Career
Shanken"s roster of lifestyle publications includes Wine Spectator and Cigar Aficionado. Shanken grew up in New Haven, Connecticut. He earned an undergraduate business degree from the University of Miami, then earned a Master of Business Administration at American University.
Shanken started his career in real estate and investment banking, then moved into publishing in 1973, purchasing Impact, a small wine and spirits industry newsletter.
His company has expanded to other trade publications including Market Watch and Food Arts. He purchased Wine Spectator a few years after its 1976 founding. and he launched Cigar Aficionado in September 1992.