Cru
New York
- Cru
- Veritas, New York
- Tuscan Steak, New York
New York's Cru Sommelier Joshua Nadel's first interest in wine can be traced back to when, as a college student, he spent a semester studying Fine Arts and Art History in Florence, Italy. "We used to drink the $2 Chianti from our local markets. When we had some extra money, we'd treat ourselves to a $5 bottle."
It wasn't until one late night towards the end of the trip, when, cramped on an overnight train with only olive oil, bread, and prosciutto, that he tasted his first great Italian wine: Brunello di Montalcino. "Having no cups, we passed the bottle around between the four of us, in a small train cabin stuffed with backpacks and other traveling necessities. It remains one of my fondest memories."
After graduating SUNY Purchase with a degree in Fine Arts, Joshua began splitting his time between teaching High School art, and waiting tables on the upper west side of Manhattan. By the end of his first year, he was assisting the BR Guest Corporate Beverage Director, Chuck Simeone, with list placements and maintenance. The following fall Joshua worked crush at Cakebread Cellars in Napa Valley. Upon his return to New York City, as Assistant Wine Director, Joshua joined the opening team at Tuscan Steak, a restaurant in midtown Manhattan. Within a month, he was given complete control of the beverage program.
During the subsequent year, Joshua worked tirelessly to educate himself in the world of wine. In the summer of 2001, he was hired as Sommelier at Veritas restaurant in New York City, perennial winner of Wine Spectator's coveted Grand Award.
Throughout the next four years, working alongside Wine Director Tim Kopec, Joshua was continuously exposed to the world's greatest and most distinct wines. His expertise was sought to guide the most discriminating clientele at one of the world's premier wine destinations. Mr. Nadel became active in both the auction and international wine markets, and assisted with events, including such distinguished guests as Robert Parker, Bipin Desai, and Allen Meadows. During his tenure, Veritas hosted a portion of Acker Merrall & Condit's inaugural "Wines of the Century" weekend event, and in his final year, Veritas was awarded the James Beard award for Outstanding Wine Service. Working with both the owners' massive collections, and a significant list of wines under $75 has kept him adept at both ends of the market. In early 2006, he accepted the Sommelier position at CRU restaurant, another Grand Award recipient, in New York City.
Nadel regularly sits on tasting panels for Wine and Spirits magazine, and is often quoted in various industry publications such as the New York Times and Conde Naste's food and wine website Epicurious.com. His expertise is sought by restaurants, corporate entities, and private collectors. In Spring of 2006, Joshua created the wine program for The Lakehouse, enthusiastically reviewed by The New York Times and Newsday as one the best new restaurants on Long Island.