Matthew Luczy grew up in Mariposa, a small town in the foothills of California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains. He moved to Los Angeles to pursue a music career and fell in love with wine after entering the restaurant world at age 18. With the help of mentors who have become lifelong friends, he passed the Introductory and Certified Sommelier exams at age 22.

Around this time, Matthew first dined at Mélisse (2 MICHELIN Stars), a Los Angeles fine dining staple. Mélisse is known for its award-winning wine list and as a destination for wine collectors worldwide to host dinners featuring iconic, aged French and Californian wines from their cellars.

This initial dinner proved formative, solidifying his dream of being a sommelier and focusing his attention on Mélisse. So began repeated applications and multiple attempts to work at this celebrated restaurant. After two years, he was hired as a part-time Captain, leading to an Assistant Sommelier position and, ultimately, Wine Director.

His tenure at Mélisse lasted nearly a decade, culminating in being named California Sommelier of the Year by The MICHELIN Guide. During this time, Matthew was exposed to countless once-in-a-lifetime wines, giving him a unique perspective that informs his reviews and viewpoints.

Along the way, Matthew began reviewing California wines for Decanter, starting a writing career that would progress alongside his sommelier path. He eventually became California Correspondent for Decanter, which led to his joining the team at The Wine Advocate.

Matthew currently lives in Los Angeles, where he spends his spare time playing and producing music and taking photographs.