Dana Nigro is an experienced wine journalist based in New Jersey, with extensive knowledge of, and contacts in, the North American wine industry.
She will work closely with Decanter’s network of correspondents and contributors to deliver authoritative reporting, expert analysis and trusted wine recommendations for Decanter’s global audience.
‘I am thrilled to be joining Decanter, a brand I have long admired for its rich legacy, trusted expertise and commitment to providing consumers with reliable, timely wine education and buying advice,’ said Nigro.
‘I look forward to working with Decanter’s talented team of editors and correspondents to build on its strong presence across North America, showcasing the diversity of the wine scenes in the US, Canada and Mexico, while bringing the latest developments in the region to Decanter’s global audience and introducing even more North American readers to the brand’s award-winning content, events and experiences.’
Jonny Sullens, Managing Director of Decanter, added: ‘Dana understands both the traditions that make wine journalism valuable and the evolving ways audiences discover and engage with content today.
‘North America remains one of the most dynamic and influential wine regions in the world, and Dana’s extensive network, reporting experience, and passion for the subject make her exceptionally well positioned to lead Decanter’s coverage.’
Jonathan Cristaldi, who served in an ambassadorial role as Acting North America Regional Editor from April until Nigro’s appointment, remains as Decanter’s Napa Valley correspondent, a position he has held since 2021.
Riesling, sustainability… and scuba diving
Nigro spent more than 25 years with Wine Spectator in New York City, where she started as news editor, then became a senior editor for the magazine and the digital managing editor – responsible for the website, social media and apps.
She fell in love with wine while studying magazine journalism in New York’s Finger Lakes wine region, where she took advantage of the excellent wine program at Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration.
As a result, one of her passions is Riesling. Another is sustainability in wine – from the vineyard soil to the winery buildings to the bottles (and boxes).
While reporting on US wine, Nigro reported on major developments, such as the battle to legalize direct shipping up through the US Supreme Court decision in Granholm v Heald, the rise of women in California’s wine industry, and the evolution of West Coast winegrowing from its early sustainability certifications to its movement toward regenerative farming.
Before her wine career, she worked at a fine-dining restaurant, served as a reporter covering local news and the international travel industry, and taught scuba diving.
Nigro can be contacted at [email protected]
