Tim Maslow’s acclaimed, wildly creative Italian restaurant has a secret weapon in its sommelier, recruited from his days at Momofuku. Paopao is on a mission to inveigle customers down unlikely paths, like exploring the terra incognita of Austrian reds (Blaufränkisch grape, anyone?), or wheedling Sideways fans into giving California merlots another go. Our favorite Paopao gambit: listing by-the-glass options only with evocative descriptions of each wine’s style, not its vintner or varietal. That’s a trust fall every Ribelle customer should willingly take.
Ribelle
1665 Beacon St., Brookline • (617) 232-2322
ribellebkline.com
Other Winners
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Sommelier
2015 Winner: Todd Lipman of Bistro du Midi
For the finest variety of varietals, we put full faith in the fabulous list curated by Lipman, who brings his talent and palate to chef Robert Sisca’s Public Garden-side Provençal palace…...
- 272 Boylston St., Boston
- (617) 426-7878
- bistrodumidi.com
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Sommelier
2016 Winner: Jason Irving of Deuxave
Chef/owner Chris Coombs enthralls discriminating diners with his luxurious French cuisine in Deuxave’s lovely, understated dining room in the Back Bay...
- 371 Comm. Ave., Boston
- (617) 517-5915
- deuxave.com
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Sommelier
2018 Winner: Kelsey McCallan at Catalyst
- 300 Technology Sq., Cambridge
- (617) 576-3000
- catalystrestaurant.com
