Part 2/19:
From Wine to Wisdom: How a Wine Columnist Became a Biographical Chronicler
Steinberger, who formerly served as a wine columnist for Slate between 2002 and 2011, reflects on whether his background in nuanced, subjective analysis influenced his approach to writing about an especially private and complex figure like Karp. Interestingly, Karp himself has drawn parallels between Steinberger’s wine-writing background and his own approach—both involve a careful, fair-minded dissection of nuanced subjects. Writing about wine taught the author to handle emotionally charged topics with even-handedness, a skill that proved unexpectedly relevant for understanding Karp’s layered personality and the multifaceted nature of Palantir.