Dan Thompson

The Wine Report Publisher

Wine South Founder

Dan Thompson, founder of Wine South, began his professional career in both hospitality management and journalism. An Atlanta resident since 1978, his background and education in wine spans more than 25 years. He honed his skills in establishments such as The Midnight Sun, Trotterπs and Mortonπs Chicago Steakhouse in Atlanta. Articulate and passionate about wine, he is dedicated to demystifying wine for consumers.

Thompson entered the wine business in the early 1990s and found a concurrent thread among wine customers ≠ they wanted wine to be simpler. As a wine buyer and consultant, Thompson helped many clients wade through the volumes of wine information to find the styles that suited them. He launched the Thompson Wine Group in 1997 and began teaching wine education classes. As a member of the Society of Wine Educators, he expanded his horizons to envision publishing a regular newsletter.

In 1998 Thompson took his admiration for and dedication to wine to the press with the launch of The Wine Report ≠ called Atlanta Wine Report at that time. Today, The Wine Report is a monthly publication covering the local wine scene. Initially it focused on Atlanta and was later expanded to include Birmingham, AL and Charlotte, NC. LA Publishing & Media Group purchased the magazine in 2004 and Thompson remains as President.

As a further move to bring wine to larger audiences and make it simple and enjoyable, Thompson founded Wine South in 1999, and the first festival took place in 2000, drawing 3,000 people. Wine South has flourished since then, and 2005 marks the sixth annual festival, boasting two days wine tasting and education, food, music and art at the Gwinnett Center. The past few years, festival attendance has neared 5,000. Thompsonπs goal with both The Wine Report and Wine South is to make drinking and learning about wine uncomplicated and fun.

Thompson, 46, and wife Wyanne have a son Luke and a daughter Logan. They live in Lawrenceville, GA, in Gwinnett County. Thompson and Luke belong to Boy Scout Troop 514 and Thompson is a member of the Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce.