Today we’d like to introduce you to Giuseppe Paternoster.
Hi Giuseppe, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Giuseppe is a Silver Pin Sommelier with a distinguished career in hospitality spanning nearly three decades. His journey began in 1996 in Gravina in Puglia, a town on the southeast coast of Italy, where he took on a side job in a small rotisserie, crafting traditional Italian pastries and panzerotti.
In 2004, Giuseppe relocated to the United States, starting his American chapter with limited English proficiency at a family-owned Italian restaurant in Redondo Beach, California. There, he delighted patrons—especially families and children—with his skillful pizza-making performances and authentic flavors.
By 2007, after marrying and welcoming his son, Luigi Junior, Giuseppe advanced his career by transitioning to fine dining establishments in Beverly Hills as a server. This role ignited his deep passion for wine, building on early memories from 18 years prior when his paternal grandfather introduced him to the vibrant colors and allure of Italian vineyards—a formative experience that foreshadowed wine becoming not just a profession, but a lifelong pursuit.
In 2018, just before the COVID-19 pandemic, Giuseppe committed to formal education by enrolling with the National American Sommelier Association (N.A.S.A.). Over the course of a year, his dedicated studies deepened his expertise and enthusiasm, transforming his daily work into an ongoing opportunity for growth through interactions with guests and colleagues.
Driven by entrepreneurial ambition, Giuseppe achieved a key milestone in 2024 by establishing partnerships with boutique Italian wineries and launching his own wine importation business from Italy to the U.S. Concurrently, he completed and globally published his autobiography and wine-focused book, Winederland, in June of that year.
Today, Giuseppe reflects on his path as one filled with joy, satisfaction, and profound fulfillment, embodying a harmonious blend of professional achievement and personal passion for the world of wine.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Life in this particular field is not fun as it looks like, just because it’s filled with tasty food, people and quality wine. Instead it has been a struggle mostly because the job was not just serving, but babysitting, being a psychologist and none then less see everyone else celebrating while you are working for their celebration. In the other hand this job let you grow daily, quickly then you could have done in different other job.
But starting working as Sommelier Made me enjoy more what I was working for, bc I would focus mostly in something that intentionally Ì was going to share daily to hundreds guests.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a professional Sommelier, and wine educator.
I’m proud of my students when they give me the look of those that finally they got some knowledge that they were waiting a lifetime 😄.
What sets me apart part from others?
My passion, my empathy for people around me and for my persistency in a world where there is lots of competitors.
How do you think about happiness?
Looking behind me and see how far I have arrived. Traveling makes me happy because I get to open my mind between new customs, religions and cultures.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Winederland
