Almost 20 years ago, Zan first caught the wine bug while studying history at Boston College and working his way through school in hospitality. It really caught fire when he became exposed to the expansive wine program at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse in Boston’s Seaport where he learned about the beauty of Napa Cabs, Burgundian Pinots and Bordeaux blends. While there he received the highest accolades in his Court of Master Sommeliers exam before helping facilitate the opening of the Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House in Back Bay along with fellow festival luminaries Lauren Daddona and Shanley Snydeman.

He then went on to hone his Italian palate while overseeing the wine program for James Beard award winning chef Lydia Shire’s Italian fusion restaurant Scampo at the Liberty Hotel.

But Island life called to him, and he went on to curate the cellars of the Harbor View Hotel on Martha’s Vineyard, bringing their program from a mere 65 selections to almost 500 in just one season, winning a coveted Wine Spectator “Best of Award of Excellence” award for his work. Eventually he returned to the city and his love of Italian wine at Contessa at the Newbury Hotel, but these days you can find him slinging bottles at Mistral in Boston’s Back Bay.

Despite his passion for wine, Zan loves a cold beer and never passes up a chance to discover new brews and breweries with his family and friends.