Marvin R. Shanken, the longtime editor and publisher of Wine Spectator magazine, died Thursday in Manhattan at the age of 83.

Shanken began his career in 1972 after purchasing a modest industry newsletter called Impact, which soon became a vital source for wine and spirits professionals. In 1979 he acquired the struggling Wine Spectator newspaper and transformed it into a glossy magazine that later attracted more than 100,000 subscribers.

The publication grew into an important educational tool, helping consumers learn about wine and boosting the reputation of the Napa Valley region. Its articles employed the 100-point rating system, making fine-wine purchasing more accessible to a broad audience.

Beyond Wine Spectator, Shanken founded Cigar Aficionado and bought Food Arts and Malt Advocate, later renamed Whisky Advocate. His M. Shanken Communications also launched Market Watch and Shanken News Daily.

"He helped educate millions of Americans on the joys and virtues of wine, and tirelessly encouraged and pushed winemakers to produce the best for their customers," Wine Spectator wrote in its obituary.

His achievements included creating the Wine Spectator Restaurant Awards, taking over the long-running Wine Experience weekend to connect producers with consumers, and establishing the Wine Spectator Scholarship Foundation.

"It was an extremely influential publication that, along with Robert Parker, actually affected the way wine was made. Wine Spectator could make wineries halfway around the world change the way they made wine," said W. Blake Gray of Wine-Searcher to the New York Times.

Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Shanken studied business at the University of Miami and earned an MBA from American University in Washington.

He initially worked in investment banking on Wall Street, where a assignment to finance a vineyard purchase in California sparked his passion for wine. He then shifted to running Impact, encouraged by its positive reception among beverage wholesalers, at a time when reporting on the wine business was scarce.

After acquiring Wine Spectator, he moved its offices from San Diego to San Francisco and assumed the editor role. The magazine later broadened its coverage to include travel, cooking, restaurants and collecting, and recently marked its 50th anniversary.

Shanken is survived by his wife, Hazel Rudy, daughters Jessica, Allison and Samantha, four grandchildren and two sisters.