Aviram turgeman biography

Aviram Turgeman is the.
Born in Jerusalem, Turgeman came to the United States in 2001, looking to get into the restaurant and hospitality business.
Aviram was born in Jerusalem, came to the U.S. in 2001, and has since become beverage director at Tour de France NYC, a family of French.

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I am super excited about this week’s featured sommelier, Aviram Turgeman, who I first read about in Eric Asimov’s New York Times article, “At Nice Matin, a Wine List That Hits All the Marks.” A choice excerpt:

As exciting as it feels to pick up a wine list already well known for its great bottles, it’s even more electrifying to have few expectations and to be knocked back in goggle-eyed surprise.

Goggle-eyed! Personally, I’m most goggle-eyed that this neighborhood restaurant with a phenomenal wine list is in the Upper West Side, a detail that immediately elated me given it will be my new ‘hood this August. (See you this summer, Aviram.)

SO, let’s talk more about Aviram (pictured at right with a small bottle of wine), beverage director at Nice Matin. He’s a relatively young sommelier with a penchant for old, mature wines. His wine list won’t resemble the (IMHO) more impatient, intensely-fruit focused bottles you might see on many other menus…he seeks wines that are more developed and I’d imagine with more inte

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Rising Star Aviram Turgeman

Aviram (“Avi”) Turgeman, 30, is the beverage director for the Chef Driven/Tour de France restaurant group in New York, which includes Nice Matin, Marseille, Café d’Alsace and Barbounia, all with Wine Spectator award-winning wine lists. Born in Jerusalem, Turgeman came to the United States in 2001, looking to get into the restaurant and hospitality business. He’s been stationed at Nice Matin since 2005, where he works on the dining-room floor for both the lunch and dinner services, while also overseeing the wine buying and training at all the group’s restaurants. Recently, the group scored what was left of now-closed Chanterelle’s celebrated cellar, which had held a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence. Turgeman sat down with Wine Spectator to discuss how his wine lists have evolved, his preference for classic pairings and why he likes older wines.

Wine Spectator: How did you first get interested in wine?
Aviram Turgeman: My family is a gastronomic family—everyone cooks, so wine went hand in hand. Even my aunt’s garden in Jerusalem has

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An Award-Winning Mindset: Wine Spectator Chats with Restaurant Industry Stars

What does it take to weather the restaurant industry's biggest crisis in memory? Three Grand Award winners recently offered a glimpse at how they're adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining world-class wine programs. Chef Marcello Fiorentino of Marcello's La Sirena, Aviram Turgeman, wine director at Nice Matin, and chef Charlie Palmer recently joined Straight Talk with Wine Spectator on Instagram Live, in a trifecta of episodes that discussed their early days in the business, redefining quality takeout and advice for young members of the restaurant industry.

Taking over the family business

Marcello Fiorentino was born into the business. The veteran chef spoke with executive editor Thomas Matthews last week about joining La Sirena in West Palm Beach, Fla., out of necessity, to help out his mother. Fiorentino's father passed away when he was young, and he learned to take on restaurant roles quickly to fill the void. After his first night on the job, he became chef.

At the time, Fiorentino sa