Friend of Finestro, Rosie Kim, knows a thing or two about wine. With over ten years of international experience in luxury hotels (The Ritz-Carlton, Hyatt, W Melbourne) and fine dining (Yūgen Dining, Warabi, Ten Minutes By Tractor), Rosie has tasted her fair share of wine, from near and far.
Korean-born, with a love of food, family and good wines to match, Rosie sees wine as more than just a drink. It's an accompaniment to an experience, it's a statement of how you're feeling, and it's an expression of past, present and future, all at once. A place of discovery; to get lost and to learn.
Rosie moved to Australia when she was 14 and built a career in hospitality. Her close friend, Piotr Szewczuk, was working as an assistant head sommelier at Ten Minutes by Tractor, and she visited him for a tasting.
"I didn’t expect it to change anything, but it completely opened my eyes," says Rosie.
"Watching how he spoke about wine, connected it to food, and guided guests so confidently, I remember thinking, 'Wow, this is really cool.' It wasn’t just the wine — it was the passion and the energy. I thought, I want to be part of this… I want to be part of the wine gang."
Soon after, Rosie commenced working at Ten Minutes by Tractor herself, alongside an incredible team. Jacques and Xavier from the company became mentors who constantly challenged her, shaping how she approaches wine today — enjoying it, understanding it, and confidently recommending wines based on each guest’s preferences.
"Wine is never just wine. The more I learn, the more I realise it’s a whole unknown world and honestly, I love getting a little lost in it," says Rosie.
"I love that moment at the table when a guest goes from 'I don’t really know wine' to 'Wow, this is amazing.' When they start taking photos of labels, order another bottle, or say 'Just pick the next one for us,' I know I’ve done my job. That trust? Dangerous… but addictive. And that’s why I love wine."
Rosie holds advanced qualifications of WSET Level 3 in Wine and Saké, Court of Master Sommeliers, French Wine Scholar, and Champagne Masters from Wine Scholar Guild, she's also a really nice person.
So, what does a really nice, really qualified wine appreciator like to drink?
Currently, Rosie's go to after work wine is Chardonnay from the Hunter Valley. Specifically, the Tyrell's 2025 release.
"It ticks all the boxes for me — concentrated yet super refreshing, with lots of stone fruit and that slightly nutty finish I love".
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