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Associates

Stephen Staples

Stephen S.

Wine Steward, Vacaville

When asked about his favorite food and wine pairings, Wine Steward Stephen Staples is quick to show his Australian heritage: he heartily recommends a bold red wine like Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon paired with roast lamb or marinated kangaroo! In true Aussie fashion, he also says that when it comes to spirits, he likes a piña colada paired with the beach. As for his top beers, though, Stephen says “USA all the way!” His go-to beer is an American Amber Ale, with its perfect balance between malt and hops: “The style allows the brewer to showcase both multifaceted malt characteristics and complex hop additions,” he says. After earning a graduate certificate in brewing from Federation University in Victoria, Australia, and managing a home-brew outlet where he taught people to make their own beer, wine, spirits and mead, Stephen joined the Nugget Markets team in 2014. Stephen is also an Advanced Cicerone, trained in the specifics of properly selecting, serving and storing beer for optimal taste.