Yuri Tukuli

Bujar “Yuri” Tukuli is a Dallas-based Advanced Sommelier and the founder of Somm House. At the age of fifteen, Yuri left his hometown of Durrës, Albania and crossed the Adriatic Sea to attend boarding school in San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy. While there, he worked at his first fine-dining restaurant and fell in love with hospitality.

Since moving to Dallas in 2007, Yuri has worked as the lead sommelier for a number of James Beard and Michelin-recognized restaurants, such as Arcodoro & Pomodoro, Mister Charles, Monarch, Mot Hai Ba, Gemma and Sachet. His passion for the profession and deep knowledge of wine are what drive Yuri to seek new ways to elevate the dining experience of every guest.

Yuri earned the title of Best Albanian Sommelier in 2017 and is currently internationally ranked 28th in the world by the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI). For nearly a decade, Yuri has proudly represented Albania in numerous ASI competitions on a global scale. In October of 2026, he will be traveling to Lisbon, Portugal, where he’ll be competing for the title of Best Sommelier in the World.

Yuri is a lifelong learner and speaks fluent Albanian, Italian, English and Spanish. When he’s not in the cellar or studying for the upcoming Master Sommelier exam, he enjoys photography, traveling, playing chess, and watching soccer. He and his wife Kathleen have been life and business parters for over a decade and are expecting their first child in late October.