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STAFF PROFILES

 

Burt Notarius
Managing Director, Prime Wine & Spirits

Burt acquired Premier Liquor (now Prime Wine & Spirits) in 1969, and expanded it in 1981 into the Premier Center, one of the largest wine and spirits complexes in the nation. In 1985, he was honored by Market Watch magazine as one of America’s 12 Leaders in wine and spirit retailing, and was cited for retail excellence in 1986 by Liquor Store Magazine. In voting conducted by editors of The Wine Spectator, Premier was named 1993 Retailer of the Year after winning regional honors in 1991 and 1992. Burt is a particular fan of Spanish wines, which he feels are the best values on the market and among the best made wines in the world.

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Kevin Driscoll
General Manager, Prime Wine & Spirits

Kevin started work at Premier in 1978 and has been an important part of building Premier into one of the most prestigious and respected wine and spirits retailers in the U.S. Kevin has visited numerous wineries in virtually every significant wine producing region of the world, including France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Chile, Argentina, South Africa and Australia, along with extensive travels through California. He has served as a judge in various national wine competitions. Kevin prefers ripe, deep wines with healthy acidity levels that integrate well with foods, including Sauvignon Blanc-based wines such as Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, Syrah-based wines such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas, and Sangiovese-based wines.

Kevin’s current favorite wines

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Ric McLeod
Wine Manager, Prime Wine & Spirits

Rick is a former manager at ABC Liquor in Florida, the country’s largest chain of retail liquor stores. He joined Premier in 1987. Rick has traveled extensively through the wine regions of Europe and South America. His favorite styles of wine are full-bodied reds and whites that are well-balanced, highly extracted and rich in flavor.

 

Ric’s current favorite wines

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Paula Paradise
Senior Wine Associate, Prime Wine & Spirits

Paula has been a pastry chef for 15 years, baking her way through college and graduate school, from Saratoga Springs, New York to Denver, Colorado, and finally coming to Buffalo to pursue a master’s degree in creative writing. Paula’s interest in wine grew as she strove to pair the best wines with menu, palate and spirit. She compares an excellent bottle of wine to a successful dessert recipe. She believes “the fine intricacies of winemaking, the differences between a Pinot Noir from France and one from New York, encompass everything from soil to culture and history. Wine is one of the few products today that can be distinguished by the ingenuity and talent of the individual. The appreciation of wine as a celebration of family, friends and place is universal.”

 

Paula’s current favorite wines

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Kevin McPartland
Wine Associate, Prime Wine & Spirits

Kevin is a graduate of St. Joe’s Collegiate Institute and Canisius College. He has had the privilege of traveling throughout the US, Canada and Europe. His enthusiasm for travel and wine has made him a perfect fit into our staff; plus, he is always more than happy to help customers find that perfect wine.

Juliana Karnyski
Wine Associate, Prime Wine & Spirits

Juliana started working at Premier 12 years ago as a single mother of two young children. A graduate of UB, she learned how to study and work hard. Once at Premier, she was quickly immersed in wine through tasting and the reading of the major publications. She learned an immeasurable amount about wine, and about people, business communication, geography, climate and the many variables involved in making wine. There is much more to learn, and she is a willing and dedicated student.

Kim Sopko
Wine Associate, Prime Wine & Spirits

A Buffalo native, Kim has a B.A. in Economics from Cornell University, where she graduated in 2005. Her passion for wine developed while taking an Intro to Wines course at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration. She has a passion for New World reds and Old World whites, but is very open to trying new and obscure things. Kim currently resides in South Buffalo with her daughter Keira, another budding oenophile.

 

Kim’s current favorite wines

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Jennifer Lansford
Wine Associate, Prime Wine & Spirits

Jennifer Lansford is an enthusiastic wine associate. Her passion was quickly ignited by the immense variety of wine available at Premier. Previously an English major, she changed her focus from literary pursuits to wine education. Her favorite wines include some New World favorites, such as red Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and red blends from California. Jennifer continues to expand her knowledge in order to enhance her own palate as well as to better assist Premier's customers.

 

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