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Paul Carayas

Wine Director at Chez TJ, San Mateo, CA

Paul Carayas is a Wine Director and Sommelier, and has had a career in hospitality for over twenty years. In this time, he has worked in the wine industry for over ten years and ran and worked with multiple wine programs across the peninsula. Carayas has spent the last four years at Chez TJ and has obtained Best of Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator since 2016.

When looking for different wines to incorporate in the Chez TJ wine program, Carayas tends to include different wines from all over the globe. Although he does appreciate large wine houses, he tends to look for more boutique winemakers that have more obscure wines. Carayas aims to showcase extraordinary wine producers that are typically difficult to find, allowing for Chez TJ guests to experience new wines each visit. Carayas is also a Certified Sherry Specialist and the U.S.A.’s and North America’s first, and only Certified Madeira Wine Educator via IVBAM. 

Meet the other judges

John Maraffa

Corporate Beverage Manager, Morton's The Steakhouse | Morton's Grille