Paul Marcus Wines staff roster

• Paul Marcus is of course the store's founder and owner. Paul's palate is as keen as his ear - before starting Paul Marcus Wines, he was a record buyer for Leopold's in Berkeley. He's usually in the store on Friday and Saturday and often comes by on other days.

• Chad Arnold is a poet, teacher, and all around fun guy. His clowning ways belie his serious interest in old and great wines and his deep knowledge of all wine. Chad has traded the glamorous life of PMW-dom for teaching, including literature and writing classes at St. Mary's College and wine classes at U.C Berkeley Extension.

• John Brooks studies philosophy and worked with us when his studies allowed, before moving to Fresno to teach. John is especially knowledgable about German wine ... and German philosophy.

• Miguel Frasconi is a composer and Paul Marcus Wines alumnus who now lives back east. He stops in when he's in town to buy wine and occasionally to relive those glorious days as a Paul Marcus Wines employee.

• Joel Mullennix is an actor and teacher and the person who's been with Paul the longest. Joel is one of our Italian experts. Whether your interest is in Italian wine, food, travel, or language, you'll find a conversation with him enlightening and inspiring. Joel works Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

• Mark Middlebrook was a Paul Marcus Wines customer for 12 years before becoming an employee in 2001. He's also a teacher and computer consultant. A love for Spanish wine brought him into the wine business, but he's since developed an equal fondness for the wines of Burgundy and Piemonte. He usually works Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and often makes a pest of himself on other days as well.

• Erik d'Azevedo is a painter and fabulous cook. Ask him for some food preparation tips along with wine and food pairing suggestions. Erik especially loves the wines of Champagne and Burgundy. He works most Sundays through Wednesdays.

• Paul Courtright studies French and travels to Europe whenever he can. Paul was our biggest Loire wine advocate, but he also loves the wines of Germany, Burgundy, and Spain. Paul recently moved to Texas, where he's now representing wines for the Pioneer Wine Company.

• Rebekah Wineburg (holding the flowers) is a real, live winemaker. She earned her Masters degree in enology from U.C. Davis, and she now works for Rudd in the Napa Valley. Now that she's a big shot at Rudd, she rarely has time to work at PMW.

• Cheryl Koehler (in the hardhat) is a freelance writer and editor/publsiher of Edible East Bay. Her travels have immersed her in the food, wine, and geography of California and the Mediterranean countries. She works occasionally at PMW, stocking the store like a demon when everyone else is on vacation.

• Joe Denaro managed the Paul Marcus Wines 4th Street Berkeley store (Requiescat in Pacem) and now wiles away his Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and some Saturdays with us in Rockridge.

• Farid Nabavi is another longtime-customer-turned-employee who joined the PMW team. When Farid isn't collecting, drinking, and sharing the wines of the world, he develops Web applications. After a year living in New Zealand, Farid is back in the Bay Area, and he occasionally helps out during busy weekends.

• Ernest Ifkovitz lived in Italy for several years, where he developed a passion for Italian wine, Italian food, and his Italian wife. Ernest is about to move to Genoa and establish the world headquarters of his new Italian wine brokering and importing business.

• C. Scott Puckett was our clutch pinch-hitter for several months in between his former job as sale representative for Diamond Wines and current one for Beaune Imports. C. Scott loves pink wine.

• Ryan Smith joined the store after wielding a knife behind the counter of The Pasta Shop's Cheese Counter and in the kitchens of several well-known Bay Area restaurants. He also snaps a mean Polaroid. He currently works at PMW any time, all the time.

• Gilian Handelman came to us after a distinguished tenure at Wine & Spirits magazine and was our undisputed California wine expert. Alas for us, she found a real job up in Napa, but she still stops into our wine shop and even lends a hand from time to time.

• Jennifer Seidman owns the Acme Bar in Berkeley and came to PMW to bring her wine chops up to the level of her Armagnac chops. She has no trouble holding her own with the boys at PMW. She works Sundays. Mondays, and Tuesdays.

• Ryan Ver Hey is another Ryan who joined us after making his mark at The Pasta Shop. He also works at Luka's Taproom and brews his own beer. Ryan the Second works Mondays and Wednesdays.