My husband and I met Sandy at the Mill Falls restaurant. We always looked forward to seeing him and chatting about wine. We  loved learning from him and he was very generous with his knowledge and recommendations. We were at the Mill Falls with Sandy when we became engaged.  He will forever be part of our love story!  We also loved that he never judged my husband for drinking Heineken beer with a bottle of Lafite Rothschild.

My deepest condolences to the family on the loss of your beloved husband and father. I first met Sandy a number of years ago at a Boston University champagne tasting that he led. During our conversation afterwards, in addition to our shared affinity for wine I learned that we were both New Yorkers – he (and my wife) from Brooklyn and me from farther east on Long Island (Suffolk County). 

Not long afterwards, Sandy added me to his email list and as a result I attended numerous Legal wine dinners and tastings. As I got to know him better, despite his vast knowledge and standing in the world of wine, he was always friendly and down to earth no matter how much knowledge he was dispensing. 

He and I continued to keep in touch via email and I was deeply saddened to learn of his passing. The world is a little less good now because we have lost a good man.


It is with deep sadness that I heard of this news. I took the BU Elizabeth Bishop wine courses 1 + 2 and will never forget Sandy's incredible lectures on terroir, history, and tasting. I am not in the industry, I simply wanted to learn more about my palate and Sandy encouraged my exploration that much more. I loved his teaching so much, I went to many of his wine dinners at Legals, only to be greeted by him with warmth and excitement that I was there solely as a consumer of delicious wine. He was an inspiration to me and will continue to be, with every sip  I drink. A beautiful soul, who will be dearly missed. Thank you Sandy, for everything. 

Sandy was one of a kind, in so many ways. A true polished professional with a style and grace that made even the most novice of wine enthusiasts feel at ease. During my time in the restaurant/wine business, he was my mentor and friend. The best of listeners as well as the best teacher.  It was an honor to drink, dine and laugh with him.  Cheers!

Condolences to his family. As many have mentioned, words such as "gentleman" and a "calming presence" have come up. He was an inspiring communicator for wine.

It was many years ago when Sandy gave the "big"  wine buyers on Cape Cod a lesson on food and wine pairing.....I'll never forget it and still tell people about it.  We ALL learned something that day!  Sandy was such a humble, caring, knowledgeable man.  We were all blessed to have known him.  He will be missed by everyone!  

Joanie I'm so sorry for your loss!  My sincerest sympathy to you and your boys!  I can't imagine what you're going through!  I wish you didn't live so far away!  I can't even drive.  I love you forever and always!  Your cousin, Lynn

Sandy was a gentlemen , generous, intelligent, humble, and respectful human being whom I had the pleasure of knowing. I met him way back he’s a wine Hawaiian wrap what’s up branded of New England in Whitehall in 1990 and then I have the pleasure to work with him at legal seafood in 2012 till 2017, He certainly knew wine, but more importantly, he also knew how to listen,respect and share the language of love 🍷 He will be missed very much 🙏🙏🙏

I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you. I was lucky enough to have Sandy as an instructor at the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts and again at BU. 

My sincere sympathy to family and friends of Sandy.   

Though I did not know him well, I attend many wine tasting events that he hosted at Legal Seafood in the Wine Cellar of the Back Bay Restaurant.  He had a calmness about him that made attending his events with lots of strangers more comfortable.   He was kind and generous.  I have attended lots of tasting events and He  was the only Sommelier who brought in wine from his  own personal collection.  He shared with the group because he said it was a perfect example of the topic shared that night.  He did this for 2 of more than a handful of classes/events that he hosted.

May the memories of those who loved him, help provide comfort when in need. 

Allison Troiani

I met Sandy in the late 70's, early 80's, when he, Joanie and I worked at the Harvest restaurant in Cambridge, MA. Sandy and Joanie met there, and it was not long before their deep and abiding love blossomed. In a few years, they decided to marry. I hand made the huppah for their ceremony, which was at the DeCordova Museum after a hurricane left the museum without electricity. They went ahead with the ceremony anyway, on a blustery day, with candlelight dinner and "cold" salmon, for dinner, as I remember. 
Joanie and I birthed our first sons weeks apart, and we shared the first love of motherhood together, as well as over the years, working as creative artists in the dance field.
Sandy always supported Joanie in her many creative endeavors. 
Both of them were model parents to Daniel and Matthew.
I am grateful for the time Sandy was with us, and sadly, he has left us all too soon.
My deep condolences to Joanie, Daniel, Matthew, Stephen, Paul...all.
Mary Seidman

My sincere condolences to Sandy’s family and dear friends. I met Sandy as a student of wine at B. U. As a teacher his knowledge was vast, but it was his enthusiasm that was contagious.  One of a kind, he will be truly missed. I am deeply saddened by his loss. 

I first met Sandy in the 1980s when he was a waiter at Le Bocage in Watertown.  He was both an excellent waiter and nice guy.  And as he rose to prominence in the wine trade--becoming one of America's first Masters of Wine and creating a model wine program for Legal Sea Foods--he remained a nice guy. It was a privilege to know him.

Our condolences to you Joanie, Daniel, and Matthew. We will never forget Sandy not only for what he taught us about wine, but most importantly, the way he made sure during his wine events to bring people together to exchange ideas and to forge new friendships. Sandy’s greatness as a wine educator will never be surpassed. We feel blessed that he was our friend.
Charles & Angel Granoff


My sincere condoleances to your Family. Coming from Burgundy, when I  met you for the 1st time, more than 20 years ago, I discovered a very fine gentleman, a man of trust, a man with an incredible wineknowledge, a man of his word, a cultivated man, passionated by music and many other things, a man not afraid to learn and to explain wine and history to the youngest. Over the years, I've learned from you always, we exchanged news and tips from Burgundy and its producers, what vintage was still good, what wine surprised us, it was magical to know you and I have so much respect for you and for all the things you have accomplished over the years. From Chablis, with much love from us, we will miss you and I want you to know you have always been a Grand Cru to me. I am sure, your are sitting on the right side of Bacchus. My deepest respect and condoleances to your family. Olivier

The kindest gentleman I ever had the pleasure of calling my friend.  Professionally and personally he was always there to help, advise and support with a smile and a kind word. You will be missed. Truly one of a kind. Thank you and Rest in Peace

So many of us learned “the language of love” from Sandy— a philosophy that seemed to embody the man.  His great talents matched by his humility,  his beaming pride for his pupils and his family ever present. I had the privilege to travel to Napa and Sonoma with him, and experience what it is to be wine royalty from his coat tails. Thank you Sandy for your magnanimity and warmth, your encouragement and patience, and for all the lessons that I’ve been able to carry and apply in these 15 or so years since I was under your tutelage.  You will be missed. 

My condolences to The Block Family on the passing of Sandy.  May his memory be for a blessing. I'm fortunate to have been a member of the Boston Sommelier Society when Sandy was a member along with Bob Bowker, Bill Nesto and others. Sandy's ability to take each topic to the next level until he was certain he had the knowledge and answers he needed to move to the next subject. Always with an interjection of dry humor and the utmost class. Baruch dayan ha'emet. 

So sorry to hear of Sandy's passing. Every course, tasting and seminar he conducted I could attend, I did. I very much regret not having had the opportunity to join him at a wine dinner (where we could drink instead of just taste the wine). His sense of humor and limitless knowledge made what could be an appreciated education into a welcome and enlightening experience. His patience with my many questions and observations instilled in me a deeper appreciation not just for wine, but life. You will be missed. 

So sorry to learn of the passing of Sandy. I learned SO MUCH from him during many presentations at Legal Seafoods. I valued the opportunity to attend his beverage class through Legal Seafoods that was offered as a course at Boston University. I felt so honored. Also the quarterly wine tastings left me with a much broader knowledge than I ever expected.
He will be missed.

Sandy Block - Rockstar of the wine industry. Just so saddened by the lost of a wine industry icon. Our deepest sympathies to you all from all of us at Sonoma-Cutrer.

To the Block family so sorry for your loss. I worked with Sandy at Branded and then again at Horizon. Always a gentleman. 
Ellen Nash 

Sent to Joanie to share with Sandy the day before he left us:

Sandy, you and I go back to the Branded New England days in the early nineties, while you were studying for your MW with Bill Nesto. The Gang of Three:  Mike Heckler, Blake Allison, and Sandy Block. While you always took Wine and your work seriously, you never took yourself (too) seriously. And look at your career:  unless I missed something—two jobs!  Branded and Legal. That’s an enviable record of consistency and dedication these days. 

Life is a journey, and as you approach the end of yours, know that at least this person, who shared a small part of it with you, appreciates the integrity and kindness with which you acquitted yourself on this Earth. God speed, Sandy Block. 

The Michael Family and the Winery team got to know Sandy well as member of our outside tasting panel.  Over and above his substantial professional prowess, he was an unusually kind and thoughtful person. We count ourselves fortunate to have spent time with him.  Sandy will be missed and we are deeply saddened by his passing.

It was an honor to work with him, and a pleasure to drink with him. Such a kind, thoughtful person. May his memory be an eternal blessing. 

I had the great pleasure, albeit too infrequently, of meeting Sandy at family gatherings in Providence. To be with him even for a short period was always a distinct pleasure.
Sandy had a presence, an aura, of calmness, grace, and intellect with an old worldly charm that was beguiling and always left me in awe. That he adored his wife and sons was
a constant joy to behold. Jill and I send our condolences to Joanie, Daniel, Matthew, the Cantor Obrecht clan and all Sandy’s family and friends; he was simply a marvellous man;
a great loss to family, friends, and all of us who were privileged to know him.   

Jim & Jill Tobak

I could always count on Sandy for a friendly and erudite conversation whenever our paths crossed these past twenty years. From his time at Horizon to leading the wine program at Legal Seafoods, and of course his teaching, Sandy touched and mentored so many over the decades, a lasting gift for those who were lucky enough to know him. I count myself among the fortunate to have been graced by his soft-spoken wisdom and grace. RIP my friend.

Since my very first classes with Sandy at BU when I didn’t know the difference between muscat and muscadet, he was always kind and charming.  A wonderful teacher with a visual style, he would draw things on the board, like the various root structures and trellising systems that made it easy to learn from him. He leaves a huge hole in the wine community. 

Yes, I will thank Sandy every time I enjoy a glass of Sancerre, which he chose for me.  You must also know that he was a fine writer.  His short stories were in the distinctive voice of the teenager and young man from Brooklyn, with the humor and sensitivity of one who gets his heart broken with incredible love and longing.
It is this heart that created such a beautiful family with Joanie.  The nest he built for and with Joanie, Daniel, and Mateo  brings and will continue to bring so much love, artistry, and healing into the world.  I will always be grateful to him for the man I knew and the private Sandy who loved and supported his beloved family so wisely and with great dedication.  Sandy, what a blessing you were and will always be in this world.


Sandy was a mensch, a real class act.  He was beloved among those of us blessed enough to have him as a teacher.  His style,  humour and mastery of his craft  kept me inspired to learn  and to pass my tests with flying  colours. He bettered the lives of all he touched and was a bright thread in the tapestry of our community. Shalom to his family and to the thousands  around the globe who grieve the loss of this wonderful man. G_d speed Sandy.  We picked our wine for the holiday with you in mind, and will fill a glass for you and have a toast in your honour.

I had the undeniable pleasure of knowing the remarkable Sandy Block for more than 25 years. He was the consummate gentleman and extraordinary wine scholar. He was a charming, impeccably spoken individual who was blessed with a beautiful family of whom he spoke so lovingly and a legendary career. Sandy, I will miss the wonderfully philosophical conversations and life "deep dives". May God bless you snd bring comfort to Joanie, Daniel and Mateo. With deep sadness and my sincerest condolences, 
André Shearer, South Africa. 

Sandy made his home your home to come savor fine wine share joyful moments . His gentle soul ans kindness were his trademark. His love of family and friends are his legacy.
We will miss you , Sandy.
Bonni and Jerry DiMatteo

I am so grateful that I met Sandy in 2018 at Boston University. Mateo (Matthew), invited me to a special event there that him and his dad hosted--a chocolate and port wine tasting! Mateo and his dad were a dynamic duo. I knew then that this was a special family, and this is surely a huge loss of a special man. Joanie, Mateo and Danielle, I have so much love, appreciation and admiration of you all. Stay strong and keep shining your light and love. I know Sandy couldn't have hoped for a more loving and supported departure into eternity!

Knowing Sandy for 25+ yrs it was hard not to feel his enthusiastic appreciation of the subject he studied from top to bottom and every person involved with every chateau and winery! He loved the stories, the people that made them and the appreciation it gave to the people who tasted it. Many people will miss you Sandy, young and old who learned from you. But they will never forget your gracious and erudite delivery.  Thank you for your warmth and kindness and innate interest in a subject we love so much. Heaven just got more fun. 🍷🍷🍷🍷

Sandy was a generous, intelligent, humble, and respectful human being whom I had the pleasure of knowing.  He certainly knew wine, but more importantly, he also knew how to listen and share. He will be missed very much.

Dr. Block,   A man with incredible wine knowledge, revered by retailers and restaurant owners throughout the state. 
A soft spoken man that commanded people’s attention and respect when he spoke.  Sandy,  you will be missed by many.  Rest In Peace my friend.

Forever grateful I got to have dinner with Sandy 4 times and that he shared expensive wines from his own collection with us. The last time I shook his had was at the Tattinger Champagne dinner. He was worthy of 100 bottles of that stuff.

Sandy will be remembered as one of the best to ever grace the restaurant industry.  Few knew wine as he did and even fewer approached the work with such care, honest passion and humanity.  He cared so deeply about the wine, the producers and the customers that trusted him so.  It was such an honor to partner with him over the years.  He will be missed by our entire family at Cape Classics. 

Sandy enriched the lives of so many people, including ours.  His knowledge of wines, his incredible ability to describe the taste and nose---a supermaster like Sandy comes along once in a lifetime. 

To Sandy, ave atque vale!

Herb and Karen Cares

A mentor and friend for me and many others. I will miss his knowledge and generosity of spirit. 

Sandy was one of the truly good souls in our business. It was a pleasure to have worked with him. My sincere condolences to his family. RIP Sandy.

Just the best person and helped me so many times professionally and personally.   He was a friend and mentor to many of us in the wine business.   

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Alexander N. "Sandy" Block

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