Born in Detroit, Michigan in 1963. In 1986, Bob started, owned and operated a specialty wine retail outlet in Traverse City, Michigan. The business flourished until it was sold in 2002, the year that he became an MW. In 2003, he moved to the corporate side of the business to Bentonville, Arkansas to take the Category Lead role for wine, spirits and beer for Sam's Club US (a division of Wal-Mart). In 2009, he transitioned to the Category Director role over wine, spirits and beer for Southeastern Grocers based in Jacksonville, Florida. In 2013, he moved again, this time coast to coast, as the Senior Vice President of Wine for Bevmo stores in San Francisco, California. Then, in 2017, Bob made the move to Melbourne, Australia as Head of Sourcing - Beverage Alcohol for Coles stores, with primary responsibility for private label and exclusive brands development. In late 2018, he moved back to California to operate his consulting business, with current work in Spain, Italy, Australia, Chile, Argentina and the US. In December of 2022, he launched a YouTube channel at Bob Paulinski Master of Wine.

Primary area(s) of work: Trade, Strategy

Industry sector(s): Business owner, Buying, Consultant, Educator, Import/Export, International trade, Off trade, Sales, Wine business strategy, Wine buying, Wine judge

Wine region expertise: Alto Adige, Australia, California, Central Otago, Champagne, France, Italy, Loire, Marlborough, New Zealand, Piedmont, Provence, Rhone, Slovenia, Spain, Tasmania, USA, Washington

Market expertise: Australia, Europe, South East Asia

Specialisms: Blending, Packing and labelling, Sensory evaluation , Branding, Direct to consumer, Distribution, Financial and commercial structures, Identifying and meeting consumer demand, Importation, Independent retail, Marketing wine, Routes to market, Supply chain efficiency, Supermarket and multiple retail, Wine labels, Wine judging