Ray Tuppatsch- RIP

dbailey · May 8, 2021, 4:55pm

How very sad. Never had the chance to meet him but we exchanged messages several times and he was always so gracious and helpful. His dinners and posts here were legendary. 57 is just way too young but nobody could accuse him of missing out on life.

P_L_owet · May 8, 2021, 5:10pm

I only knew Ray on these wine boards, but still randomly realized the other day that I missed his posts. For someone who drank so many extraordinary wines, especially champagne, he always seemed to retain the thrill for stunning bottles without any cynicism or jaundice. In his posts, he was just as helpful and informative about basic NV bottling as about once in a lifetime tete-de-cuvees.
RIP. Thanks everyone for sharing lovely memories.
Peter

Glenn_L_e_v_i_n_e · May 8, 2021, 5:16pm

Prevost in our Zaltos Burgs this AM. Love this Champs. Rest peacefully Ray.

Karl_K · May 8, 2021, 5:19pm

RIP

Eric_LeVine · May 8, 2021, 7:13pm

Damn life is fragile. May his memory be a blessing.

Marc_Lazar · May 8, 2021, 7:22pm

First off, can someone edit the subject to say RIP? Seems the least we can do out of respect for Ray.
IMG_1012 (1).jpeg
Second, Bruce sent me this picture yesterday, and it sums up a lot. Friends, clients, friends who became clients, clients who became friends. And Ray right in the middle - A mentor, travel partner, wise sage and damn fun guy. Whats so striking to me in this photo is that I am the same age now that he was in this picture, 12-13 years ago. Wow, you will be missed King Angry!

C_Mc_Cart · May 8, 2021, 7:23pm

RIP Ray. Condolences to family & friends.

Peter_Chiu · May 8, 2021, 8:30pm

RIP - Ray. I enjoyed his posts since Parker’s Board. I never met him…but going to miss him. Life is indeed short…

Eric_Ifune · May 8, 2021, 9:08pm

RIP Ray. You’ll be missed at all the NYC get togethers.

Ian_Dorin · May 8, 2021, 10:24pm

What? He was younger than me I believe. Details please? RIP . . .

Only 57. I haven’t heard any details other than he was found in his apartment.

He was a fun guy to be around. I have so many fond recollections of dinners and crazy golf in his backyard. And super generous. I think his tipping at restaurants usually started at around 40% and was usually more. We would test each other on blind bottles. Depending on who did well the other would have to donate money to the winner’s favorite charity. Ray’s pick was usually a charity for animals.

He was also the most honest “golfer” I’ve ever played with. I remember teeing off on one hole and Ray had put like six or seven balls in the woods and he would be on the tee yelling “hitting 13”, “now hitting 15”. I think he would have enjoyed the game more if he wasn’t such a stickler for the rules but that was Ray.

RIP and very sincere condolences to his daughters who I know he loved very much.

I miss the Iron Chef nights too.

I’ll never forget the one blind tasting night that everyone was ranting and raving over which 82 Bordeaux it was…and it was 79 Dunn Howell. I had seen the bottle through the window as he decanted it, so I had to opt out of guessing (I would have only had to guess the vintage), so Ray and I were hysterically laughing at the arguing that was going on.

Another great story was when a group of us were having dinner at Brooklyn Fare (the EARLY days), and we took a limo (remember those???) to the city. When we were outside the Holland Tunnel, we traded a bottle of Champagne and glasses from the limo for bottles of water from the guy selling them on the side of the road. On the ride home, Ray was playing some driving game on his iPad as we sat in grid lock traffic at 12:30 at night.

larry_schaffer · May 8, 2021, 10:37pm

What? He was younger than me I believe. Details please? RIP . . .

Only 57. I haven’t heard any details other than he was found in his apartment.

He was a fun guy to be around. I have so many fond recollections of dinners and crazy golf in his backyard. And super generous. I think his tipping at restaurants usually started at around 40% and was usually more. We would test each other on blind bottles. Depending on who did well the other would have to donate money to the winner’s favorite charity. Ray’s pick was usually a charity for animals.

He was also the most honest “golfer” I’ve ever played with. I remember teeing off on one hole and Ray had put like six or seven balls in the woods and he would be on the tee yelling “hitting 13”, “now hitting 15”. I think he would have enjoyed the game more if he wasn’t such a stickler for the rules but that was Ray.

RIP and very sincere condolences to his daughters who I know he loved very much.

I miss the Iron Chef nights too.

I’ll never forget the one blind tasting night that everyone was ranting and raving over which 82 Bordeaux it was…and it was 79 Dunn Howell. I had seen the bottle through the window as he decanted it, so I had to opt out of guessing (I would have only had to guess the vintage), so Ray and I were hysterically laughing at the arguing that was going on.

Another great story was when a group of us were having dinner at Brooklyn Fare (the EARLY days), and we took a limo (remember those???) to the city. When we were outside the Holland Tunnel, we traded a bottle of Champagne and glasses from the limo for bottles of water from the guy selling them on the side of the road. On the ride home, Ray was playing some driving game on his iPad as we sat in grid lock traffic at 12:30 at night.

Great story - thanks for sharing. Puts things into perspective and a smile on my face. Cheers . . .

Peter_Chiu · May 8, 2021, 10:47pm

RIP - Ray.

Same here with me.

Peter_Chiu · May 8, 2021, 10:56pm

I just heard an hour ago.

I met Ray on the wine boards right before I visited NYC for the first time, and on my very first trip there in spring 2009 I found myself at one of his great Acker dinners- the first of many.

In the aftermath of the market turmoil at that time, Ray proved his great character. He not only took his losses on the chin without recycling questionable bottles, but he put his tremendous access and knowledge to good use to protect himself and his friends for years after. I doubt I am the only wine appraiser who benefitted from his insights and specific knowledge on a regular basis.

Ironically I was thinking of him just this morning- working on some special champagnes for my fall trip to NYC in the hopes of having a grand post-COVID dinner with him and a few others. Those bottles will now be reserved for a tribute and toast to one of the greatest people I have met in over 25 years of tasting wine.

Ray was a tenacious and truly dedicated wine lover- and generous in sharing his knowledge and cellar with anyone in whom he saw that same sincere interest.

For my part, I always looked forward to seeing him, and could not help smiling ear to ear every time I walked into a room and saw his face.

RIP Ray. The wine world loves you and we will miss you terribly.

Tom…

May God bless Ray’s soul …

mike_pobega · May 8, 2021, 11:52pm

So sad. I am sorry to hear this. May he rest peacefully. Condolences to his family and friends.

jordan_whitehead · May 8, 2021, 11:59pm

Stunned. Drank with him a few times and we traded some champagne, of course, years ago.

#waytooyoung

MChang · May 9, 2021, 12:08am

We popped some Krug 168. Young, but staggering.

RIP champ

Veronica_Castro · May 9, 2021, 12:34am

What shocking, sad news. I was fortunate enough to break bread with Ray in NYC and LA. A very kind, respectful person and was generous to a fault. I feel badly for his daughters, family and friends. Rest In Peace, Ray.

Jeremy_Holmes · May 9, 2021, 1:20am

Very sad. I’ll opening something ‘killer minus’ as a toast.

Dav3_Dyr0ff · May 9, 2021, 12:22pm

I only knew him from the various wine boards. RIP, Ray. Gone too soon.

Paul_Jaouen · May 9, 2021, 2:34pm

What? He was younger than me I believe. Details please? RIP . . .

Only 57. I haven’t heard any details other than he was found in his apartment.

He was a fun guy to be around. I have so many fond recollections of dinners and crazy golf in his backyard. And super generous. I think his tipping at restaurants usually started at around 40% and was usually more. We would test each other on blind bottles. Depending on who did well the other would have to donate money to the winner’s favorite charity. Ray’s pick was usually a charity for animals.

He was also the most honest “golfer” I’ve ever played with. I remember teeing off on one hole and Ray had put like six or seven balls in the woods and he would be on the tee yelling “hitting 13”, “now hitting 15”. I think he would have enjoyed the game more if he wasn’t such a stickler for the rules but that was Ray.

RIP and very sincere condolences to his daughters who I know he loved very much.

I miss the Iron Chef nights too.

I’ll never forget the one blind tasting night that everyone was ranting and raving over which 82 Bordeaux it was…and it was 79 Dunn Howell. I had seen the bottle through the window as he decanted it, so I had to opt out of guessing (I would have only had to guess the vintage), so Ray and I were hysterically laughing at the arguing that was going on.

Another great story was when a group of us were having dinner at Brooklyn Fare (the EARLY days), and we took a limo (remember those???) to the city. When we were outside the Holland Tunnel, we traded a bottle of Champagne and glasses from the limo for bottles of water from the guy selling them on the side of the road. On the ride home, Ray was playing some driving game on his iPad as we sat in grid lock traffic at 12:30 at night.

OMG! I had forgotten about the Iron Chef dinners. Ray was so competitive. I think he tried to win more than anyone. And we weren’t allowed to cook any dish that contained mammals or fowl as Ray wouldn’t eat them.