Items not labeled as Rapid Ship or Pre-arrival may require a transfer from the warehouse to our shipping facility before shipping, which can take 4–6 business days. Learn more on the Shipping Info page.
About Us
Since 1996, Saratoga Wine Exchange has provided its customers access to the widest array of wines and spirits from around the globe, from everyday values and premium brands to rare, back vintages and hard-to-find bourbons and scotches. Our deep industry expertise and best-in-class customer service have made SaratogaWine.com one of the most trusted and reliable sites to buy wine and spirits from.
Mission Statement
“We are driven to offer the world’s largest selection of wine and spirits to accommodate every palate, budget, and preference. Our highly educated Team will never make you feel out of place, and it is our passion to help you make the right selection based on your specific needs and wants.”
Meet the Team
We are proud to employ the most knowledgeable team of specialists in their field of expertise—a group of people who care about our customers, who love wine and finely crafted spirits, and who are active participants in the community.
Josh Hiebel
Founder
Domestic and Imported Wine Specialist Certified Specialist of Spirits with the Society of Wine Educators
Joshua started Saratoga Wine Exchange in 1996 serving customers from a brick and mortar location in downtown Saratoga Springs, NY. Sixteen years later, the company expanded and moved to a larger space in Ballston Lake, NY, increasing its warehouse space to house the company’s ever-growing inventory of wine and spirits. The company has grown tenfold under Josh’s leadership and he continues to be the driving force behind the success and growth at Saratoga Wine Exchange and the technological innovations behind saratogawine.com.
Josh launched saratogawine.com in 1999 to move the company into the digital age and take advantage of the burgeoning online retail environment. He was the first to introduce a just-in-time inventory model and custom built one of the most powerful sales data tools in the wine/spirits field, which is scalable to other industries. Saratogawine.com’s digital experience is customer-centric, and the site now includes a database of more than 220,000 unique items with images and reviews. Most recently, Josh launched a new e-commerce option for Pre-arrival sales. Customers can order wine months in advance, before it hits the normal retail supply chain in the US.
Early on, Josh created the corporate motto, “Great wine, better prices, delivered right to your door,” and the company still stands by this today.
“I love the wine industry. I sell a product that changes every vintage, so it is a constant task to keep up with trends in the industry, consumer buying habits and wine regions around the world that change every year because of weather, new wine makers and the world economy.”
Matt Swapp
Owner
CSW, WSET2
Matt joined Saratoga Wine Exchange (SWE) in 2003 to assist in shipping and quickly rose to store manager for two years before taking nearly three years off to raise his newborn. He rejoined SWE in 2008 and is now responsible for maintaining all website data, and daily trade tastings. He played an integral role in the development of the saratogawine.com platform and continues to contribute to enhancing the user interface and experience. He also manages the ordering and receiving of all wine and spirits.
Matt previously managed Tango Wine Bar (San Diego) and taught weekly wine courses to groups of 20–30. He has participated in three Premiere Napa Valley events, including multiple expert level tasting courses at The CIA at Greystone, one of the world’s most recognized schools for food and wine education. Throughout his career, he has built personal relationships with more than 50 of Napa’s best winery/winemakers and has an extensive knowledge of exclusive west coast wineries.
In addition to his wine expertise, Matt has extensive experience with high-end Bourbon, including Pappy Van Winkle, Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, Blanton’s, W.L. Weller, and Orphan Barrel to name a few.
JoAnn Swapp
Owner
WSET2
JoAnn partnered with Matt in 2024 to take over SaratogaWine.com as co-owners. Having previously run a residential solar company, JoAnn brought a wealth of knowledge in marketing, logistics, and human resource management to the business.
Prior to her career in the private sector, JoAnn served 22 years in the US Navy, starting as an enlisted nuclear electrician and working her way up to the rank of Lieutenant Commander via the Limited Duty Officer Commissioning Program. During her career in the Navy, she completed numerous deployments on board multiple naval vessels, serving in many capacities from engineer to ship driver to anti-terrorism officer. Her naval experience instilled a deep sense of community, taught her how to manage resources effectively, and honed her aptitude for leadership.
In addition to her extensive business management experience, JoAnn’s passion for wine shines through in her WSET Level 2 Certification, showcasing her commitment to both the industry and her expertise.
Nick Adie
Wine Buyer
Certified Sommelier, WSET3 Advanced
Nick joined Saratogawine.com in January of 2023 as a Sommelier and wine buyer for the fine wine division. He also oversees the Pre-arrival sales program, which focuses on fine wine sales imported directly from Europe. Along with weekly staff educational tastings and instruction, Nick is happy to make product suggestions and food pairing ideas to complement them!
Nick spent the last 20 years in the restaurant business, from serving to bartending, managing, and eventually overseeing two downtown Saratoga Springs, NY, restaurants before spending the last 6 years at Morton’s The Steakhouse as the Sommelier and Assistant Wine Director.
Throughout his career, he has focused on providing superior customer service through building personal relationships with his clients and is always happy to “geek out” when talking wine with clients. Nick has been to Napa Valley on multiple occasions and abroad in Italy. Areas of expertise include Napa Valley, Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne, along with the wines of Piedmont and Tuscany, to name a few.
Chris Culkin
Wine Buyer
WSET3 Advanced
In the summer of 1997, Chris moved to Long Island to work at the Riverhead Foundation, a marine mammal and sea turtle rescue organization. Unfortunately, rescuing seals, sea turtles, and dolphins didn’t pay very well, so he took a job bartending at a fine dining establishment in the Hamptons.
It was there that Chris met someone who would change the direction of his life forever: Dave Sokolin. Dave ran a high-end wine business in Southampton, NY and mentioned that they needed some help. Back then, Chris didn’t know much about the wine business. Undeterred, Dave hired him on the spot.
Over the subsequent years, Chris embarked on a transformative journey, immersing himself in the realm of high-end wines. A passion was ignited within him that remains a quarter-century later and has driven his pursuit of expertise within the wine trade. Throughout this time, Chris has assumed various roles within the industry, encompassing positions in restaurants, distribution, and retail management.
Chris’s commitment to perpetual learning is palpable, underscored by his achievement of the WSET Level 3 Advanced certification.
