Todd Mathis

Todd Mathis was born and raised deep in the heart of Texas. An industry veteran with nearly two decades’ experience evangelizing the wines of Burgundy, Rhone, Loire and Champagne, he co‐founded DNS Wines with his long‐time colleague Nina Scherotter in 2013. As the company’s Director of Sales, his mission is to connect DNS wines’ artisanal growers with the most discerning tables everywhere.Growing up, Todd always enjoyed cooking, thanks to his Grandmother. She brought the big family together at the table in classic Southern style – a balancing act of hospitality, tradition, sourcing and talent. Her role, and those memories, proved to be a model for a lifelong quest that began to emerge as he was cooking for himself and his friends instead of studying engineering at the University of Texas. The pull of his passion proved stronger than the allure of physics, driving Todd to Culinary School at CCA in San Francisco. He started cooking at Nancy Oakes’ famed Boulevard restaurant; but after a wine class at CCA more than captured his imagination, he took a part‐time job at The Wine Club ‐ SF, where his education began in earnest, through the Spring of 1998, when he graduated from the CCA.Todd continued learning the food side, next with celebrity chef Alex Stratta at the acclaimed Renoir in Las Vegas, and then found himself lured back to Austin, to open Emilia’s in 2000. However, Todd’s obsession with wine led him to seize the opportunity to take on, and then ultimately take over, an Austin wine store and bar. After two years, Todd left the retail side and accepted a position as the Director of National Sales with legendary importer Martine Saunier, moving back to San Francisco in Spring 2004. In this role, Todd oversaw the national distribution of the Martine’s Wines portfolio, spreading the gospel nationwide, and building relationships not only throughout the United States but also throughout the wine regions of France. He taught himself French while flying all over the country, and practiced on the back roads of Burgundy, which he now knows better than his native Texas.Todd’s unique range of experience allows him to engage with everyone from vineyard to table. Todd (aka Mr. Burgundy, as he’s known by fine‐wine distributors across the country) projects a contagious enthusiasm whether discussing esoteric issues around terroir and growing conditions or what wine to pair with dinner. His retail experience resonates with consumers, and his culinary training helps put the food and wine together. He’s proved as ardent an advocate for the grower producers of hand crafted fine wines as for the restaurants and retailers that support them. Simply put, he brings the whole family together.When not pulling corks, Todd is distance cycling (pretending he’s in the Tour de France), running (when he has to), playing the guitar, or nursing a beer as well as an “unhealthy obsession with Texas Longhorn football.” He currently lives in Austin, Texas with his wife, Stefani, and their two children, Presley and Paisley Lola.