March 8, 2024
Ms. Sonal C Holland – India – Master of Wine

Name: Ms. Sonal C Holland – Nationality: Indian – At the moment: India – SoHoWines – www.sonalholland.com/ Sonal Holland Wine Academy – www.sonalhollandwineacademy.com/ Chairperson at India Wine Awards – www.indiawineawards.com/ Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Did you have any particular mentors? It may surprise you […]

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January 14, 2024
Ms. Melania Battiston – Italy / Thailand – Asst. F&B Manager/Wine Development Manager

Name: Ms. Melania Battiston – Nationality: Italian – At the moment: Thailand – Assistant F&B Manager/Wine Development Manager at Aman Resort Phuket Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Did you have any particular mentors? The first encounter with wine was in Fetter Lane, City of London. […]

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May 29, 2023
Mr. Jenzen Chow – Malaysia / Singapore – Asst. General Manager/Sommelier

Name: Mr. Jenzen Chow – Nationality: Malaysia – At the moment: Singapore Assistant General Manager/Sommelier Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry. Did you have any particular mentors? Unfortunately, I do not have any mentors who guide me side by side but I do have inspiring seniors (not […]

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April 8, 2023
Mr. Zoran Matic – France / Luxembourg – Sommelier/Délégué Commercial en vins

Name: Mr. Zoran Matic – Nationality: France – At the moment: Luxembourg Sommelier/Délégué Commercial en vins at Rupert S.A Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry. Did you have any particular mentors? I discovered the world of wine when I was a teenager when I went on holiday […]

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January 16, 2023
Mr. Georgios Iordanidis – Greece / UK – Head of Wine

Name: Georgios Iordanidis – Nationality: Greek – At the moment: UK / London Head of Wine The Birley Clubs (click) Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry. Did you have any particular mentors? I have felt a very strong connection to wine from a very early […]

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December 13, 2022
Ms. Sophie Lehmann – Germany – Sommelière

Name: Sophie Lehmann – Nationality: German – At the moment: Germany Sommelière @ 100/200 Kitchen – www (click) Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry. Did you have any particular mentors? My first real contact with wine was back in New Zealand while harvesting. But the […]

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October 26, 2022
Mr. Bernard Neveu – France – Directeur de la Sommellerie

Name: Bernard Neveu – Nationality: French – At the moment: France / Paris Directeur de la Sommellerie @ Le Bristol – Paris (click) Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry. Did you have any particular mentors? My first encounter with wine was when I was 16 […]

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September 4, 2022
Ms. Nina Basset – UK – ASI General Secretary, Founding Trustee of The Gerard Basset Foundation

Name: Nina Basset – Nationality: UK – At the moment: UK  ASI General Secretary, Founding Trustee of The Gerard Basset Foundation Info and more than welcome to join or support the: gerardbassetfoundation.org/ Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry. Did you have any particular mentors? I […]

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July 31, 2022
Ms. Gaia Serafini – ITA / UK – Head Sommelière

Name: Gaia Serafini – Nationality: Italian – At the moment: UK  – London Head Sommelière Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? My first encounter with wine was at school, at the age of 16, I was studying how the wine is made and then suddenly […]

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May 14, 2022
Mr. Costanzo Scala – ITA / UAE – Head of Wine

Name: Costanzo Scala – Nationality: Italian – At the moment: UAE / Dubai Head of Wine for Zuma – the Middle East, Turkey & Asia Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Well, I was always surrounded by the wine as I was born in the […]

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April 15, 2022
Mr. Domenico Durante – ITA / Germany – Maitrè/Sommelier

Name: Domenico Durante – Nationality: Italian – At the moment: Germany Maitrè/Sommelier @ Esszimmer by Käfer München Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Did you have any particular mentors? My first encounter with wine was at a young age during my dad always gave me […]

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March 29, 2022
Mr. Peter Birmingham – USA / Texas – Wine Director

Name: Peter Birmingham – Nationality: American – At the moment: USA / Texas Writer – Wine Director – Sommelier Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Did you have any particular mentors? My first interaction with dining with wine occurred when I was invited to taste 1964 […]

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February 17, 2022
Mr. Hans Stoll – Austria – Sommelier / Wine Educator / Writer

Name: Mr. Hans Stoll – Nationality: Austria – At the moment: Austria Sommelier / Wine Educator / Writer Click Requirement: Please tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Were there any particular mentors at that time?                          […]

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January 16, 2022
Mrs. Beatrice Bessi – Italy / UK – Head Sommelier / Wine Judge

Name: Mrs. Beatrice Bessi – Nationality: Italian – At the moment: UK Head Sommelier – Chiltern Firehouse Wine Judge – Decanter Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry. Did you have any particular mentors? I would say my encounter with the wine and wine industry started […]

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January 12, 2022
Mr. Arnaud Bardary – France / Hong Kong – Master Sommelier / Group Head Sommelier

Name: Mr. Arnaud Bardary –   Nationality: French – At the moment: Hong Kong – Group Head Sommelier – Black Sheep Restaurants   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time?  Being the 5th generation of the family working in […]

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September 30, 2021
Mr. Shahzad Talukder – Germany / Luxembourg – Chef Sommelier / Wine Judge

Name: Mr. Shahzad Talukder – Nationality: Germany – At the moment: Luxembourg – Chef Sommeliere – Lea Linster Restaurant Japanese Sake Judge at Mundus Vini Prerequisite:  Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I was a student of Bioinformatics at Frankfurt […]

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September 2, 2021
Ms. Difan Xu – Austria / Germany – Head Sommelierè

Name: Difan Xu – Nationality: Austrian – At the moment: Germany – Head Sommeliere – ZweiSinn Meiers | Bistro | Fine Dining Prerequisite:  Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time?  That would be around the time during hospitality school in […]

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July 19, 2021
Mr. Mircivan Bakay – Turkey / China/Hong Kong – Wine Manager

Name: Mircivan Bakay – Nationality: Turkish – At the moment: Hong Kong – Wine Manager at Crowne Plaza Hotel Causeway Bay Giacomo Prerequisite:  Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? Thanks for a great opportunity. I have started as a […]

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June 20, 2021
Ms. Marie Christin Baunach – Germany – Head Sommeliere

Name: Marie Christin Baunach – Nationality: German – At the moment: Germany – Head Sommeliere Restaurant Überfahrt – Prerequisite:  Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time?  I was born in the wine region Franconia in Germany, and from an early […]

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May 17, 2021
Ms. Melissa L. Smith – USA/CA – Sommeliere/Founder Enotrias

Name: Melissa L. Smith – Nationality: American – At the moment: USA/CA – Sommeliere / Wine Consultant & Founder at Enotrias Elite Sommelier Services Prerequisite:  Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time?  I had moved to Napa Valley the week […]

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April 29, 2021
Mr. Francesco Marzola – Italy / Norway – Wine Director

Name: Francesco Marzola – Nationality: Italian – At the moment: Norway – Wine Director at Park Hotel Vossevangen – Wine Consultant / Wine Educator at click Sommelier of the year in Norway 2020 Prerequisite:  Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? […]

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April 3, 2021
Ms. Katja Scharnagl – Austria / USA – Chef Sommelierè / Wine Consultant

Name: Katja Scharnagl – Nationality: Austrian – At the moment: USA-NY – Chef Sommelierr Le Bernardin NYC – Wine Consultant at Katja Consulting Website: click Prerequisite:  Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time?  I grew up in the Wachau valley and […]

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March 14, 2021
Ms. Tatiana Selivanova – Russia – Head of Wine School

Name: Tatiana Selivanova – Nationality: Russian – At the moment: Russia Head of Wine School Fort Wine School: click Prerequisite:  Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time?  I’ve started my wine way in 2004 as a wine consultant in a […]

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February 9, 2021
Ms. Valeria Tenison – Russia – Sommelierè / Wine Journalist

Name: Valeria Tenison –   Nationality: Russian – At the moment: Russia Sommelierè / Wine Journalist Wine Gossips: click Simple Wine News: click     Prerequisite:  Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time?  I started my professional career as a […]

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December 10, 2020
Mr. Joacim Sjövall – Sweden – Sommelier

Name: Joacim Sjövall – Nationality: Swedish – At the moment: Sweden Sommeliere / Wine Consultant www.sommeliern.se www.svensktvin.se Prerequisite:  Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time?  My first encounter with wine was actually a quite funny one, I tried to store and […]

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November 30, 2020
Ms. Adriana Valentini – Italia / UK – Head of Beverage

Name: Adriana Valentini – Nationality: Italian – At the moment: United Kingdom Head of Beverage / Head Sommeliere / Wine Judge Prerequisite:  Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time?  I was born and raised in Milan, Northern Italy, and I have […]

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October 29, 2020
Mr. Peter Kaiser-Ladinig – Austria – Sommelier

Name: Peter Kaiser-Ladinig – Nationality: Austrian – At the moment: Austria   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time?  I was 15 when I start my education to become a professional cook & waiter. Our Maitre showed me how to […]

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September 15, 2020
Mr. Zoltan Szabo – Romania/Canada – Wine Director

Name: Zoltan Szabo – Nationality: Romania – At the moment: Canada – Link: click – Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? Well, that was long ago, after military service, friends and I going to the local disco (of […]

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August 13, 2020
Mr. Edmund Liew – Malaysia / Finland – Wine Director

Name: Edmund Liew – Nationality: Malaysian At the moment: Finland Wine Director   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Did you have any particular mentors? I started to be more actively involved in the wine business in 2006 in a wine bar called Vintry […]

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June 17, 2020
Ms. Dorianne Neimard – France/UK – Wine Manager

Name: Dorianne Neimard Nationality: French At the moment: London Wine Manager Prerequisite:  Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I was about 18 years old I was in Alsace and I tried some Riesling and some vendanges Tardives Gewürztraminer and […]

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April 20, 2020
Ms. Anne Krebiehl – Germany / UK – Master of Wine

Name: Anne Krebiehl  Nationality: German At the moment: London Master of Wine, Wine Writer & Lecturer Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I came into the wine world as a kind of ‘refugee’ from a different career: I […]

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March 17, 2020
Ms. Romana Echensperger – Germany – Master of Wine

Name: Romana Echensperger Nationality: German At the moment: Germany Master of Wine – Wine Consultant and Journalist Interesting link: click Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? It all started with my apprenticeship at Königshof Hotel in Munich. They […]

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February 9, 2020
Mr. Loïk Tavernier – France/Switzerland – Chef Sommelier/Sales Manager

Name: Loïk Tavernier Nationality: French At the moment: Switzerland (Suisse) Chef sommelier, Sales Manager Prerequisite:  Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Anyparticular mentors at that time? I got my sommelier diploma in 2002 and I started my career in the five star hotel Dromoland Castle in […]

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December 30, 2019
Ms. Anne McHale – UK – Master of Wine

Name: Anne McHale – Nationality: British – At the moment: UK – Master of Wine – Wine Consultant & Educator – Interesting link: click or on linkedin: click Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My love of wine […]

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December 22, 2019
Ms. Yanna Deliere – France / Switzerland – Sommeliere

  Name: Yanna Deliere President – Association Suisse Des Sommeliers Professionnels-ASSP Nationality: French At the moment: Switzerland (Suisse) Own Website: Le Journal du Sommelier at click Facebook: click Linkedin: click   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Did you have any particular mentors? I […]

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October 21, 2019
Mr. Gaetano Giangaspero – Italy / UK – Head Sommelier

Name: Gaetano Giangaspero Nationality: Italian At the moment: United Kingdom Head Sommelier   Personal:  Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Did you have any particular mentors? My family used to manage some vineyards around the North West of Bari in the Puglia region in Italy. […]

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September 29, 2019
Mr. Ned Goodwin – UK/Australia – Master of Wine

Name: Ned Goodwin Nationality: British At the moment: Australia Master of Wine – Commentator / Presenter / Writer / Critic / Educator with an Opinion Interesting link about Wine Diamonds: click Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry?Any particular mentors at that time? No, I […]

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September 1, 2019
Mr. Bikram Gautam – Nepal / UAE-Dubai – Sommelier

  Name: Bikram Gautam Nationality: Nepalese At the moment: UAE-Dubai   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? After my hotel management study I started my Internship in a hotel in Dubai there I learned some basics of wine […]

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July 26, 2019
Mr. Zareh Mesrobyan – Bulgaria / UK – Head Sommelier

Name: Zazeh Mesrobyan Nationality: Bulgarian At the moment: UK Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first encounter with wine was when I was working as a commis waiter on a cruise ship. It was an Italian company […]

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June 24, 2019
Mr. Antonio Palmarini – Italy / UK – Head Sommelier/Wine Judge

  Name: Antonio Palmarini Nationality: Italian At the moment: UK Another interesting link: click     Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I have been drinking Montepulciano and Trebbiano D’Abruzzo since I was teenager but who really let […]

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April 30, 2019
Ms. Christy Canterbury – USA/New York – Master of Wine

Name: Cristy Canterbury Nationality: USA – New York At the moment: USA – New York. Independent Wine Journalist, Public Speaker & Critic & Master of Wine. Own Website: http://christycanterbury.com/.….. Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first encounter with […]

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April 16, 2019
Mr. Jürgen Fendt – Germany – Chef Sommelier & Winemaker

-Name: Jürgen Fendt -Nationality: German -At the moment: Germany -Chef Sommelier / Winemaker -Own Website: https://fendtwein.de/ Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? During my second trainee year I’ve got the first glass of wine which stayed in my […]

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March 15, 2019
Mr. Petar Velickovic – North Macedonia – Sommelier/WSET Educator

Name: Petar Velickovic Nationality: North Macedonia At the moment: North Macedonia Founder of Wine Way – WSET Educator Own Website: https://wineway.org/ Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first serious experience with wine was in 2009 when I was working […]

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January 7, 2019
Mr. Norbert Kovacs – Hungary / Austria – Maitre/Sommelier

  Name: Norbert Kovacs Nationality: Hungarian At the moment: Austria     Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My name is Norbert Kovacs, I come from Hungary. At the moment I work as restaurant manager and sommelier. My […]

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November 30, 2018
Mr. Andreas Larsson – Sweden (Sommelier)

Name: Andreas Larsson Nationality: Sweden At the moment: Sweden Own Website: Andreas Larsson Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I was still a chef when I started to be interested in wine, I attended tastings and was impressed […]

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October 21, 2018
Mr. David Stevens-Castro – Chile / Australia (Wine & Beverage Manager)

Name: David Stevens-Castro Nationality: Chilean At the moment: Australia Wine & Beverage Manager Own Website: Paired Media    Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I was born in a family that wine was enjoyed at the dining table. […]

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September 17, 2018
Ms. Rachel Lea Speckan – USA-Il (National Wine Director)

Name: Rachel Lea Speckan   Nationality: USA At the moment: USA-Illinois National Wine Director  Own Website: Rachel Driver   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? Although I dabbled in wine while living in Tuscany,Italy, and was on the […]

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July 21, 2018
Mr. Arneis Wu – China (Senior Sommelier)

Name: Arneis Wu Nationality: Chinese At the moment: China – Shanghai Senior Sommelier       Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My major is vin and wine engineering at university and then I took WSET and CMS […]

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June 30, 2018
Mr. Kelvin Irungu Wanjira – Kenya (Wine Consultant)

Name: Kelvin Irungu Wanjira Nationality: Kenyan At the moment: Kenya Brand Manager/Wine Consultant   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular, mentors at that time? My personal encounter with wines was rather funny; I would buy dry box wines and lime juice mix […]

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May 30, 2018
Ms. Joanie Metivier – Canada (Sommelier, Wine Blogger, Wine Editor)

Name: Joanie Metivier Nationality: Canadian At the moment: Canada Sommelier – Wine Blogger – Wine Editor Website: Joanie’s Wine Blog   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I have always had incredible admiration for passionate, specialized people. You know, […]

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May 14, 2018
Mr. Florian Valieres – France / Australia (Head Sommelier)

Name: Florian Valieres Nationality: French At the moment: Australia Head Sommelier    Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? Wine has always been a big thing in our family, there was always a new bottle opened. As kids my […]

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May 7, 2018
Ms. Leonor Soza de la Carrera – Chile (Sommelierè)

Name: Leonor Soza de la Carrera Nationality: Chilean At the moment: Chile Sommeliere  Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I started working in wine tourism in 2012. I was abroad for a while, so when I was back […]

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May 7, 2018
Ms. Stephanie Rigourd – France / Singapore (Wine Director)

Name: Stephanie Rigourd Nationality: French At the moment: Singapore Wine Director @ The Raffles – Singapore Articles: Stephanie Rigourd & The Raffles Hotel Website: Stephanie’s Wine Escapade   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? Full story on (click) […]

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May 7, 2018
Mr. Thomas (Hsin-Wei) Ho – Taiwan (Head Sommelier)

Name: Thomas (Hsin-Wei) Ho Nationality: Taiwanese At the moment: Taiwan Head Sommelier – Best Sommelier of Taiwan 2011 Contestant at the 2016 World Best Sommelier Competition Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first interaction with wine was as […]

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May 7, 2018
Mr. Davide Di Bella – Italy / Denmark (Sommelier, Wine Consultant)

Name: Davide Di Bella Nationality: Italian At the moment: Denmark Director of Club København – Associazione Italiana Sommelier – Sommelier – Wine Consultant Website: BD Food and Wine   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I was born in Rome, […]

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May 7, 2018
Mr. Frank Schulte – Germany (Sommelier)

Name: Frank Schulte Nationality: German At the moment: Germany Sommelier   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first contact with the wine industry was about 1986, when I took the opportunity to learn about hotel business in […]

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May 7, 2018
Mr. Jaime Girones – Mexico (Sommelier, Consultant Sommelier)

Name: Jaime Girones Nationality: Mexican At the moment: Mexico Sommelier/Consultant Sommelier   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentor at that time? My family comes from Spain and my grandfather was an agriculture man and he made wine, a very good wine, […]

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May 7, 2018
Ms. Jenny Polack – Australia (Wine Educator, Wine Consultant)

Name: Jenny Polack Nationality: Australian At the moment: Australia Master in Wine Management / Wine Educator / Wine Consultant Website:  Winewhitch.com   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first encounter with the wine and the wine industry was […]

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May 7, 2018
Mr. Venkatrathinam Shunmugasundaram – India / Vietnam (Head Sommelier)

Name: Venkatrathinam Shunmugasundaram Nationality: Indian At the moment: Vietnam Head Sommelier   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I really come to know about wine and existing of huge wine world when i was a trainee in “The […]

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May 7, 2018
Mr. Hugh Preece – USA-New Jersey, USA-California – (Wine Director, Operating Partner)

Name: Hugh Preece Nationality: North American At the moment: USA-NJ-CA Wine Director / Operating Partner at Salt Creek Grille Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first encounter with wine happened as a young teen growing up in […]

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May 7, 2018
Mr. Richard King – China-New Zealand / French Polynesia (Head Sommelier)

Name: Richard King Nationality: Chinese/Kiwi At the moment: French Polynesia Head Sommelier  –  2016 New Zealand Young Sommelier of the Year   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? First of all, I was very lucky that my family always […]

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May 7, 2018
Mr. Harald Wiesmann – Germany / Indonesia (Chef Sommelier)

Name: Harald Wiesmann Nationality: German At the moment: Indonesia Chef Sommelier  link: Harald Wiesmann   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? I was born in a town in the wine area of Franconia, so as a little boy already I stole grapes from vineyards. […]

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May 7, 2018
Mr. Gayan Indika Manawadu – Sri Lanka (Sommelier)

Name: Gayan Indika Manawadu Nationality: Sri Lankan At the moment: Maldives Sommelier    Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first encounter with the Wine was in 2004, when I started working with Taj Samudra Hotel. At that […]

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May 5, 2018
Mr. Ovidiu Olteanu – Romania / UK (Head Sommelier)

Name: Ovidiu Olteanu Nationality: Romania At the moment: United Kingdom Head Sommelier  His performance : 2012-Demi-Finalist National Contest Sommelier Trophy 2013-Big Trophy National Contest Maitre D’Hotel 2016-Quarter-Final -World Best Sommelier Argentina   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? […]

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May 5, 2018
Mr. Michael Dolinski – USA-NY – (Wine Consultant, Wine Director)

Name: Michael Dolinski Nationality: US-American At the moment: USA-NY Independent Wine Consultant & Wine Director    Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My parents were wine collectors as I grew up, so I had some familiarity with the industry […]

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May 5, 2018
Mr. Rasmus Lunkov Marquart – Denmark (Head Sommelier)

Name: Rasmus Lunkov Marquart Nationality: Danish At the moment: Denmark Currently:  Head Sommelier / Manager & Wine Consultant @ Vinothek Marquart   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I have been very lucky and privileged to have a family […]

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May 5, 2018
Mr. Corrado Romano – Italy (Sommelier)

Name: Corrado Romano Nationality: Italian At the moment: Italy Sommelier   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? Living around Turin was probably the most important factor,I was always attracted by my family’s members attitude to open a good […]

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May 5, 2018
Mr. Bhatia Dheeraj – India / Australia (Head Sommelier)

Name: Bhatia Dheeraj Nationality: Indian At the moment: Australia Head Sommelier    Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I have had the privilege and grow to work with some of the best establishments. Joel Robuchon three stars in […]

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May 5, 2018
Mr. Alexander Koblinger – Austria (Chef Sommelier)

Name: Alexander Koblinger Nationality: Austrian At the moment: Austria Chef Sommelier  http://www.alexkoblinger.com/english/   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? The first encounter with wine was basically at hospitality school not thinking at that time that one day it […]

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May 5, 2018
Mr. Alexandru Dan – Romania / UK (F&B Manager, Sommelier)

Name: Alexandru Dan Nationality: Romanian At the moment: United Kingdom F&B Manager/Sommelier – Vice President – Romanian Sommelier Association   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I discovered my passion for wines in 2004, during my first job in […]

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May 5, 2018
Ms. Anushka Pandkar – India (Sommelierè)

Name: Anushka Pandkar Nationality: Indian At the moment: India Sommeliere Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first encounter with wine was in the 2nd year of my hotel and hospitality graduation program when we were introduced to […]

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May 5, 2018
Mr. Michael Blasquez – USA-CA (Wine Buyer, Sommelier, Wine Educator)

Name: Michael Blasquez Nationality: American At the moment: USA-CA Wine Buyer / Sommelier / Wine Educator   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? My first encounter with wine occurred in 1985 when my wife and I were given, along with the other associates of […]

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May 5, 2018
Mr. Adrian Jipa – Romania (Sommelier)

Name: Adrian Jipa Nationality: Romanian At the moment: Romania Restaurant Manager / Sommelier – Sommelier of the year 2016 in Romania   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first contact with the hospitality industry was in 2006 when […]

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May 5, 2018
Mr. Franz Schafelner – Austria (Wine Consultant)

Name: Franz Schafelner Nationality: Austrian At the moment: Austria Wine Consultant    Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first encounter with wine has been the Austrian Wine-scandal in 1986. What specific traits or skills should a Sommelier(e) […]

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May 5, 2018
Ms. Miriam Francisca Alfonso Sosa – Cuba / Chile (Sommeliere)

Name: Miriam Francisca Alfonso Sosa Nationality: Cuban At the moment: Chile Sommeliere   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first encounter was in the university studying biochemistry of food but Really I began to meet it when […]

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May 5, 2018
Ms. Elisabeth Eder – Austria (Wine Consultant & Trainer)

Name: Elisabeth Eder Nationality: Austrian At the moment: Austria Wine Consultant & Trainer Website: www.weinfluesterer.at   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I did grow up with wine. We did never produce wine but my mother gave lots […]

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May 5, 2018
Mr. Juwan Kim – Taiwan / Hong Kong (Head Sommelier)

Name: Juwan Kim Nationality: South Korean At the moment: Hong Kong Head Sommelier Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first encounter with wine was at a restaurant where I was working as a part-timer. Then I started working […]

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May 4, 2018
Mr. Miroslav Radojčin – Serbia (Founder – Serbian Sommelier Association & Sommelier Academy)

Name: Miroslav Radojčin Nationality: Serbian At the moment: Serbia Founder – Serbian Sommelier Association & Sommelier Academy                 Website: http://www.sommelier.rs/index.html &  http://www.sommelierserbia.com/   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first encounter with wine was during Hotel and Tourism […]

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May 4, 2018
Ms. Stefanie Hehn – Germany (Chef Sommeliere)

Name: Stefanie Hehn Nationality: German At the moment: Germany Chef Sommeliere   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first encounter in the wine industry was just during my training in Bad Kissingen. I had to work in […]

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May 4, 2018
Mr. Charles Carron Brown – UK (Assistant Head Sommelier)

Name: Charles Carron Brown Nationality: British At the moment: United Kingdom Assistant Head Sommelier   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I fell in love with wine at the age of 19 whilst working at a small hotel near […]

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May 4, 2018
Ms. Dazz Ma – China (Sommelierè)

Name: Dazz Ma Nationality: Chinese At the moment: China, Beijing Sommeliere   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? When I was in high school, there was not much imported wine in Beijing. My first time taste wine was […]

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May 4, 2018
Mr. Fabrice Blazquez – France / Maldives (Head Sommelier)

Name:  Fabrice Blazquez Nationality: French At the moment: Maldives Head Sommelier Website: Lost in translation   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? Being from Bordeaux and having a father with a wine shop, that is why I love […]

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May 4, 2018
Mr. Dragan Unic – Serbia / Sweden (Executive Sommelier,Food & Wine Director)

Name: Dragan Unic Nationality: Serbian At the moment: Sweden Food & Wine Director – Executive Sommelier Website: Unictaste & Unic Taste   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? What specific traits or skills should a Sommelier(e) possess for […]

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May 4, 2018
Mr. Giancarolo Marena – Italy (Head Sommelier)

Name: Giancarlo Marena Nationality: Italian At the moment: Italy Head Sommelier   PREREQUISITE: Please tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular at that time? When I started to work in the restaurant many years ago I was a  waiter in a nice Agriturismo near Avellino […]

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May 4, 2018
Mr. Fabien Jacob – France / USA-TX (Wine Director)

Name: Fabien Jacob Nationality: France At the moment: ÚSA – Texas Wine Director    Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? It was during the summer of 1993 I was 16 years old, I was working at my parents […]

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May 4, 2018
Mr. Thomas Leong – Malaysia / Singapore (Sommelier)

Name: Thomas Leong Nationality: Malaysian At the moment: Singapore Currently: Sommelier   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? I am from Malaysia and have been working here in Singapore for more than 10 years now in different establishments. Currently I am Assistant Manager & […]

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May 4, 2018
Ms. Rita Toth – Hungary / Hong Kong (Sommeliere, Wine Expert)

Name: Rita Toth Nationality: Hungarian At the moment: Hong Kong Wine Expert, Sommeliere Website: www.movinhungary.com   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My passion for grapes and wines started in my childhood. My father was director of a […]

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May 4, 2018
Ms. Tahiirah Habibi Allen – USA-FL (Sommeliere)

Name: Tahiirah Habibi Allen Nationality: American At the moment: USA-FL Sommeliere Website: https://sipping-socials-wine-events.ticketleap.com/   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My 1st encounter with wine started in college where I had to attend social events for student leaders. […]

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May 3, 2018
Mr. Matthias Breitsameter – Germany / Austria (Chef Sommelier, Wine Ambassador)

Name: Matthias Breitsameter Nationality: German At the moment: Austria Chef Sommelier, Wine Ambassador Website: www.wineambassador.de   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? Since I am 15 years old i have been working in the hospitality and had always […]

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May 3, 2018
Mr. Philippe Perreault – Canada (Sommelier)

Name: Philippe Perreault Nationality: Canadian At the moment: Canada Sommelier Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I was 17 years old and I was traveling in British Columbia, Canada, where I met a passionate guy. His name was […]

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May 3, 2018
Mr. Michele Agostini – Italy / Singapore (Sommelier, Maitre)

Name: Michele Agostini Nationality: Italian At the moment: Singapore Sommelier, Maitre   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I borned in Firenze, i was surrounded more by Chianti than milk bottles. Wine is in our culture, in our […]

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May 3, 2018
Mr. Riccardo Guzzardo – Italy / Australia (Head Sommelier)

Name: Riccardo Guzzardo Nationality: Italian At the moment: Australia   Head Sommelier   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? Wine entered my life from birth through the front door of my house. My family has been working in […]

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May 3, 2018
Mr. Shannon Stickells – Australia / UAE-Abu Dhabi (Operations Manager, Sommelier)

Name: Shannon Stickells Nationality: Australian At the moment: UAE – Abu Dhabi Operations Manager / Sommelier   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? a) I started working in a 5* resort in the Blue Mountains 2 hours outside […]

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May 3, 2018
Mr. Aziz Hathout Tunisia / UAE-Abu Dhabi (Head Sommelier)

Name: Aziz Hathout Nationality: Tunisian At the moment: UAE-Abu Dhabi Head Sommelier/Assistant Manager   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I was around 15 years old and it was Pinot Noir. Love at first sight ! Wine Industry […]

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May 3, 2018
Mr. Juan Manuel Terceno Macho – Spain (Sommelier)

Name: Juan Manuel Terceno Macho Nationality: Spanish At the moment: Spain Sommelier   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I started to be interested in wine when I started to work as a waiter in 1998, collaborating to […]

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May 3, 2018
Mr. Daisuke Kawai – Japan (Chef Sommelier)

Name: Daisuke Kawai Nationality: Japanese At the moment: Singapore Chef Sommelier Website: La Terre Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? I first encountered wine in my career as a waiter (please note that while there may be some distinction in certain countries, waiter and […]

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May 3, 2018
Mr. Carlos Alberto Medina Dorta – Spain (Sommelier)

Name: Carlos Alberto Medina Dorta Nationality: Spanish At the moment: Spain – Canary Islands Sommelier Website: WoWi   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? Despite I’m from Canary Islands, a vergel of pre phylloxera vines and volcanic soil, […]

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May 3, 2018
Mr. Gennaro Buono – Italy (Head Sommelier)

Name: Gennaro Buono Nationality: Italian At the moment: Italy Head Sommelier Contestant at the 2016 World Best Sommelier Competition Website:  http://www.luxeaboire.co.uk   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? When i was a child my father owned some olive trees […]

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May 3, 2018
Mr. John Agnel Dsouza – India (Sommelier, Wine Trainer)

Name: John Agnel Dsouza Nationality: Indian At the moment: India Sommelier / Wine Trainer   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I was a Bartender on a Cruise line and then was assigned to bring in one of […]

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May 3, 2018
Mr. George Loukakis – Greece / Cyprus (Head Sommelier)

Name: George Loukakis Nationality: Greek At the moment: Cyprus Head Sommelier & Consultant   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? First ever wine that i have tried was the GTR from Rosemount, so as you understand my completely […]

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May 3, 2018
Mr. Juan Luis Garcia Ruiz – Spain (Sommelier)

Name: Juan Luis Garcia Ruiz   Nationality: Spanish At the moment: Spain Sommelier Website: www.juanluisgarcia.es   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? When I was doing my secondary school I used to work on weekends as a waiter […]

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May 2, 2018
Mr. Rakesh Awaghade – India (Head Sommelier)

Name: Rakesh Awaghade Nationality: Indian At the moment: India Head Sommelier & Wine Buyer   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? Although I knew next to nothing about the wine, my interest grew as I listened to people […]

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May 2, 2018
Mr. Carlos Schölderle – Uruguay / Spain (Sommelier, Wine Blogger)

Name: Carlos Schölderle Nationality: Uruguayans At the moment: Spain Sommelier, Wine Blogger  Website: www.vinummedia.com Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first encounter with wine was with my grandfather and the whole family treading the grapes and I […]

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May 2, 2018
Mr. Narimantas Miezys – Lithuania (Sommelier)

Name: Narimantas Miezys                Nationality: Lithuanian At the moment: Lithuania Sommelier – 2015 Sommelier of the year in Lithuania   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I was 18 and I was looking for a short summer job. […]

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May 2, 2018
Mr. Harry Constantinescu – Romania / USA-Ga (Sommelier, Wine Consultant)

Name: Harry Constantinescu Nationality: Romanian At the moment: USA-Georgia Sommelier – Beverage Consultant Website: www.knightsofwinesociety.com Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first encounter with wine took place at a very young age. My family was making wine […]

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May 2, 2018
Mr. Francesco Gabriele – Italy / UK (Wine Director)

Name: Francesco Gabriele Nationality: Italian At the moment: United Kingdom Wine Director   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? Wine has been part of my life since a kid when my grandfather used to bring me in his […]

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May 2, 2018
Mr. Raj Seedeeal – Mauritius / UAE-Dubai (Maitre, Sommelier)

Name: Raj Seedeeal Nationality: Mauritian At the moment: UAE-Dubai Sommelier   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I started back in Mauritius in a french gastronomic cuisine at Royal Palm Hotel where I was gifted a Hugh Johnson’s […]

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May 2, 2018
Mr. Jacobo Arllentar Vitko – Peru (Sommelier)

Name: Jacobo Arllentar Vitko Nationality: Peruvian At the moment: Peru Sommelier Website: Jacobo Vitko   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I used to live in Urubamba and we had access to a lot of vegetation and we […]

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May 2, 2018
Mr. Raffaele Mastrovincenzo – Italy / Australia (Sommelier)

Name: Raffaele Mastrovincenzo Nationality: Italian At the moment: Australia Sommelier Website: http://raffaelemastrovincenzo.blogspot.co.at   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first real encounter with wine was a lunch in a restaurant with my family at the age of […]

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May 2, 2018
Mr. Tiago Pinto – Portugal (Sommelier)

Name: Tiago Pinto Nationality: Portuguese At the moment: Portugal Sommelier   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? Because of being born in a country with big wine tradition my first memory regarding wine was when I was about […]

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May 2, 2018
Mr. HO PONG WALLACE LO – Hong Kong (Head Sommelier)

Name: HO PONG WALLACE LO Nationality: Chinese At the moment: Hong Kong Head Sommelier Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I have the passion in not just in wine but in F&B at a rather young age. Before […]

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May 2, 2018
Mr. Martin Charlebois – Canada (Sommelier)

Name: Martin Charlebois Nationality: Canadian At the moment: Canada Sommelier Website: Le Wine Hunter   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I was 5 years old when I encountered wine for the first time with my beloved Grandmother. […]

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May 2, 2018
Ms. Marietta Stegbuchner – Austria / USA-NY (Sommeliere)

Name: Marietta Stegbuchner Nationality: Austrian At the moment: USA-New York Sommeliere Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My wine journey started in 2008 when I started working in a Michelin starred restaurant in my hometown of Salzburg, Austria. […]

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May 2, 2018
Mr. Jacques Lukusa – Congo / South Africa (Group Sommelier)

Name: Jacques Lukusa Nationality: Democratic Republic of Congo At the moment: South Africa Group Sommelier Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I am originally from the Republic Democratic of Congo, meaning we don’t have any vineyards at all […]

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May 2, 2018
Mr. Doan Saracaydin – Turkey (F&B Manager, Sommelier)

Name: Doan Saracaydin Nationality: Turkish At the moment: Turkey F&B Manager / Sommelier   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I was invited to a huge birthday party in Palm Beach, Miami in 1999 and it was a […]

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May 2, 2018
Mr. Alexandre Brard – France / USA-NV (Wine Director)

Name: Alexandre Brard Nationality: French At the moment: USA-Nevada Wine Director   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? While younger I would receive wine books from my grandmother on birthdays and Christmas. I have memories of tasting during the family reunions some outstanding Grand […]

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May 2, 2018
Mr. Ravi Sankonah – Mauritius / Qatar (Head Sommelier)

Name: Ravi Sankonah Nationality: Mauritian At the moment: UAE, Dubai Head Sommelier Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? It was 7 years ago when I joined a company, a fine dining Thai restaurant in Dubai for the position […]

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May 2, 2018
Mr. Aleksandr Rassadkin (Александр Рассадкин) – Russia (Sommelier)

Name: Aleksandr Rassadkin (Александр Рассадкин) Nationality: Russian At the moment: Russia Sommelier – 2015 Sommelier of the year in Russia   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I was a student and my friend helped me to get […]

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May 2, 2018
Mr. Daniele Arcangeli – Italy / France (Sommelier)

Name: Daniele Arcangeli Nationality: Italian At the moment: France Sommelier – Best Sommelier of Italy ASPI 2015 Website: www.lafinestradelsommelier.com   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? Wine here in Tuscany is part of our traditions, as very first […]

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May 2, 2018
Ms. Heidi Mäkinen – Finland (Sommeliere)

Name: Heidi Mäkinen Nationality: Finnish At the moment: Finland Sommeliere – 2015 Sommelier of the year in Finland   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? The first wine tastings I attended were in Tokaj, Hungary when travelling with […]

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May 2, 2018
Mr. Harish Acharekar – India (Sommelier, Head of Beverages)

Name: Harish Acharekar Nationality: Indian At the moment: India Sommelier/Head of Beverages – 2015 Sommelier of the year in India   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? I was always curious about beverages during my college days. I got an opportunity to pursue ‘Wines of […]

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May 2, 2018
Mr. Benoit Coudere – Belgium (Chef Sommelier)

Name: Benoit Coudere Nationality: Belgian At the moment: Belgium Chef Sommelier – 2015 Sommelier of the year in Belgium Website: http://www.vinsdebenoit.be/   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? The first time was as a little boy on Christmas […]

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May 2, 2018
Mr. Eric Eybert – France / UAE-Dubai (Group Sommelier)

Name: Eric Eybert Nationality: France At the moment: United Arab Emirates – Dubai Group Sommelier Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first encounter with wine was thanks to my father at the youngest age. He used to […]

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May 2, 2018
Mr. Edmond Gasser – Germany / Switzerland (Sommelier)

Name: Edmond Gasser Nationality: German At the moment: Switzerland Sommelier – 2015 young Sommelier of the year in Germany   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? After my High School Diploma, I wanted to be a Chef de […]

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May 2, 2018
Mr. Massimo Mirabile – Italy / Ireland (Head Sommelier)

Name: Massimo Mirabile Nationality: Italian At the moment: Republic of Ireland Head Sommelier Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first encounter with wine was at the dinner table with my parents in my native country Italy, Milan […]

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May 2, 2018
Ms. Elyse Lambert – Canada (Consultant Sommeliere)

Name: Elyse Lambert Nationality: Canada At the moment: Canadian Master Sommeliere – 2015 Sommelier of the year in Canada Website: http://elyselambert.com/   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first sommelier class was a revelation. I literally fell […]

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May 2, 2018
Mr. Cesar Varela – Peru / USA-DC (Wine Director)

Name: Cesar Varela Nationality: Peruvian At the moment: USA-Washington DC Wine Director    Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? It all began 8 years ago when I started working as a server at Charlie Palmer Steak in DC. […]

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May 2, 2018
Mr. Vincent Bakker – Netherlands (Sommelier)

Name: Vincent Bakker Nationality: Dutch At the moment: Netherlands Sommelier Website: Wine Buddy & Wine Buddy   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? What specific traits or skills should a Sommelier(e) possess for professional performance and is there […]

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May 2, 2018
Mr. Victor Jardim – Portugal (RM, Sommelier)

Name: Victor Jardim Nationality: Portugal-Madeira At the moment: Portugal Restaurant Manager/Sommelier   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I started as a sommelier when was 18 years old, (More like a wine waiter than a sommelier) It was […]

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May 2, 2018
Mr. Steven Gullo – USA-PA (Beverage Manager, Sommelier)

Name: Steven Gullo Nationality: USA-American At the moment: USA-Pennsylvania Sommelier & Beverage Director   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first encounter with the wine industry happened while at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, […]

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April 30, 2018
Ms. Orsi Szentkiralyi – Hungary (Sommeliere)

Name: Orsi Szentkiralyi Nationality: Hungary At the moment: United Kingdom Sommeliere, Wine Judge & Tasting and Database Manager at Wowine Website: www.wotwine.com   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I grew up in a country where semi sweet […]

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April 30, 2018
Mr. Louis Phillips – USA-Nevada (Wine Director)

Name: Louis Phillips Nationality: US-American At the moment: USA-Nevada Wine Director Website: www.wineprowest.com   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? A great 1st encounter was a visit to Heitz Vineyards in about 1980 (unfortunately just after Joe Sr. […]

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April 30, 2018
Mr. Romain Calzia – France (Maitre, Sommelier)

Name: Romain Calzia Nationality: French At the moment: France Caviste, Sommelier, Maitre Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first encounter with the wine industry was during my management school degree 4 month training period in a 5* […]

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April 30, 2018
Mr. Kent D. Sigerstróm – Denmark (Sommelier)

  Name: Kent D. Sigerstróm Nationality: Danish At the moment: Denmark Sommelier   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? Already back in the last year of my school time, I was fascinated by the wine’s ability to bring […]

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April 30, 2018
Mr. Vincenzo Arnese – Italy / UK (Assistant Head Sommelier)

Name: Vincenzo Arnese Nationality: Italian At the moment: United Kingdom Assistant Head Sommelier Best Sommelier of UK 2015   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I started working in the wine industry for the first time in the […]

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April 30, 2018
Mr. Melroy Steve Fernandes – India/Portugal / Abu Dhabi

Name: Melroy Steve Fernandes Nationality: Indian/Portuguese Currently: Abu Dhabi Head Sommelier   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time?   During my hospitality management in the year 2000 I was intrigued by the topic of wine. The history of […]

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April 30, 2018
Mr. Batin Mumcu – Germany (Sommelier)

Name: Batin Mumcu Nationality: German At the moment: Germany Sommelier Website: http://www.berlinerweinpilot.de/   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I was born and grew up in Heidelberg in Baden, a quite big area for wine in German, so […]

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April 30, 2018
Mr. Alexey Ulyanov – Russia (Chef Sommelier)

Name: Alexey Ulyanov Nationality: Russian At the moment: Russia Chef Sommelier   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My relationships with wine started by chance. I have been working as bartender at the pool hall and heard from […]

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April 30, 2018
Ms. Crystal Krieger – USA-VA (Sommeliere)

Name: Crystal Krieger Nationality: US-American At the moment: USA-Virginia Sommeliere Website: www.lcdoinc.com   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first wine experience was at The Ritz Carlton in Naples, Florida. I had been around wine at The […]

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April 30, 2018
Mr. Georges Pertuiset – France (Sommelier, Trainer at C.F..P.P.A)

Name: Georges Pertuiset Nationality: French At the moment: France Sommelier & Trainer at C.F.P.P.A.   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? Personally I have not had much contact with the wine industry. This is not the preferred radius […]

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April 30, 2018
Mr. Daniel Korntner – Austria / USA-NY (Sommelier)

Name: Daniel Korntner Nationallity: Austrian At the Moment: USA/New York Sommelier   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I first came in touch with wine when I was 16 years old during my apprenticeship at the Hotel Sacher […]

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April 30, 2018
Ms. Helena Andersson – Sweden (Sommeliere)

Name: Helena Andersson Nationality: Swedish At the moment: Sweden Sommeliere   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? My interest for wine began in Austria and Vienna. I got a job as demi chef de rang in an Italian restaurant- Restaurant Collio- in a designer […]

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April 30, 2018
Mr. Gregory Smith – USA-KY / Peru (Director of Wine)

Name: Gregory Smith Nationality: USA-Kentucky At the moment: Peru Director of Wine Website: Vines & Wines   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I was working in a gourmet food shop in Omaha, Nebraska, when the wine bug […]

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April 30, 2018
Mr. Matthieu Rabiet – France / Australia (Head Sommelier)

Name: Matthieu Rabiet Nationality: French At the moment: Australia Head Sommelier   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first encounter with wine was really early in life. At a young age my father used to let me […]

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April 30, 2018
Ms. Livia Novais – Brazil / Portugal ( Sommeliere / Wine Judge / Sales & Marketing Manager)

Name: Livia Novais Nationality: Brazilian At the Moment: Portugal Sommeliere / Wine Judge / Sales & Marketing Manager   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first encounter with wine was 4 years ago, when I was studying […]

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April 30, 2018
Mr. David Morris – USA-MN / USA-NY (Wine Director)

Name: David Morris Nationality: USA-Minnesota At the moment: USA-New York Currently: Wine Director   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? Answer- I was traveling through Europe in the Summer of ’99 and stayed with a lovely family in […]

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April 30, 2018
Mr. Georgi Mihov – Bulgaria (Head Sommelier)

  Name: Georgi Mihov Nationality: Bulgarian At the moment: Bulgaria Head Sommelier / Wine Aficionado / Wine Consultant Website: http://www.someno.bg/en/   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? Being Bulgarian I grow up only with Bulgarian wines as there was […]

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April 30, 2018
Mr. Antonio Lopes – Portugal (Head Sommelier)

Name: Antonio Lopes Nationality: Portugal At the moment: Portugal Head Sommelier – 2015 Sommelier of the year in Portugal   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I ve started in 2009 in Vila Vita Parc Hotel (one of […]

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April 30, 2018
Ms. Anne Engel – Netherlands (GM, Sommeliere)

Name: Anne Engel Nationality: Dutch At the moment: Netherlands Sommeliere & Manager   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? I work from my 19 in a restaurant’s, collected wine, and went to much tasting. Any particular mentors at that time? learned from different people […]

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April 30, 2018
Mr. Vlada Stojanov – Serbia / USA-CA (Maitre/Sommelier)

Name: Vlada Stojanov Nationality: Serbian At the moment: USA-California Restaurant Manager/Sommelier   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My household always had plenty of higher end spirits and some okish everyday wine. Even though my family rarely drank, they […]

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April 30, 2018
Mr. Chris McPherson – Australia / USA-NY (GM, Sommelier)

Name: Chris McPherson Nationality: Australian At the moment: USA-New York Principal, Sommelier Website: www.Flinderslane-nyc.com Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? At age 15 I worked in a wine store after school sweeping floors, restocking shelves – just being a store hand. I really got […]

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April 30, 2018
Mr. Jacopo Focacci – Italy / Spain (Wine Consultant)

Name: Jacopo Focacci Nationality: Italian At the moment: Spain Independent Wine Consultant   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? We can say that I’m almost born into the wine world ! My family are the owner of a […]

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April 30, 2018
Mr. Scott Zoccolillo – USA-NY / USA-PA (GM, Sommelier)

Name: Scott Zoccolillo Nationality: USA-New York At the moment: USA-Pennsylvania General Manager /Sommelier Website: www.tastenectar.com   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? Wine was always a part of my life and family culture. Growing up in an Italian […]

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April 30, 2018
Mr. Patrice Auffret – France / Bahrain (Head Sommelier)

Name: Patrice Auffret Nationality: France At the moment: Bahrain Head Sommelier Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? First encounter with wine at the tender age of 8, Canard Duchene Champagne and Biscuit Rose de Reims to wrap things […]

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April 30, 2018
Mr. Jonathan Kleeman – UK (Head Sommelier)

Name: Jonathan Kleeman Nationality: English At the moment: United Kingdom Head Sommelier Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry. Any particular mentors at that time? I have been around the industry all my life. My dad is a chef and I also lived in two […]

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April 30, 2018
Ms. Kristina Long – USA-CA / Canada – (Sommeliere)

Name: Kristina Long Nationality: USA-California At the moment: Canada Sommeliere Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? Wine never played an important role in our family dinners but I do remember being fascinated by the German Riesling my mother […]

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April 30, 2018
Mr. Stephen Towler – UK / UAE – (Fine Wine Category Manager)

Name: Stephen Towler Nationality: English At the moment: UAE-Dubai Fine Wine Category Manager   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? On a surfing trip to South Africa back in 1995 when I ran out of money and started working in restaurants… beforehand I had […]

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April 29, 2018
Mr. Xoel Cantero Alvarez – Spain / UK (Sommelier)

Name: Xoel Cantero Alvarez   Nationality: Spanish At the moment: United Kingdom Sommelier   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I have been in the restaurant industry for the past six years. I’m relatively new to wine as […]

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April 29, 2018
Mr. Dmitry Koutcherouk – Belarus (Sommelier, Product Manager)

Name: Dmitry Koutcherouk Nationality: Belarusian At the moment: Belarus Sommelier, Product Manager Website: http://koutcherouk.wordpress.com   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My mother really likes wine, so I have this habit as a legacy from her. After graduation […]

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April 29, 2018
Mr. Julien Haie – France / UK (Sommelier)

Name: Julien Haie Nationality: France At the moment: United Kingdom Tea & Wine Sommelier   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I started to work in the wine industry on a real glimpse of chance. After my first […]

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April 29, 2018
Mr. Sebastian Pacheco – Argentina / UK (Head Sommelier, Wine Educator)

Name: Sebastian Pacheco Nationality: Argentina At the moment: United Kingdom Head Sommelier, Wine Educator Website: www.sebastianpacheco.co.uk   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first encounter with wine happened when I was 19 in the wine class of […]

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April 29, 2018
Mr. Hristian Iliev – Bulgaria / USA-NV (Head Sommelier)

Name: Hristian Iliev Nationality: Bulgarian At the moment: USA/Nevada Head Sommelier Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? I grew up around wine. My grandfather used to farm a small vineyard and used to make wine every year, I would spent the summers in the village […]

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April 29, 2018
Mark Graham – UK (Sommelier)

Name: Mark Graham Nationality: English At the moment: United Kingdom Sommelier Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first brief encounters with wine span most decades of my life before my actual full time involvement. The mid 70’s […]

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April 29, 2018
Star Zvjezdana Blecic – Serbia (Sommeliere)

Name: Star Zvjezdana Blecic Nationality: Serbian At the moment: Cruise liner Sommeliere   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? How it started…..with the best….beverage experience with how guest consume alcohol, Cuban Cigars and wine education around the world […]

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April 27, 2018
Jim Rollston – USA-CA (Master Sommelier, Wine Director)

Name: Jim Rollston Nationality: American At the Moment: USA/California Master Sommelier, Wine Director   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I first discovered an interest in wine while working as a busboy in a neighborhood restaurant, where one […]

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April 27, 2018
Mark Protheroe – Australia (Consultant Sommelier)

Name: Mark Protheroe Nationality: Australian At the moment: Australia, Melbourne Consultant Sommelier Website: The Recreation Bistro + Bottleshop Mark Protheroe   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I was lucky enough to start my career in hospitality in […]

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April 27, 2018
Khazan Singh Bisht – India / Maldives (Sommelier)

Name: Khazan Singh Bisht Nationality: India/New Delhi Area At the moment: Maldives Sommelier   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I have started my career as a Butler in taj palace hotels & Resorts new Delhi by Tata […]

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April 27, 2018
Roger Kugler – USA (Sommelier, Wine Consultant)

Name: Roger Kugler Nationality: American At the moment: USA-MO Sommelier & Consultant Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? Family history, day job in the restaurant industry while in college, no particular mentors although I have been lucky to […]

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April 27, 2018
Edger Groeneveld – Netherlands (Maitre/Sommelier)

Name: Edger Groeneveld Nationality: Dutch At the moment: Netherlands Maitre/Sommelier   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I’m working in the same restaurant, Het Koetshuis, since the age of 15. I started in the kitchen and went to […]

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April 27, 2018
Jorge Alberto Trejo Monroy – Mexico (Head Sommelier)

Name: Jorge Alberto Trejo Monroy Nationality: Mexican At the moment: Mexico City Head Sommelier   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first contact with the wine was in college, I am a graduate in Tourism from Tepeyac […]

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April 27, 2018
Chuck Jackson Jr. – USA (Wine Consultant)

Name: Chuck Jackson Jr. Nationality: American At the moment: USA-Michigan Currently: Independent Wine Consultant Website: Vino Papi   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first encounters with wine and the wine industry were with Midwestern wineries, inside […]

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April 27, 2018
Liora Levi – Norway (Sommeliere & Mediator of wine knowledge, Wine Writer)

Name: Liora Levi Nationality: Norwegian At the moment: Norway Sommeliere & Mediator of wine knowledge, Wine Writer Website: www.liora.no Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first encounter with wine was while working at a Steakhouse where the […]

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April 27, 2018
Massimo Sacco – Italy / Monaco – (Chef Sommelier)

Name: Massimo Sacco Nationality: Italian At the moment: Monaco Chef Sommelier & Premier Maitre Website: http://vinieterroir.wordpress.com/   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? First time I”met the wine was in London: at that period I was working there […]

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April 27, 2018
Jean-Charles Botte – France / Norway (Sommelier, Wine Writer)

Name: Jean-Charles Botte Nationality: French At the moment: Norway and for the rest of my life……. Sommelier & Wine Writer Website: www.vinpur.com   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? No Mentors, just beautiful meet with Claude courtois natural […]

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April 27, 2018
Silvio Garcia – Argentina / USA (Beverage Director, Head Sommelier)

Name: Silvio Garcia Nationality: Argentina At the moment: USA-Georgia Beverage Director & Club Head Sommelier Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? I have to thank my parents for that one, just by watching my parents as a child, making wine, tasting the must and […]

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April 27, 2018
Brad Knowles – South Africa / Austria (F&B Manager, Sommelier)

Name: Bradley Knowles Nationality: South African At the moment: Austria F&B Manager/Sommelier   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I am the president of the Burgenland Sommelier association in Austria I am also on the Board of Directors […]

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April 27, 2018
Rob Bales – Australia (Sommelier)

Name: Rob Bales Nationality: Australian At the moment: Australia Sommelier   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? First encounter, first job and first date.In the 70’s not a lot to choose from commercially, but luck would see me […]

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April 27, 2018
Paula Sidore – USA / Germany (Sommeliere, Writer & Translator)

Name: Paula Sidore Nationality: USA-New Hampshire At the moment: Germany Sommeliere, Writer & Translator Website: www.weinstory.de Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I first encountered wine in a small glass at Sunday dinner when I was about 6 […]

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April 27, 2018
Kent Scheermeyer – Germany (Sommelier, Wine Consultant)

Nationality: German At the moment: South Africa Currently: Sommelier/Wine Consultant   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? During my hotel management studies. What specific traits or skills should a Sommelier(e) possess for professional performance and is there any […]

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April 27, 2018
Nacho Ribera – Spain / Brazil (Sommelier)

Name: Nacho Ribera Nationality: Catalan (Spanish) At the moment: Brazil Head Sommelier & Wine Consultant   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first encounter with wine, (serious encounter) it was when I was 20’s and I lived […]

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April 27, 2018
Jhon Arboleda Galeano – Ecuator / Argentina (Maitre/Sommelier)

Name: Jhon Arboleda Galeano Nationality: Ecuadorian At the moment: Argentina Maitre/Sommelier   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? My first encounter with wine, was, I still remember; at the age of ten, yes, “just a kid”; my father came to house bringing a bottle […]

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April 27, 2018
Fabien Laine – France (Head Sommelier / Columnist / Wine Judge)

Name: Fabien Laine Nationality: French At the moment: France Head Sommelier/ Wine Consultant / Columnist / Wine Judge /  Website: Digital & Service Agency   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? Born in French South West, wine always […]

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April 27, 2018
Cheryline Coulon – Mauritius / Reunion (Sommeliere)

Name: Cheryline Coulon Nationality: Mauritian At the moment: Reunion Sommeliere   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I was in France for my hospitality management studies, 8 years ago, i was really young and wine universe was for […]

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April 27, 2018
James Alcock – Australia (Sommelier, Wine Distributor)

Name: James Alcock Nationality: Australian At the moment: Australia Sommelier, Wine Educator, Wine Distributor Website: Vinum Wine Distributor http://instagram.com/sommjimmy   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? I started out as a ‘bar back’ when i was 17 and […]

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April 27, 2018
Brilliant Rendani Mathelumusa – South Africa / UK (Sommelier)

Name: Brilliant Rendani Mathelumusa Nationality: South Africa At the moment: United Kingdom Head Sommelier Own Website: The Secret Vineyards   Prerequisite: Tell us a little bit about your first encounter with Wine & the Wine industry? I could say l was born in a wine cellar; my Dad was and still is an avid wine collector […]

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April 27, 2018
Valter Chiabolotti – Italy (Sommelier, Wine Writer, Wine Taster)

Name: Valter Chiabolotti Nationality: Italian At the moment: Italy Sommelier, Wine Writer, Wine Taster,    Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? When I was a child my father sold food and wine in his shop. I became Sommelier […]

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April 27, 2018
Evan Workman – USA-NY / Maldives (Sommelier)

Name: Evan Workman Nationality: USA-New York At the moment: Maldives Sommelier   Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? My first real encounter with the wine industry was when I was waiting tables and just starting out my service […]

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April 26, 2018
Julie Dupouy – France / Ireland (Sommeliere)

Name: Julie Dupouy Nationality: French At the moment: Republic of Ireland Sommeliere – 2015 Sommelier of the year in Ireland Own Website: down2wine    Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry? Any particular mentors at that time? Being French, wine used to take part of […]

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