PORTLAND WINE WEEK 2024 FEATURE: SOMMELIER Suzie Perez of Isa Bistro
Sponsored by Buoy Local.
Introducing the Portland Wine Week Sommelier Showcase, brought to you by Buoy Local. Portland, Maine, may be a small city, but it has an outsized reputation for wine and food thanks to the talented culinary stars behind its mouth-watering menus. When it comes to wine, Portland is dominated by women wine professionals who work hard to bring you the best bottles from across the globe. This series spotlights 10 women Sommeliers pouring phenomenal wine all Portland Wine Week-long!
SUZIE’S Portland Wine Week Events:
GRAND OPENING WOMEN IN WINE DINNER: WHO PAIRED IT BETTER? SPONSORED BY BANGOR SAVINGS @ FALMOUTH COUNTRY CLUB
2020 Cantele Amativo at Isa Bistro (Weeklong Offering)
5-Course Cantele of Puglia with Fred Mullins at Isa Bistro
Isa is a cozy, neighborhood spot in East Bayside, a 2023 James Beard nominee for Best New Restaurant, and a beloved bistro for dedicated regulars. Off the beaten track and petite (we’d recommend getting a reservation) Isa is a charming departure from the vibrant mid-summer buzz of downtown and Commercial Street, and instead feels like you’ve just stepped out of Portland and into Paris. “There's the hustle and bustle in here that is really kind of charming and endearing.” Says Suzie Perez, co-owner and sommelier. Contrary to the French classics and brasserie-inspired interior, its menu is dotted with inspiration from Central and South American cuisines that altogether create an unforgettable dining experience. Every bite tells a story of cultural exchange and culinary innovation. Suzie is the oenophile behind the wine menu, which proposes pairings with her husband Isaul’s cuisine that are quite frankly, genius. As the food borrows and honors many different traditions, her wine selections cover a lot of ground. They put it simply “the dishes are influenced by the places we’ve been and the things we love.”
Suzie, like so many others, took on her first restaurant job as an after school gig when she was 15. It wasn’t until she moved to NYC and worked in a restaurant with a list exclusively of fine wines that she realized a career path laid ahead of her. She quickly rose to the occasion, being promoted through the ranks until she was a wine director and Wine Spirits and Education Trust certified (WSET). Her boyfriend at the time – now her husband and business partner, Isaul – was feeling like their time in NYC was finished, and offered up the idea of moving back home to Maine. After they came back to Maine, Suzie says, “We fell in love with this building. We got married and we opened (Isa) in March 2016.”
“I love people and this is why I love this business. I have always been a people person. I love to chat with people. I love to know my guests. I love that people are literally eating in my house – we live upstairs!” Isaul and Suzie are the perfect pair, he is an incredible chef, and she is the sommelier whose spot-on pairings and vibrant energy elevate the hospitality experience to one Portland’s best.
On her wine list, she prioritizes affordable, hidden gems of very high quality. It’s a win for her when she can find a wine that punches way above its weight – because that means a bigger range of her guests will be able to enjoy it. “I'm always looking for that price range that kind of accommodates everyone's pocket, but is still really delicious wine.”
When asked what her favorite wine from her small but diverse wine list was, she laughed; “It’s like choosing your favorite child!” Her wine list changes alongside Isaul’s menu, both working in tandem to reflect the seasons, seasonal produce and evolving styles. “They all have their shining moments, and we change our menu with the season. So it's really kind of a revolving door for us.”
Her incredible pairings for Portland Wine Week are centered around the Cantele Amativo, a unique Negroamaro and Primitivo blend. “Portland wine week has been kind of pivotal in us being able to talk more about wine, which is an important part of any dinner. In my opinion, you can really elevate your whole experience by having the perfect glass of wine with whatever it is that you’re eating.”
Experience Suzie’s visionary pairings for yourself during Portland Wine Week, or any time at Isa Bistro in Portland, Maine.
