Celebrating an Industry Icon at 70: Ralph Sands
Ralph at his window at Léoville-Barton, a spot where he’s taken notes at the property for decades.
Ralph likes to say to me, when we’re running ourselves into the ground during a long day of tasting off vintages En Primeur, that the difference between K&L and so many other retailers is that we always “do the work.” While I think that’s a testament to our do-it-all work ethic, it also speaks to how Ralph carries himself. So many people get caught up in the scores and the newest trends, but for Ralph, it’s always been about the wine and the people. Because he’s always doing the work, he can focus on his genuine enthusiasm for the world of fine wine—and let that hard work speak for itself. After being around Ralph for the last decade, I can tell you: it speaks volumes.
I remember meeting Ralph at my first UGC tasting at K&L. He took the time not only to say hello and make me feel welcome, but to really listen. He was indispensable on my first En Primeur trip—not only warning me to keep an eye on Clyde (who tended to leave without notice!) but showing me how to read not just the wines, but how they were being sold. And then, once more, at our grand tasting at the end of the week, where many just mail it in, he was on point for four solid hours of tasting—we do the work, and that makes the difference.
Ralph on the right with Anthony Barton, Clyde Beffa, and Lilian Barton.
For someone who has sold more wine than I’ll probably ever understand, it’s never been about the sale for Ralph. I deeply admire his ability to connect effortlessly with the experience of a wine rather than the transaction itself. He’s probably also forgotten more stories about the world of fine wine than I’ll ever experience—he’s a shining star from the golden age of fine wine.
I always like to say that our trips to Bordeaux these days are so sophisticated because Ralph did the work—perhaps the dirty work—over the years. Endless stories of questionable meals, sojourns to the far reaches of the Gironde, lost rental cars and colleagues, and maybe a few sketchy nightclubs here and there—he went through the chaos so we can coast. It’s also one of the reasons he’s welcomed as a friend every time we return to the region: he doesn’t just show up—he’s a genuine part of Bordeaux itself.
So here’s hoping there’s a well-deserved day off for you, Ralph, on your 70th birthday. Some of the best wines I’ve ever had were in your company, and I hope there will be many more. For anyone reading this, I encourage you to raise a glass to a one-of-a-kind professional, colleague, and friend: Ralph Sands.
Cheers,