Curtis is one of fewer than 100 Masters of Wine in the country – the highest certification for someone working in wine retail. More people have gone into space than have passed the notoriously difficult Master of Wine exam. He’s also the only person to win Wine Enthusiast's Wine Star Award for Retailer of the Year twice and was named one of the most influential people in the Wine Industry by Wine Business Monthly. Curtis leverages his expert knowledge to lead the alcohol category for all of Albertsons’ Companies and curate a special selection for Vine & Cellar.

Phil forever changed the landscape for how wine is sold when he started the Fine Wine Program for Safeway 35 years ago. His goal was to make wines that were typically only sold in restaurants and specialty shops available to customers at their local grocery store. After the success of the program in California, Phil rolled it across the country and led the company to become the largest wine retailer in the United States. Today, Phil is passionate about continuing to enable more people to access and enjoy fine wines.

Kirk is our expert in imported wines. While he appreciates wines from all over the world, Kirk particularly loves French and Italian wines. He has built deep connections with small and large wineries in those regions and sources exciting new imports for our collection. Kirk’s career spans three decades in the wine industry with experience in both wholesale and retail, and the high point of his career has been growing the wine assortment at Pavilions.

Sustainable wine is all about the balancing act between wine, the environment and the future. How can shoppers know they found a wine truly produced with sustainability in mind? Master of Wine Curtis Mann explains the difference between organic wine and wines produced via sustainable practices. Check out the video above before you head to a Safeway near you, where you can buy sustainable wines.

Learning how to open a bottle of wine helps you get the cork out faster without losing any wine in the process! Let Master of Wine Curtis Mann demonstrate how to open a bottle of wine quickly and efficiently. Once you’ve gotten the technique down, it’ll be so much easier to open wine in the future. Shop the full collection of wines available at Safeway today. 

If you are going to enjoy wine to the fullest, then it makes sense to learn how to store wine. This short video from Master of Wine Curtis Mann explains how to store wine to preserve its quality, taste and consistency. Stop by your local Safeway where you can shop the full collection of wines available in-store.

A cork is used to seal wine bottles, but why? What does the cork do for a bottle of wine? Let Master of Wine Curtis Mann explain why the simple cork has a much greater purpose in the world of wine. If you’ve ever wondered why some wines use corks while others use screw top caps, this video is for you. Ready to hunt for wine with corks in the wild? Head over to your local Safeway to check out the full collection of wines.