MAÍRA FREIRE
Sommelier at Lasai, No.28 The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025
Maíra Freira, sommelier at Lasai in Rio de Janeiro, started her journey in gastronomy 15 years ago, discovering a passion for the world of hospitality and restaurant service that ultimately led to a fascination with wine that has since become the essence of her work.
The backstory
It didn't take long for Freira to become hooked on the study and service of wine. After beginning her career in 2009, in 2017 she took on the role of sommelier at Lasai. In 2023, she founded Primeira Taça, an annual wine fair in Rio de Janeiro. The talented sommelier also finds time to curate the wine selection for Libô, a wine bar in the city.
Her work is centred on curation, pairing wines from small producers worldwide with the menu at Lasai, with a focus on authenticity and storytelling through each bottle.
