CHICAGO SALON SERIES - About Mike Schmidt

About Michael Madrigale

Before joining Heritage's Fine & Rare Wine Department as a New York-based Consignment Director, Michael spent 17 years becoming one of the most recognized sommeliers in the country. The Philadelphia native got his start in the wine business with a consultant position at the Burgundy Wine Company. A connection made through this job led to an opportunity to work on the 2002 Nuits St. Georges harvest in Burgundy, during which he spent an entire growing season of plowing, pruning, and picking. Michael's experience in Burgundy created a respect for nature, the ecosystem and terroir, but most importantly, an understanding of the grueling work small growers endured to create an appealing wine.

After returning to the U.S., he accepted sales and management positions with Michael Skurnik Wines, Clicquot, Inc., and Henriot Inc. before returning to France with Butterfield & Robinson in Beaune to lead wine tours throughout the region. In 2007, Michael joined one of NYC's finest restaurant groups, Chef Daniel's Dinex Group, serving as wine director of Boulud Sud and Bar Boulud while tasting tens of thousands of wines over a nearly 10- year period. His industry recognition during this period included being named a James Beard Award Finalist for "Americas Best Wine Program" (2014); Americas Best Blind Palate (2010); Bordeaux Ambassador to the U.S. (2015-2018); Ambassador of Wines of Northern Greece (2015-2018); two-time Sommelier of the Year (Food & Wine, 2012) (Wine Enthusiast, 2013); and two-time winner of Wine and Spirits Magazine "Sommelier Scavenger Hunt" (2014, 2015).