Dallas wine expert Darryl Beeson died on Friday

by Teresa Gubbins

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Beeson was one of the best known wine figures and personalities in Dallas.

Darryl Beeson

DALLAS — Darryl Beeson, longtime Dallas wine expert and a sommelier at restaurants such as the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, French Room, and Voltaire, died on Friday after complications following a recent car accident. He was 54.

According to a message relayed to Nancy, Darryl had been in a car accident in University Park and was in the hospital for several weeks. "His liver and kidneys started failing him and he has been in and out of ICU during this time. The actual cause of death has not been determined."

Beeson was one of the best known wine personalities in Dallas, dating back to his regular slot in the '90s on KRLD's Restaurant Show with Jim White, where he cultivated his identity as the "Wine Guy." He was also a prolific writer, covering wine and spirits for a variety of publications such as Eats & Drinks and Cocktail Atlas.

He also taught International Sommelier Guild classes on wine at El Centro College and at a community college in Houston.

He was a regular at local media events such as the lunch in June 2009 with Argentinian winemaker where his quick wit guaranteed that he was always at the ready with a clever anecdote or tidbit of information that no one else knew. His home phone number even ended in 9463, the numbers for "wine."

From Jim White's Facebook page: