]

Life and career

Born in Larchmont, New York on January 5, 1941,[1] Blue had a long-running feature spot on WCBS radio in New York City. The subject of the feature was restaurant reviews and lifestyle subjects, mostly associated with food. Later the program was expanded to include reporting about wine. Now called the Blue Lifestyle Minute, the feature has been on every day for more than 30 years (except for the two weeks following 9/11).[3] Blue received a James Beard Award for the Minute in 2001.[4]

A separate, localized version of The Blue Lifestyle Minute began airing in 1999 on KFWB in Los Angeles. In 2009, this feature moved to KABC[5] along with the addition of a new weekend show called "The Taste Buds" co-hosted with Meridith May and Merrill Schindler.[6] In 2014 Blue left KABC and moved The Blue Lifestyle Minute to KNX (AM) 1070.[7] This brings Blue's listenership to over 200,000. He died in Los Angeles on December 25, 2023, at the age of 82.[1]

San Francisco Competitions

Blue acquired the San Francisco International Wine Competition, the largest international wine competition in the US (nearly 4,500 wines entered in 2017).[8] In 2000 Blue launched the San Francisco World Spirits Competition which has become the second largest spirits competition in the world. It is the biggest in the United States with more than 2500 entries in 2017.[9]

Past publications

In 1978, Blue became West Coast Editor of Food & Wine magazine.[10] In 1980, Blue became Wine and Spirits Editor of Bon Appétit Magazine, a position he held for 26 years.[11] He also wrote a weekly syndicated wine column that appeared in the Bay Area, first in the San Francisco Chronicle and then in the San Jose Mercury News.[12][13] For 10 years, Blue wrote and edited the Zagat Guide for northern California for his friend Tim Zagat, with whom he attended Riverdale.[12]

The Tasting Panel

In 2007 Blue purchased, in partnership with Publisher Meridith May, Patterson's Beverage Journal, a 65-year-old beverage trade publication that was renamed The Tasting Panel. It has become the highest circulation beverage industry publication.[14]

The Sommelier Journal

In December 2013, The Tasting Panel acquired The Sommelier Journal with Blue as the new Editor-in-Chief along with a team of top wine and hospitality industry writers.[15] The first issue of the refreshed publication was distributed in Spring of 2014.

Blue Lifestyle

Blue now runs one of the nation’s most successful producers of wine and food events, creating large trade tastings, wine seminars, lunches and dinners for wineries and wine associations around the world.

Other

In 2001 Blue also served as the color commentator on the short-lived reality television series Iron Chef USA.

Bibliography

Blue wrote nine books including American Wine, The Complete Book of Mixed Drinks, The Complete Book of Spirits, and Anthony Dias Blue's Pocket Guide to Wine.[11] With his wife, Kathryn Blue, he has also authored two cookbooks, Thanksgiving Dinner and America's Kitchen.[12]

Accolades

In 1988, Blue was selected for the James Beard Who's Who in Food Award, in 2000 he was nominated for a James Beard Award as "Wine & Spirits Personality of the Year".[16] He won the 1997 Communicator of the Year Award from the International Wine & Spirits Competition in London.[17] In 2001 he was awarded a James Beard Award for The Blue Lifestyle Minute.[18]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Risen, Clay (January 4, 2024). "Anthony Dias Blue, Whose Writing Elevated California Wines, Dies at 82". The New York Times. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  2. ^ "Anthony Dias Blue | Vino 2011". Italianmade.com. Archived from the original on 2012-01-26. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  3. ^ Lifestyle Minute. "Lifestyle Minute". Newyork.cbslocal.com. Archived from the original on 2011-03-18. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  4. ^ "Welcome to the James Beard Foundation". Jamesbeard.org. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  5. ^ "Blue Lifestyle Minute Archives". Bluelifestyle.com. 2005-11-09. Archived from the original on 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  6. ^ "The Taste Buds - The Tasting Panel Magazine". Tastingpanelmag.com. Archived from the original on 2011-02-27. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  7. ^ "Anthony Dias Blue Joins KNX 1070 AM in Los Angeles with his award-winning "Blue Lifestyle Minute"". globenewswire.com. Retrieved 2014-02-03.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ "San Francisco International Wine Competition". Sfwinecomp.com. Archived from the original on 1 February 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  9. ^ "San Francisco World Spirits Competition". Sfspiritscomp.com. Archived from the original on 1 February 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  10. ^ "10 Questions for Anthony Dias Blue | CITYSIPPER SAN FRANCISCO". Sanfrancisco.citysipper.com. 2010-01-24. Archived from the original on 2011-04-27. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  11. ^ a b "Anthony Dias Blue | Official Publisher Page". Authors.simonandschuster.com. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  12. ^ a b c "An Interview with Anthony Dias Blue". Sallybernstein.com. Archived from the original on 9 February 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  13. ^ "Anthony Dias Blue - The Tasting Panel Magazine". Tastingpanelmag.com. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  14. ^ "History of The Tasting Panel". Tastingpanelmag.com. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  15. ^ "Sommelier Journal Will Be Revived". winebusiness.com/. Retrieved 2014-02-03.[permanent dead link]
  16. ^ "Welcome to the James Beard Foundation". Jamesbeard.org. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  17. ^ "The Modern Mixologist Joins the San Francisco World Spirits Competition as Director of... - SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 2 /PRNewswire/". California, United Kingdom: Prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  18. ^ "Welcome to the James Beard Foundation". Jamesbeard.org. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
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