Julie Purpura
A collection page of Rochester Brainery
About
Julie Purpura has spent more than half her life in hospitality and, as a proud Finger Lakes native, has followed her twin passions for education and wine for the past two decades. She first taught at Jefferson Community College as Winery Program Coordinator and Instructor of Hospitality & Tourism, blending classroom learning with real-world industry insight and now proudly teaches at Rochester Institute of Technology. She is a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, holds WSET Level 3, and is a Certified Specialist of Wine with the Society of Wine Educators. Julie is known for her warm, approachable style and loves sharing stories that celebrate the people and passion behind the wine world, strengthened by her work with New York Kitchen and multiple partners collaborations across NYS. Through Wine Knot Experiences, she brings people together to learn, laugh, and connect over great wine and meaningful experiences.