Name: Matt Naughton

Hometown: Palatine, Illinois

Started at Dobby’s: 1992

Claim to Fame: Matt can tell you where 1,500 kinds of beers come from – and what you can expect from 400 Italian wines! As Dobby’s beer buyer, and also its Italian wine expert, Matt says the difference between making wine and beer is like the difference between painting and making bread.

“Making wine is like painting on a canvas…you’re really making it what you want for a particular year,” he explains. “Making beer is like making bread – you want to be able to make it the exact same way over and over again, with completely predictable results.”

Today’s consumers are taking advantage of Dobby’s expansive beer offerings, Naughton says. “Beer is the best value product out there in terms of price to quality. The flavor profile for a bottle of beer is as expansive as a good cabernet in terms of the layering of flavors.”

While he can explain the difference between top-fermented lagers and bottom-fermented ales, Matt says he tries not to take it too seriously and enjoys talking shop with customers who simply enjoy beer for its taste.

Naughton says that on the microbrew side of the industry, the cream is rising to the top, with producers such as Three Floyd’s, Lagunitas, Dogfish Head, and Fat Tire gaining in popularity.

Looking to impress by pairing an Italian wine with a meal? Look no further than Matt, who has studied the pairing of wine with food even more than studying the Italian wines alone. “When you’re talking Italian wines, it’s good to know whether you’re planning to pair it with a pasta dish or bragiole.

“I’m Italian by marriage, so whenever we sit down for a big family meal, we always enjoy a nice bottle of wine.”