Marko Babsek

Marko was born and raised in Belgrade, Serbia. Before moving to the U.S., he lived in Greece for three years – and while there, he fell in love with Greek wine. Once he arrived in this country, he paid his way through college by working in restaurants, and fell love with wine all over again. He realized that wine – the story behind it, as well as the immediate sensual experience of it – had the power to make people happy.

Marko worked as Sales Manager for Wolffer Estate on Long Island, where he learned firsthand the difficulties involved in promoting and selling a wine from a young viticultural region. He started the Employees Only wine program in the West Village (510 Hudson St., www.employeesonlynyc.com), then joined Winebow in 2006 to run the Athenee Importers Greek portfolio, where he still works as Brand Manager/Greek Specialist.

He makes frequent trips to Greece to sniff out new boutique producers, ensuring in the process that his knowledge of Greek wines never stops growing. He has taken courses from the American Sommelier Association, and currently studies with the Court of Master Sommeliers.