Restaurant owner fares well in contest of wine experts

Inez Ribustello, owner-operator of On the Square Restaurant in Tarboro and 4th Street Wine Bar & Restaurant in Greenville, finished as the second runner-up in the American Sommelier Association’s annual contest for the Best Sommelier in America.

The event took place in New York City with 21 participants from all over the country. There were 20 male contestants and one female contestant. In the first round to determine the four top candidates, Ribustello was chosen number two. In the final competition, she was selected as the second runner-up from this group. The winner was Michael Englemann from San Fransisco and the first runner-up was Fernando Beteta from Chicago. Inez was the second runner-up and the only female in the contest. A sommelier is a wine expert.