Although sommelier Paula Rester had worked in restaurants since she was 15, it wasn’t until her late-20s that she has what she calls her “wine ‘ah-ha’ moment.”
“I put my nose in the glass and immediately felt transported to a place I had never been before,” she tells us of the experience with a Nebbiolo from the Italian region of Gattinara in the Alto Piemonte. “The wine was earthy and truffle-y and very expressive, and I had to know more!” Paula began educating herself: purchasing bottles for at-home tastings and books for devouring and joining tasting groups to engage with similar-minded individuals.
But that wasn’t enough. She eventually began studying formally: She’s now a Certified Specialist of Wine from the Society of Wine Educators and a Certified Sommelier from the Court of Master Sommeliers. Currently, she’s the wine director of La Corsha Hospitality Group in Austin, Texas. This means she oversees the wine program for six restaurants, including Boiler Nine Bar + Grill and local staple Second Bar + Kitchen.
In her demanding role, she must adapt each concept using her knowledge of wine and the area. “Texans love rosé of all shades year-round,” she says.
Read what Rester selected for Wine of the Week at groknation.com.