A Philly boy goes to wine school, moves to New Zealand, and becomes a winemaker.
Philly’s own Danny Brennan started as a Philly bartender and ended up as a bad-ass winemaker in New Zealand. His path started with Wine School of Philadelphia, where he was a student. This is his story
The Beginning
His journey took him to Italy while attending Holy Cross High School, to Belgium as an exchange student at the Catholic University of America, and then to the Bronx, N.Y., for a post-college stint managing a touring rock band. After considering politics and philosophy as careers, he decided the former was too dirty and the latter too impractical.
Wine School of Philadelphia
Brennan returned to McCrossen’s as a bartender and manager and took the Core Sommelier Course at the Wine School of Philadelphia. After consulting with the staff at the school (and recommendation from yours truly), he enrolled in several viticulture programs.
Eastern Institute of Technology
He focuses on New Zealand. Brennan developed a love for New Zealand wines while working at his family’s restaurant. The wines were “always vibrant and unique, but also hard to find.” ‘
He was accepted to the Centre of Viticulture and Wine at Eastern Institute of Technology in Hawke’s Bay and graduated in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in winemaking. Danny had developed a love for New Zealand wines while working at his family’s restaurant. The wines were “always vibrant and unique, but also hard to find.”
Decibel Wines
He worked harvest for several years before opening Decibel Wines. A Delran native, son Danny is now an international winemaker. He still returns to Philly, occasionally pouring his wines for tastings and occasionally at the Wine School).