Meet our wine director Paulo J. Villela

Paulo’s interest in wine started at a young, ripe age, while growing up in southern Brazil. Neighboring Italian immigrants would give Paulo free homemade wine as long as he brought his own bottle; back then the bottle was the greatest expense. His journey to become a sommelier began in the restaurant business in 1983 as a bus boy. Classically climbing the ranks, he became Captain/Sommelier of Windows on the World Restaurant in 1996 and remained until its tragic end in 2001. Paulo was the last to grace the vast wine cellar before it fell on September 11.

Paulo is fluent in five languages, was class valedictorian for the Sommelier Society of America in 1998, and has earned his degree in Agricultural Engineering from the Federal University of Rio de Janiero. Paulo’s vast knowledge of wine doesn’t just come from the books. It comes from his teachers Kevin Zraly and Andrea Immer, friends, family, experience, tasting 40-50 wines per week and the many trips he takes. “You learn more by actually going to the regions. One can not speak of a Rioja wine until they are sitting alongside the mountains of Rioja, feeling the traditions of the people, eating their food and becoming companions,” says Paulo. He makes an effort to go on at least one trip per year and has graced Napa Valley, Italy, Greece, Chile, Argentina, Germany and the “death march” in Spain to name a few.

When asked what his favorite food & wine combination, he replied “Thank God I don’t have to pick one but seafood with a light bodied red is one of my favorite.” Paulo’s plan for the Bohlsen Restaurant Group is to diversify the already unique wine program by making people feel comfortable, offering new, fun experiences for both the staff and the public by involving as many people as possible. The secret to success in his profession he says, “not being pretentious; having my own opinion and judging wines for what they are rather than what people say it is; being honest with people and tasting a lot of wines. The best endorsement is when you can say ‘I tried it.’” Paulo’s son Felipe joins him I the wine cellars of Prime, Tellers and H2O.