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Uncorked with Nobu's Marcus Voglrieder, Beverage Director

Just hearing, saying or even writing the word "Nobu" and my mouth starts watering. We sit down with Nobu's Beverage Director to talk wine, career, and what's ahead.

Uncorked with Nobu's Marcus Voglrieder, Beverage Director
Nobu logo

Just hearing, saying or even writing the word "Nobu" and my mouth starts watering. The fusion cuisine, blending traditional Japanese cuisine with Peruvian ingredients, developed by Nobuyuki "Nobu" Matsuhisa is in a playing field all its own.With restaurants in the U.S. from Las Vegas to Lana'i, Miami to Malibu and throughout the world from Milan to Melbourne, there aren't many who haven't at least heard the name, even if they haven't been lucky enough to enjoy the food."Nobu," the man behind the food is a celebrity for sure, first and foremost for the cuisine he invented. He's also been in three feature films.The man behind the beverages at Nobu (Marcus) may not be a household name, but he is just as impressive and has curated quite a saké and wine program for the brand.

The Interview

A Conversation with Marcus Voglrieder

18 questions

  1. TM
    The Mark Wine Group

    Hello Marcus! Thank you for sitting down with us today. Let's jump into it! So, you grew up in Bavaria, Germany. What did your parents do?

    The Mark Wine Group
    Marcus Voglrieder
    MV
    Marcus Voglrieder

    My mother worked at a tax office and my father worked in telecommunications before transitioning into the hospitality business, running a local hotel.

  2. TM
    The Mark Wine Group

    Taxes and telecommunications before a jump into hospitality. Did you want to follow in their footsteps or did you have other dreams?

    The Mark Wine Group
    Marcus Voglrieder
    MV
    Marcus Voglrieder

    I have always been fascinated with speed, so either a professional motorcycle or race car driver.

  3. TM
    The Mark Wine Group

    Love that. I was obsessed with the Steve McQueen movie "On Any Sunday" about motorcycle life when I was a kid. I was also obsessed with Grand Marnier Souffle. Were you a foodie as a kid?

    The Mark Wine Group
    Marcus Voglrieder
    MV
    Marcus Voglrieder

    Not really. My food upbringing was simple. I mainly ate traditional Bavarian (Southern German) dishes, and on rare occasions Italian, Greek and Chinese cuisine.

  4. TM
    The Mark Wine Group

    How about wine. Do you have a "aha" wine moment? Like when you tasted your first Champagne?

    The Mark Wine Group
    Marcus Voglrieder
    MV
    Marcus Voglrieder

    Actually, it was NYE in 1999. I was working on a cruise ship as a bartender. We were in Mexico, and one of our guests gave me a bottle of Champagne Pommery so I could share it with the team. It was a special evening, and my first time drinking champagne.

  5. TM
    The Mark Wine Group

    Wow! What a great "aha" moment. Was that your first job?

    The Mark Wine Group
    Marcus Voglrieder
    MV
    Marcus Voglrieder

    My first job I worked as a screen printer. Not sure what I was thinking since I am color blind. 😊

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  1. TM
    The Mark Wine Group

    That's pretty funny. What happened after that? How did you get to your current job with Nobu?

    The Mark Wine Group
    Marcus Voglrieder
    MV
    Marcus Voglrieder

    In 2000, after a season in Ibiza, the cruise ship experience, I decided to move to London. After a few months of struggle, I was able to get hired at Nobu London as a bartender.

  2. TM
    The Mark Wine Group

    Not a bad gig. What other experience did you bring with you to Nobu?

    The Mark Wine Group
    Marcus Voglrieder
    MV
    Marcus Voglrieder

    Apart from having previous hospitality experience, I also went to a hotel business school in Altötting, Germany.

  3. TM
    The Mark Wine Group

    One of the many things you and Mark have in common. European Hotel business school. Love that. And you have traveled a lot for business. What are some of your favorite places you traveled to?

    The Mark Wine Group
    Marcus Voglrieder
    MV
    Marcus Voglrieder

    Japan, Mykonos, St. Moritz, Ibiza, Manila, Monte Carlo, Bodrum and Kuala Lumpur.

  4. TM
    The Mark Wine Group

    Most on my list of places I want to go. Well, truth be told, I had to google Bodrum. But it would fit in perfectly on my dream vacation to Club Med in Palmiye, Turkey. Is there anywhere you haven't you been that you are "jonesing" to get to?

    The Mark Wine Group
    Marcus Voglrieder
    MV
    Marcus Voglrieder

    Iceland. I have heard so many great things about it and am dying to go.

  5. TM
    The Mark Wine Group

    Oh man. Me too! Every single time someone I know posts photos of their travels there I am completely in awe. Any favorite local getaway spots?

    The Mark Wine Group
    Marcus Voglrieder
    MV
    Marcus Voglrieder

    I like to ride with my motorcycle buddies on Sundays in the Malibu Canyon. I like to call it "therapy." 😊

Nobu restaurant

Find Our Wines At Nobu

  • ❧ Louis Roederer "Collection" Champagne
  • ❧ 50° Riesling
Louis Roederer "Collection" Champagne

Louis Roederer "Collection" Champagne

50° Riesling

50° Riesling

  1. TM
    The Mark Wine Group

    And very picturesque therapy at that. My virtual Pilates therapy is definitely not as scenic, but some of my wine therapy is. Especially my favorite varietal of late; Rosé. Do you have any favorite wines? Grape varietals?

    The Mark Wine Group
    Marcus Voglrieder
    MV
    Marcus Voglrieder

    I like red and white Burgundy & red Bordeaux. I am also a fan of California wines.

  2. TM
    The Mark Wine Group

    Do you like wine cocktails?

    The Mark Wine Group
    Marcus Voglrieder
    MV
    Marcus Voglrieder

    I'm not a big wine cocktail drinker, but I appreciate a good Boulevardier or an Old Fashioned.

  3. TM
    The Mark Wine Group

    A traditionalist. I am partial to a mimosa, so I get that. Do you have a favorite cuisine?

    The Mark Wine Group
    Marcus Voglrieder
    MV
    Marcus Voglrieder

    I like to explore. Besides the Nobu cuisine, I appreciate Italian & Bavarian cuisines.

  4. TM
    The Mark Wine Group

    I could literally eat Nobu every single day. Do you have a favorite food and wine pairing?

    The Mark Wine Group
    Marcus Voglrieder
    MV
    Marcus Voglrieder

    Nobu's Ribeye Crispy Onion paired with the Matsuhisa Cabernet Sauvignon.

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  1. TM
    The Mark Wine Group

    Again, pretty classic. I am feeling a theme here. So tell us; what's your life like today?

    The Mark Wine Group
    Marcus Voglrieder
    MV
    Marcus Voglrieder

    Life is great. After moving -- with Nobu -- from London to the Bahamas and from there to Miami, I ended up at Nobu L.A. in 2007. I love the Southern California lifestyle.

  2. TM
    The Mark Wine Group

    How does it fare versus how you pictured it when you were younger?

    The Mark Wine Group
    Marcus Voglrieder
    MV
    Marcus Voglrieder

    It turned out much better than I had envisioned. I've always enjoyed traveling and, with my position, I have been able to travel the world, which is fantastic. I am very grateful for it.

  3. TM
    The Mark Wine Group

    Kind of like a travel show, but even better as you get to eat Nobu cuisine everywhere you go. Anything you've done that you never thought you would have done?

    The Mark Wine Group
    Marcus Voglrieder
    MV
    Marcus Voglrieder

    When I worked in the Bahamas, I did a shark feeding scuba dive. I was under the impression that it would be a cage dive, but there was no cage to be found.

  4. TM
    The Mark Wine Group

    Wow. Obviously, you lived to tell the tale. And when you aren't swimming with sharks, anything else you enjoy?

    The Mark Wine Group
    Marcus Voglrieder
    MV
    Marcus Voglrieder

    Riding motorcycles, hiking, working out, reading, skiing, scuba diving and dinners with friends.

End of Interview