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{ SOMMjournal.com } 83 'multiple personalities,'" Mahru says. "We are a concert venue, winemaking facility, private event space, and restaurant. We also conduct many wine-focused events such as educational wine classes, wine - maker dinners, industry tastings, and even wine-and-music pairings." Before rapidly rising in the ranks at City Winery, Mahru started out as an intern. She blames a trip to Madrid, where she "worked for a famous chef " during her senior year of college, for diverting her from a planned career in the medical eld. "I don't believe I had an aha moment when it came to wine as many describe, but when I returned to the States, I gave up my decision to go to medical school and immediately applied for a position at a new wine bar," she recalls. "I'm currently studying and going through the Court of Master Sommeliers to sit for my Advanced Exam this year." City Winery Chicago boasts 22 Rhône labels on its wine list, with three standout Côtes du Rhône AOC bottlings: Châ - teau de Saint Cosme's white blend with sources from Gigondas, Tulette, and Violès; Mar tin Texier's Brèzéme; and Le Clos du Caillou's Le Caillou Rouge. "Typically, they're very approachable in price point," Mahru says when asked what excites her about Côtes du Rhône wines. "Since many of the great producers in the Rhône also make a Côtes du Rhône, it can be a very good introduction to some of these producers without spending an exorbitant amount of money." And in terms of their popularity with patrons, Mahru says the "wines are always quite expressive but never polarizing." "They typically have tannin but nothing overpowering, as well as great acidity complemented with a nice balance of fruit and non-fruit character," she adds. "It's like the Goldilocks of wine." Just as I had asked Al Buchanan, I prod Mahru to match her personality to a Côtes du Rhône wine. "My personality is fairly multidimen - sional, which is one of the reasons I chose wine as a career," she replies. "It's more than just the study of a grape: It's the history, culture, and language of the region. It's one of the reasons I love it so much, because it challenges me in every subject. Côtes du Rhône is quite similar—instead of a singular grape, it's typically a blend working together to create a beautiful end product. Instead of picking a singular wine that represents my personality, I think the appellation as a whole is a nice representative." Rebekah Mahru serves as the Beverage Director for City Winery's Chicago locations, which offer several Côtes du Rhône wines. City Winery Chicago's Top Food and Wine Pairings Martin Texier Brèzéme A "natural" wine with no added sulfur, it boasts vivid aromas of black- berry, turned earth, blueberry compote, and cocoa with terrific crushed-stone minerality. City Winery pairs it with duck tacos. Le Clos du Caillou Le Caillou Rouge City Winery's roast lamb dish is very aromatic and intense, making it a good match for the deep, brooding character of this wine.