About Marc
Marc's path to becoming one of the city's most valuable wine personalities takes some twists and turns.
While studying Mass Communications at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, Marc Borel started out as a radio personality. After seven years with the former GulfStar Communications, Marc headed to the big city to run the graphics department in the corporate headquarters of a large oil company in Houston. Marc’s flair for graphics continued at a large advertising agency, before he opened his own firm focusing on brand creation and management.
The hospitality bug bit Marc big time when he landed a management role at the Houston City Club where he rose through the ranks. While there, he was gifted some very old Bordeaux wine. Why was it worth so much? He had to find out. Marc was on a mission. So he tasted everything. Merlot from California versus merlot from France, what’s the difference? He had to find out. He joined the Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, an international gastronomic society as a founding board member of the Baillage Étoile Solitaire, where he was inducted as the Vice Echanson, the selector of wines for all Baillage functions.
Fortune fell into Marc’s lap when he began working at 13 Celsius Wine Bar, arguably one of the best wine bars in Houston. After several years, he was asked to create and curate the wine list at a brand new Brazilian rodizio downtown, where he gained the attention of the Houston hospitality industry and was the author of one of the top 100 wine lists of 2011 in the United States by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. He also received a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for that very list. He went on to become the General Manager of the legendary Backstreet Café in River Oaks, the General Manager and Wine Director of a small chain of Italian concepts, and the Corporate Operations Officer of a celebrity chef run farm to table restaurant in Midtown.
For over eight years, Marc has been the Beverage Director of a 45-year-old classic Rainbow Lodge. Under Marc’s guidance, the Lodge has been honored with consecutive Wine Spectator Magazine’s “Best Of” Award of Excellence. This award recognizes restaurants whose beverage programs offer interesting selections, are appropriate to their cuisine and appeal to a wide range of wine lovers. Last year, only 11 restaurants in Houston were awarded this great honor.
A popular and affable local Sommelier, Marc has consulted on well-known local beverage programs. He travels extensively – domestically and internationally – to taste and continue learning. In 2021, he took steps to become a travel advisor, helping the many who have asked for travel advice. Global Gourmet Vacations was born shortly after, focusing on culinary destinations like wineries, distilleries and breweries. Hosted trips are on the horizon, stay tuned!
photos: Smokin & Toastin Podcast, Mark Mulligan of the Houston Chronicle, Eater Houston, Paula Murphy