Meet Richard Luftig

Richard Luftig founded Pied à Terre to address a frustration that had gnawed at him for over 25 years as a wine buyer for top New York restaurants. Having worked his way from a busboy to overseeing wine collections worth millions of dollars as wine director at several of Manhattan’s toniest addresses, he was convinced that it ought to be possible to find a truly high-quality California Cabernet for less than $150. But they simply did not seem to exist. So he took matters into his own hands and set out to produce one himself.

Richard's journey in the world of wine began humbly, working as a busboy in Brooklyn at the young age of thirteen. When food legend Lidia Bastianich took a chance on Richard, appointing him as the Wine Director at her renowned New York establishment, Felidia Ristorante, Richard's understanding and passion for wine truly flourished. He remains deeply thankful to Lidia for her faith in him, even when he doubted his own qualifications and felt he “didn’t know enough.” This sense of perpetual curiosity profoundly influenced his perspective on the wine industry: he is committed to studying daily as he believes there's always more to learn and discover, and he considers the term "wine expert" to be meaningless. 

Drawing from his decades-long career in the wine industry, Richard's vision of exceptional wine is deeply rooted. He sought wines that were made by artisanal producers who committed to organic or biodynamic farming practices as they understood that great wine can only be made from great grapes, while also avoiding jiggery pokery in the cellar. For Richard, a remarkable wine must authentically express the grape variety, vintage, and a sense of place. That is the wine he wanted to drink and that is the wine that he strives to make!