SCORE: 17.5/20

Larissa Muller was 12 when she tasted her first sip of champagne – a tiny tipple given to her by her nana to celebrate New Year. Originally from Brazil, Larissa came to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2006 and, as young people everywhere do, entered the hospitality industry in a hotel in Queenstown. By 2013, she had joined Palate in a front-of-house capacity but soon rose to become restaurant manager and part owner. Her passion for wine was inspired by food, in particular chef Mat McLean’s delectable dishes that give a wood-fired asado the star billing but are pared back to allow ingredients to speak for themselves. Having graduated from the New Zealand School of Food and Wine, Larissa is already a certified sommelier but is currently studying for an international-standard qualification through the Court of Master Sommeliers based in the UK. She is responsible for Palate’s highly regarded wine list and understands that the best wines tell the full story of their provenance, culture and history. While the focus is on the best vintages from our many superb wine regions, alongside a few star finds from the rest of the world, there are also many reasonably priced offerings so everyone can enjoy a perfectly matched pairing.