One of the most engaging and influential wine critics of the Millennial generation introduces his new podcast, Cristaldi’s Crush, and review platform dedicated to insightful and dynamic coverage of wine, spirits, and lifestyle across the United States despite the media’s recent headlines touting a decrease in wine production, sales, and consumption.
SAN FRANCISCO (March 26, 2025): Jonathan Cristaldi, a leading voice in the wine world, unveils Cristaldi & Co., a new multimedia platform that reimagines the intersection of adult beverage criticism and lifestyle coverage through a Millennial’s lens. In his content, Cristaldi & Co. emphasizes the joie de vivre that is soul-tied to the responsible enjoyment of adult beverages with an authentic voice and style all his own.
“With many new voices in the wine writing space, Jonathan Cristaldi stands out as a leading talent,” says Kerrin Laz, Proprietor at K. Laz Wine Collection. “His deep palate and expertise are evident in his reviews, offering insightful tasting notes and engaging storytelling that resonate with seasoned enthusiasts and newcomers. Jonathan’s commitment to exploring diverse wine regions and providing honest opinions has quickly earned him respect in the wine industry. His contributions will continue to enrich the wine community, and his influence will grow.”
While expert commentary and comprehensive reviews and reports on wines, spirits, and lifestyle products are central to the new platform, Cristaldi has also released the first episode of the “Cristaldi’s Crush” Podcast. This dynamic forum features interviews, insights, and in-depth discussions with industry leaders across California, Texas, Oregon, Washington, Michigan, and New York delivered in Cristaldi’s signature irreverent and entertaining style—a fresh perspective for today’s seasoned and emerging beverage enthusiasts.
With Cristaldi & Co., Cristaldi expands his reach to explore emerging and established wine regions and provide in-depth coverage of spirits and lifestyle products. His distinctive approach—blending expert analysis with an engaging, charismatic style—has drawn comparisons to a young Robert Parker combined with the wit and avant-garde energy of Andy Kaufman. “Cristaldi’s uncanny ability to identify standout wines and spirits is similar to The Voice’s Blake Shelton’s skill for spotting talent. He pairs it with the well-timed, effortless humor of Is It Cake? Host Mikey Day,” says former Wine Spectator editor Jeff Morgan. “Translating technical expertise into an accessible, entertaining format makes Cristaldi one of the most compelling voices in beverage criticism today.”
A respected voice in the industry, Cristaldi has long contributed to Decanter Magazine and continues to serve as its Napa Correspondent. Cristaldi’s highly anticipated 2022 Napa Cabernet Report for Decanter publishing in the May edition, while Cristaldi & Co. will continue rolling out new content and regional insights throughout the year.
“This is an exciting opportunity for Jonathan, who continues doing yeoman’s work in the Napa Valley for us at Decanter,” says Clive Pursehouse, North American Editor, Decanter Magazine, “while bringing his unique, affable brand of wine coverage and in-depth reporting to the broader regions of California for Cristaldi & Co.”
Cristaldi’s path to beverage journalism is unique. Raised in rural Cambridge, New York, Cristaldi was the first in his family to attend college, after which he moved to New York City to explore the world of performance art before finding a calling as a broadcast publicist. Living in New York, Cristaldi relished the dining culture of the City that Never Sleeps. In the late Aughts, NYC experienced a resurgence of supper club culture, and Cristaldi was a central figure in the rising world of underground dining. His club, The Noble Rot, caught the attention of Hot Ones creator Chris Schonberger (who was writing for Time Out New York at the time). Schonberger tapped Cristaldi to write a series of insightful, humorous takes on the wine world for Complex Magazine’s First We Feast platform.
Since then, Cristaldi’s work has graced the pages (and screens) of top-tier publications, including Food & Wine, Departures, The SOMM Journal, Tasting Panel Magazine, Liquor.com, Seven Fifty Daily, Los Angeles Magazine, Thrillist.com, Tasting Table, Time Out LA, First We Feast, Vivino.com, Psychology Today, Distinct, and The Montecito Journal.
“Cristaldi & Co is uniquely positioned to engage a new demographic as Jonathan is a Millennial from humble beginnings in upstate New York. His content is timely, relevant, and relatable, delivered with zero pretense and genuine brevity, which are all a welcome palate cleanser in today’s news cycle,” said Desmond Echavarrie, MS, founder of Scale Wine Group. Cristaldi is ushering in a dynamic shift in beverage criticism with the launch of Cristaldi & Co.—one that is insightful, authoritative, thoroughly engaging, and entertaining. Explore a fresh perspective on wine, spirits, and lifestyle at Cristaldiandco.com.
