We’re excited to share that Crystal Springs’ Robby Younes has been named one of Wine Enthusiast’s 2018 40 Under 40 Tastemakers! The Wine Enthusiast40 Under 40 list recognizes the winemakers, beverage directors, brewers, grape growers, and other movers and shakers who are changing today’s beverage industry – he is the only tastemaker from New Jersey this year! The print issue announcing this year’s Tastemakers will be out in October.
For more than a decade, Robby has overseen the renowned Crystal Springs wine program. Since 2008, his career path at Crystal Springs Resort has led from Director of Food & Beverage to Wine Director and Vice President of Hospitality and Resort C.O.O. but along the way he has continued to build the award-winning wine program, which holds Wine Spectator’s highest honor, the Grand Award, and was recently inducted in the Wine Enthusiast Restaurant Hall of Fame. Though the Wine Cellar is known for its collection of Bordeaux, Burgundy and California wines, in recent years Robby has looked to new regions, becoming a passionate advocate for up-and-coming wine regions like Georgia and his native Lebanon.
Educated in France, Robby spent years working in renowned boutique hotels as well as for Starwood and Hilton. He rose quickly through the ranks to become an executive in his mid-twenties. In 2008, he joined Crystal Springs Resort as Food & Beverage Director of Grand Cascades Lodge. He worked closely with owner Gene Mulvihill to expand the Wine Cellar, building it into the foremost collection of fine wines in the country. As Regional F&B Director and Wine Director, Robby reinvigorated the entire restaurant portfolio, personally overseeing the appointment of new chefs for the Resort and four-star Restaurant Latour, as well as opening Chef’s Garden, a unique garden to table seasonal dining experience. As V.P. of Hospitality, he oversaw the elevation of Grand Cascades Lodge to AAA 4 Diamond status and led the renovation of Minerals Resort & Spa. He also created the state’s most prestigious annual wine event, the New Jersey Wine & Food Festival, drawing some of the world’s best chefs to Crystal Springs including Daniel Boulud, Thomas Keller, Jose Andres, David Bouley, Francis Mallman, and many more.
More on Robby and his latest accolade: www.winemag.com/content/40-under-40-2018-robby-younes/
