As a Wine Buyer and Senior Wine Advisor, Paul works directly with all of Courtier’s suppliers and clients across all areas of the business.Paul was twenty-one and on a trip to the Napa Valley when he had his first taste of fine wine. Graduating from the University of Virginia later that year, he worked the harvest at a local winery and began his education on grape growing and winemaking.Curious about the wines of the world, he moved to San Francisco to study in the Wine & Spirits Education Trust Diploma program while pursuing an interest in cooking. Exploring fine dining restaurants and participating in various groups, his palate developed through extensive tasting and learning.A career in sales began with a strong knowledge of fine wines and a well developed network of enthusiasts and professionals. As a sales associate, he developed a specialized knowledge of Burgundy and Italian wines, and began to build an impressive collection of his own while advising clients on their cellar plans and inventory management.Paul continued to expand his capabilities while working one-on-one with discerning collectors around the world – sourcing and exporting from the European markets, directly from producers and negociants . As a buyer, he secured allocations of the most sought-after current releases, as well as acquiring significant collections of old and rare wines with impeccable provenance.