bu-ku Restaurant Group
Announces All 3 Executive Chefs Pass Level 1 Court of Master Sommeliers Exam, plus many more on staff
bu-ku and so-ca earn
Wine Spectator “Award of Excellence”
bu-ku Raleigh, bu-ku Wake Forest, and so-ca Announce Wine Dinners
so-ca Introduces New
Complimentary Tuesday Night Wine Tastings
The bu•ku Restaurant Group has been recognized for its thoughtful global wine program at bu•ku in downtown Raleigh, and now also at so•ca in Cameron Village and at the new bu•ku in Wake Forest. Led by Wine Director Troy Revell, who received his Level 2 Court of Master Sommeliers Certification in 2013 and his level 3 Wine Certification from Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) in 2017, along with co-owners Sean Degnan and Tony Hopkins, the bu•ku restaurant group places as much importance on what’s in your glass as what’s on your plate.
“Offering thoughtful wine lists and pairings that are both accessible and adventurous, is extremely important to us, but none of this would matter if we didn’t have well-trained wine professionals on our team,” explained Degnan. “As a restaurant group, we’ve made wine training a priority, and offer it to every single member of our 120-person staff. We’re extremely proud that all of our Executive Chefs have now passed their Level 1 with the Court of Master Sommeliers as well as 11 more on our team, including 3 sous chefs, not to mention our Wine Director, who has received both his Level 2 CMS Certified Sommelier Certification and WSET’s Level 3 Wine Certification.”
The CMS Introductory Course – a wine course for hospitality professionals overseen by the Court of Master Sommeliers – was conducted this past July in Durham. (The 14 managers in the bu•ku Restaurant Group that have passed their Level 1 are listed below, including co-owner Sean Degnan.)
Additionally, for the first time, both bu•ku in Raleigh and so•ca received Wine Spectator’s “Award of Excellence,” the annual award given to restaurants around the globe who have outstanding wine lists and feature “a well-chosen assortment of quality producers along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style.”
This year, Revell expanded bu•ku’s wine selection in Raleigh from 40 to 128 bottles ($36-$150), with 19 additional offerings by the glass (from $8-$14), and 9 dessert wines ($6-$16). The bu•ku list reflects its global cuisine, featuring a wide selection from around the world including some unexpected options. “Divided into familiar and adventurous, our goal with this list is to be both educational and approachable, interesting and fun,” explained Revell.
so•ca, which recently celebrated its 1st anniversary, features over 60 wines by the bottle, with a strong emphasis on wines from South America, including Argentina, Chile, Mexico, and Uruguay, and includes ‘global’ classics as well, from Europe and the United States. 13 of the 19 wines-by-the-glass are from South America. “This may be the most diverse and progressive selection of South American wines in the Triangle,” said Revell, “the ideal complement to Chef Rodriguez’s vibrant Latin cuisine.”
To celebrate so•ca’s Wine Spectator award, Chef Eli Rodriguez and Wine Director Troy Revell have collaborated to offer complimentary wine tastings (3-4 wines) in the bar every Tuesday from 5 to 7pm, beginning July 31st. The tastings, which will occur weekly, are aimed to provide guests an opportunity to experience wines from Central or South America, alongside small tastings from the restaurant’s Latin-inspired kitchen. Following, guests are invited to dine and enjoy half-price bottles.
On August 28th, so•ca will host its next wine dinner, highlighting the award-winning wines from Susana Balbo, a winery located in the Lujan de Cuyo region of Argentina. Wine Director Troy Revell, who will be on-hand to share his knowledge of the wines, explained “It really is special to plan wine dinners and private events with an Executive Chef and overall team who have such a fine understanding of wine. Speaking the same language enables us to give an elevated experience to our guests at every wine dinner, and every time we’re asked to pair a wine with a dish.” Reservations may be made by contacting so•ca at 919-322-0440.
All three restaurants offer monthly or bimonthly wine dinners, informed wine pairing suggestions, and “Friday Night Flights,” which change monthly. On Tuesdays, so•ca sells wine bottles at half price, and on Wednesdays, bu•ku Wake Forest offers the same promotion. bu•ku Wake Forest also has biweekly tasting luncheons on Saturdays in partnership with Wine & Beer 101.
Upcoming wine dinners:
- July 28th at bu•ku Wake Forest: Spanish Wine Lunch; Three courses with wine pairings, $25. Reservations: https://www.bukuwakeforest.com/
- August 14th at bu•ku Wake Forest: Burly Wine Dinner, featuring Napa Valley’s Burly Wine and owner Hank McCrorie; Five courses with wine pairings, $95. Reservations: https://www.bukuwakeforest.com/
- August 23rd at bu•ku Raleigh: French winemaker Guy Farge; Reservations: 919-834-6963.
- August 28th at so•ca: Susana Balbo Winery, from the Lujan de Cuyo region of Argentina, with Wine Director Troy Revell. Reservations: 919-322-0440.
- September 20th at bu•ku Wake Forest: Vision Cellars winemaker Mac McDonald from Sonoma, CA
- October 11th at bu•ku Raleigh: NC Fine Wines Society; Reservations: 919-834-6963.
- October 25th at bu•ku Wake Forest: Jones von Drehle owner Diana Jones from Thurmond, NC
- November 14th at bu•ku Wake Forest: Barboursville winemaker Luca Paschina from Barboursville, VA
CMS Certified Level 1:
Troy Revell, bu•ku Restaurant Group, Wine Director (Also, CMS Level 2, and WSET Level 3)
Sean Degnan, Co-Owner of bu•ku Restaurant Group
Amanda Haisley, Executive Chef, bu•ku Raleigh
Eli Rodriguez, Executive Chef, so•ca
Andrew Smith, Executive Chef, bu•ku Wake Forest
Tolson Kenney, bu•ku Restaurant Group, Beverage Director
Katherine Darden, bu•ku Restaurant Group, Events Director
Emily Phelps, bu•ku Wake Forest, General Manager
Kyle Fletcher, bu•ku Wake Forest, Sous Chef
Max Lai, bu•ku Raleigh, Chef de Cuisine
Andrea Chan, bu•ku Raleigh, Bar Manager
Jessica Hutchings, so•ca Manager
Lee Robinson, so•ca Manager
Lane Callaway, bu•ku Wake Forest and so•ca, Main Prep
Visit bu•ku Downtown Raleigh at www.bukuRaleigh.com and follow @bukuRaleigh
Visit bu•ku Wake Forest at https://www.bukuwakeforest.com/ and follow @bukuwakeforest
Visit so•ca at www.socaRaleigh.com and follow @socaraleigh
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