James Laube

James Laube began writing for Wine Spectator in 1980, and joined the staff full-time in 1983. During his career with the magazine, he reviewed every category of wine made in California, as well as wines from around the world, and conducted numerous verticals, retrospectives and other special tastings.

Laube grew up in Anaheim, Calif., and majored in history at San Diego State University. He moved to Napa Valley in 1978 and started his career in wine journalism. He has written four books: California's Great Cabernets (1989), California's Great Chardonnays (1990) and two editions of Wine Spectator's California Wine (1995 and 1999), the first edition of which won the James Beard Award for best wine book in 1996.

He lives in Napa, where his favorite hobby remains reading, and enjoys sports, music, traveling and the outdoors—especially activities that take place off the coast (abalone diving) and on the high seas (salmon fishing).