Justin Chearno

The Last Interview

In August 2024, while driving north on I-87, my eyes diverted from the road to a text that nearly swerved me off the road. To my partner’s confusion, I quickly pulled over. Safely on the shoulder, I looked again. It was true.

“Justin Chearno has died.”

On the verge of a new and exciting chapter of his professional life, Justin was only 54.

Justin was a beloved figure in wine scene, in New York and beyond. He left behind his The Four Horsemen family, his extended international wine community, and most importantly, his beloved wife, Stacey, and son, Felix.

This interview took place just four weeks before his death. It proved a gift for me, enabling that one last conversation. The abridged version ran in the fall 2024 Noble Rot issue. Here it is a slightly fleshed out version.