Maison Noir Backgrounder

If the path from sommelier to winemaker is becoming more common, André Hueston Mack is still in a class of his own. The former sommelier of The French Laundry and Wine director of Per Se, André earned the right to make wine for the 1% but he found his calling in creating excellent wines that everyone can enjoy. Add to that his urban African American vibe, tongue-in-cheek humor and formidable graphic design talent, and you have the makings of his brilliantly conceived, crafted and packaged Maison Noir wines. From outstanding vineyards in Oregon’s Willamette Valley and further north, these are “serious wines that don’t take themselves too seriously.” André has developed a cult following with his t- shirts de-rigeur at any sommelier gathering and his wines on cutting edge lists from coast to coast.

André’s passion for wine led him to pursue a career as a sommelier after college. After he won the prestigious Chaine des Rotisseurs Best Young Sommelier in 2003, Thomas Keller hired him a somm at The French Laundry, and then as director of the wine program of Per Se in New York in 2004. At Per Se, André built the core of the 1800 label Grand Award-winning list and hosted many high-end collector dinners.

Launched in 2007, Maison Noir is considered a micro-negociant (“Garage d’Or”) with a stable lineup of vineyards along with the ability to nimbly acquire premium fruit. The wines have risen to national acclaim. In 2020, André was nominated for James Beard Winemaker of the Year.