Meet the Team
We believe that wine is about connection – to history, to place, and to each other. Whether we are sourcing rare bottles, discovering the next generation of great winemakers, or learning about an exciting new region, our mission is always the same. We wish to bring wines of authenticity, precision, and soul into the hands of those who will appreciate them most.
Ben Aneff
Managing Partner
Ben Aneff is the Managing Partner of Tribeca Wine Merchants, where his passion for fine wine and storytelling drives everything he does. With years of experience sourcing and selling the world’s greatest wines, he has built longstanding relationships with top producers, collectors, and restaurants across the globe.
Beyond his everyday work, Ben serves as President of the U.S. Wine Trade Alliance and sits on the board of the National Association of Wine Retailers, playing a key role in policy and trade advocacy. His deep industry expertise has made him a go-to source for major publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and Wine Spectator, where he is frequently quoted on industry trends, trade policy, and market dynamics. For Ben, wine is about connection – between place, people, and time – and his mission at Tribeca Wine Merchants is to bring those connections to life, one bottle at a time. Ben lives in New York City with his lovely wife, Hilary, and their two children.
Lauren McPhate
Partner
Lauren McPhate is a partner at Tribeca Wine Merchants and a Stage 3 Master of Wine candidate, the wine industry’s highest level of certification. Her career spans Hong Kong, New York, and Los Angeles, giving her a global lens on fine and rare wine. She has worked harvests in Burgundy, South Africa, and Napa Valley; judged at the China Wine Awards; and earned both the Wine Australia and Constellation Scholarships for top Stage 1 MW performance.
At Tribeca Wine Merchants, Lauren curates an exceptional portfolio, leveraging her blend of technical acumen, sharpened through the MW program, and market insight gained from years in diverse regions. She frequently shares her knowledge at tastings, panels, and industry events, promoting a rich understanding of wine’s cultural and terroir-driven narratives. Lauren’s journey continues to inspire, bridging regional perspectives and exemplifying passion and precision in the world of wine.
Outside of wine, Lauren is an avid runner, a fledgling French student, and frequent tourist.
Dana Gaiser, MS
Executive Director
A 25-year veteran of the wine industry, Dana has served as a Sommelier and Beverage Director at top restaurants including Veritas, Estiatorio Milos and others in New York, Nantucket and California. He has 15 years of experience in fine wine distribution, previously leading the Domaine & Estates division of Southern Glazers Wine and Spirits in New York, the largest wine and spirits distributor in the United States.
After producing one of the top scores in the country on the Advanced Sommelier Exam and winning Top|Somm East Coast in 2013, Dana placed second at Top|Somm Nationals in 2015. In 2018, he passed the final section of the notoriously difficult Master Sommelier Diploma Examination… twice. There are currently 299 individuals who have achieved the honor worldwide since 1969.
He divides his time between Brooklyn and the Connecticut shoreline with his wife and their dog. A passionate amateur chef, he is also an avid outdoorsman who enjoys cycling, hiking, skiing, and surfing.
Christopher Pang
Head of Business Development
Christopher Pang is Head of Business Development and E-Commerce at Tribeca Wine Merchants, where he leads TWM’s digital strategy, marketing initiatives, and online client experience. He also contributes to wine buying and private client sales.
Prior to joining Tribeca Wine Merchants, Chris was based in Bordeaux and London, working on projects addressing regional viticultural challenges in France. His work in vineyard technology and climate adaptation has been featured by the BBC, Le Monde, and Vitisphere. In 2024, he worked harvest at Domaine Leflaive in Puligny-Montrachet. Chris is a graduate of Worcester College, University of Oxford, and holds the WSET Level 3 Advanced Award in Wines. He is currently a WSET Diploma Candidate.
Chris’s passion for wine began at an early age, inspired by summers spent working alongside his family’s wine importing business in Hong Kong. Some of his fondest memories are of hosting visiting winemakers and introducing them to the city’s fishing villages, seafood markets, and vibrant food culture. Outside the world of wine, he enjoys crate digging for records, hunting for antiques, struggling at pub quizzes, playing Sunday league soccer, and finding the perfect spot for an elaborate picnic.