About The Preiser Key | Preiser Key

The Preiser Key is the most comprehensive directory of everything you need to know about Napa and Sonoma Valleys

About The Preiser Key

“Consider Monty and Sara Preiser your all-knowing wine guides.”

    - Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel Magazine

 

“The (free) Preiser Key to Napa Valley was the best guide we found to the Napa Valley’s wineries and restaurants.”

    - Jancis Robinson

 

“Let me recommend The Preiser Key to Napa Valley, Napa’s only comprehensive guide to wineries and restaurants.”

    - Tom Simoneau, KSRO Radio, Santa Rosa

 

“I wanted to thank you for our unforgettable experience in Napa - the entire day has been a whirlwind of fun and activity, again, thanks to your efforts. Your indefatigable commitment to this region and passion for wine, as evidenced by the Preiser Key, have certainly made a mark in Napa. 
P.S.: As you may already know, the Preiser Key is loved by both the industry and the public - we saw several people with it in hand today!”

    - Suzanne - Napa Valley Traveler

 

Monty and Sara Preiser

Co-publisher and co-founder Monty Preiser graduated law school in 1976 and ultimately owned his own firm with offices in West Virginia, California, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Concentrating mostly in the representation of young children injured by vaccines and also victims of medical negligence, Monty met with witnesses worldwide, and appeared in courts throughout this country.

Co-publisher and co-founder Sara Preiser graduated magna cum laude from the College of Fine Arts at West Virginia University before moving to New York and being hired by DuPont as their spokesperson. Sara’s job involved travel throughout the United States, and her picture appeared in magazines and newspapers nationwide. Monty saw a press photo, was able to get in touch with Sara in 1977, and she agreed to a blind date dinner and show. Before two months had passed they were engaged, and have now been married for over 31 years.

The time Monty and Sara spent traveling for so many years helped them hone their love of good wine and food, and led to their starting a weekly food and wine newsletter in their new hometown of Boca Raton, Florida, in 1993. It proved so popular that they were soon engaged as the food and wine writers for the Boca Raton News, and continued with the paper as writers until about 2006 when the idea for The Preiser Key took root and their time was demanded in California. The Preisers have served as contributors to the South Florida Business Journal, and are now the principal wine writers for Sallys-Place.com, one of the Internet's largest travel sites with over 5.5 million readers. They own Creative Professional Programs, a company devoted to continuing education for professionals in conjunction with fine wine & food instruction, and co-own SaraBec Wines, which produces the premium SaraBec Syrah. Both have served as judges for numerous wine competition, and co-founded the American Fine Wine Competition for which Monty is the Chief Judge and judging coordinator, and Sara oversees wine acquisition.

Many websites reprint Monty and Sara’s wine columns, and they are frequent wine educators to many professionals, as well as frequent radio guests. Both are quite pleased that they are able to work with their son Justin, who is the operations manager of The Preiser Key to Napa. They are also proud of their daughter Blair, who practices law in Pittsburgh with one of the most noted firms in the world. While most everything Monty and Sara do that is surrounded by wine is enjoyed together, last year Monty was honored to be appointed as one of the voters who select the members to the Napa Valley Hall of Fame.
 
It is Monty and Sara’s wish that this magazine will always be complete, accurate, and educational. These days most of their time is spent working with Justin to be sure that stays true.
 
Justin Preiser

After being quizzed about malolactic fermentation at the dinner table from the age of 12, it is a miracle Justin found a love of wine.  It wasn’t until his first trip to Napa that the artistry and craft involved in making great wine became clear to him.  He also discovered that possessing special knowledge about wine and food is not only fun, but a unique skill set - though this is becoming less and less the case as the quality of wine and food increases the world over.

After finishing school at the University of Colorado (Go Buffaloes), Justin began working with his wine writer parents, Monty and Sara, and moved to Napa in January of 2006 to begin research for The Preiser Key to Napa Valley.   After several years, close to a million printed copies of the magazine, and now a new comprehensive website, Justin finds himself splitting his time between his job as operations manager of The Key, and planning his upcoming wedding to the lady that will be the newest addition to the Preiser family - Stacy Long.
 
Xander Preiser

Xander stepped into his role as security adviser with glee. In his first week on the job he identified a cat burglar, and soon impressed the rest of us with his ability to evaluate the situation and keep his eye on the ball. Xander’s hobbies include jogging and searching out good food. He’s a great dog.