Gordana Kostovski
Sommelier

If you were examining the terroir that makes up Twenty21’s Sommelier Gordana Kostovski, you’d have to travel to Macedonia, where the seasoned oenophile and culinary expert’s family roots run deep.

When the Kostovski family came to the United Stated, they eventually settled in the New Jersey suburb of Garfield, not far from New York City, where Kostovski was born. On their property, Kostovski’s father labored over fruit trees and grape vines that he nurtured in the family’s yard. He even made his own wine. From the Kostovski’s kitchen, flavors and aromas of the Old World filled the air.

Despite a family culture steeped in culinary tradition and a well-developed palate, it wasn’t until Kostovski came to Philadelphia to study at the University of Pennsylvania, that her calling was realized.

A bartending job, taken to as means to end, became the start of a career. Kostovski developed an insatiable thirst for knowledge when it came to the science of winemaking and the art of service.

At the former Cutters in Market Street’s Commerce Square, Kostovski moved up to bar manager while expanding her knowledge through seminars and books. When Suzette Mahoney bought Cutters and turned the space into Twenty21, Kostovski stayed on, now as Sommelier.

Kostovski continues to advance her expertise as a Sommelier and has completed the advanced course to a Master of Wine and has embarked on the path to becoming a Master Sommelier. Of course, a lot of wine knowledge comes from hands-on experiences from traveling to wineries, attending wine expos and sampling a wide array of vintages with winery representatives.

Her philosophy is simple, with one central goal: making guests feel comfortable with wine. “There are so many wines in the world, it would be a shame to order the same wine all the time,” she says. At Twenty21, one of Kostovski’s greatest pleasures is introducing guests to new wines and making experiences at Twenty21 that much more memorable.

Kostovski believes trust can be built with a guest over wine, exceptional service and extraordinary cuisine — all of which, are daily aspirations at Twenty21.