Constantine “Gus” Kalaris may very well be one of the nicest people I have ever met. A gregarious man of Greek heritage, he prefers a giant bear hug to a handshake. His broad smile and deep laugh are genuine and infectious. He has an appetite for both food and wine and an even bigger passion for friends and family, particularly his wife, Lynne, and his two children, son Alexander and daughter Sophia.

Gus first fell in love with wine while doing a stint as a Maitre d’. He not only enjoyed tasting a wide variety of wines but also loved turning people onto his personal favorites. In 1981, Gus continued to expand his knowledge of wines when he landed a job with a wine wholesaler. It exposed him to the business side of the equation and gave him an opportunity to sift through myriad California wines and develop relationships with key people in the industry. He quickly developed a reputation for finding great wines in a wide range of price points.