Beginning as a server, Coker rose through the ranks at Rustic Canyon to oversee the wine program at five restaurants. Her crowning achievement, however, is Esters鈥攑art wine store, part artisan eatery鈥攚here visitors can drink, shop, or both. “I love introducing my customers to wines made by thoughtful winemakers, not corporations,” she says. And instead of a wine program that complements the food, bites were created to suit Coker’s favorite bottles. The shop is lined with picks from small producers, while a special room with pricier selections caters to collectors.
Kathryn Coker, 36
Owner, Esters Wine Shop & Bar; Wine Director, Rustic Canyon Family of Restaurants, Santa Monica, California

Photo by Paul Aresu
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