Sommelier(iere) Interviews

Name: Mr Tiago Paula Nationality: Portuguese – Prerequisite Please tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry. Did you have any particular mentors? My first contact with wine was at the family table. Portugal is a country with a long wine tradition, and from an early age, I […]

Name: Ms Karoline Reinhold Nationality: Estonian – Bombay Club Prerequisite Please tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry. Did you have any particular mentors? I did not come from a country or family where wine played a significant cultural role. My journey began without any formal background, […]

Name: Mr. Stefan Weise Nationality: German – Founder: Weise.Wein Facebook: click Prerequisite Please tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry. Did you have any particular mentors? As a mentor, I would like to mention Martin Kucher,he was the person, who sparked my passion for wine in 1995. […]

Name: Ms. Francesca Granelli Nationality: Italian – Founder: Vinum Loqui Instagram: click Facebook: click Prerequisite Please tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry. Did you have any particular mentors? When I was born, and for much of my life, my family had a small vineyard that covered […]

Name: Mr. Kadek Swijana Nationality: Indonesia – Instagram: click Quarter finalists Best UK Sommelier 2024 Prerequisite Please tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry. Did you have any particular mentors? My first experience with wine began in Bali, where I started my career in hospitality and hotels. […]

Name: Mr. Sebastian Giraldo Makovej Nationality: Hungary/Colombia – Instagram: click Sebastian holds advanced Sommelier certification and has won the Best Sommelier of Hungary competition four times (2022 x 2, 2023, 2024) as well as the Best Sommelier of Poland, as a guest competitor. Prerequisite Please tell us a little bit about your first encounter with […]

Name: Mr. Gerald Lu Jia Wei Nationality: Singaporean citizen – President of the Sommelier Association Singapore Director at PRAELUM Prerequisite Please tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry. Did you have any particular mentors? I was 18 and working part-time in a cocktail bar. I poured a […]

Name: Ms. Jeanne Peixian Qiao Nationality: Chinese citizen – Prerequisite: Please tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry. Did you have any particular mentors? Born into a distillery family in Sichuan, China, where we crafted traditional Baijiu from grains, my immersion into the world of wine and […]

Name: Mr. Sunny Hodge Nationality: UK citizen – The Cynic's Guide to Wine (New release) at click (Highly Recommended) Wine bar - aspen & meursault - click Wine bar - Diogenes the Dog - click Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry. Did you have […]

Name: Ms. Anna Valli - Nationality: Switzerland/Svizzera/Suisse – Donne&Vino at click Association Suisse Sommelier Professionel  at click Institute of Continuing Education at click Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry. Did you have any particular mentors? A- My awakening in the world of wine happened […]

Name: Ms. Mansi Hitesh Kotecha - Nationality: India – At the moment: Democratic Republic of Congo - 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 happened during my undergraduate studies in hospitality in Gujarat, a region […]

Name: Mr. Hidekazu Hashimoto - Nationality: Japan – At the moment: Japan - Founder of VITIS CLUB: www.vitisclub.com/ 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 goes back 20 years. I was originally in the restaurant […]

Name: Ms. Elisa Närhi - Nationality: Finland – At the moment: Finland - Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry. Did you have any particular mentors? I was introduced to wines during my Bachelor of Hospitality Management studies 2006-2007 by studying the WSET level 2 and […]

Name: Mr. Mark DeWolf - Nationality: Canadian – At the moment: Canada - Active: When a customer asks for advice on selecting wine what, in your opinion, would be the best approach? The best approach is understanding the customer’s preferences first. I think our job as wine professionals is not to dictate, nor to place our preferences […]

Name: Mr. Wolfgang Kneidinger - Nationality: Austrian – At the moment: Austria - Head of Wine: Palais Coburg in Vienna (Austria) & Parkhotel Vitznau in Switzerland 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 happened in Styria, […]

Name: Mr. Tawanda Marume - Nationality: Zimbabwean – At the moment: South Africa - Director: Expression Wines Africa - https://expwines.africa/ Vice Chairman of the Sommeliers Association of South Africa: CLICK Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry. Did you have any particular mentors?  I was at a […]

Name: Mr. Miguel Crunia - Nationality: Spain (Galicia) – At the moment: UK-Scotland - Fion Wines - https://www.fionwines.co.uk/ President - Spanish Sommelier Association in UK Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry. Did you have any particular mentors?  My link with the world of wine begins sentimentally […]

Name: Mr. Michael Mcduff - Nationality: Canadian – At the moment: Canada - Joanie`s Wine Blog - www.joaniemetivier.com/wine-tourism-mag/ Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry. Did you have any particular mentors? Around 10 years ago, during a freezing cold Canadian winter, I started my CMS Introduction journey […]

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 […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

Name: Ms. Gordana Josovic – Nationality: Serbia / USA – At the moment: UAE - Dubai Head of Wine @ Atlantis Resorts Prerequisite: Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry. Did you have any particular mentors? My first experience with wine happened in Yugoslavia, where I grew up. I was […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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?                          […]

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 […]

  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 the restaurant business, I was […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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? […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 work […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Name: Romana Echensperger Nationality: German At the moment: Germany Master of Wine - Wine Consultant and Journalist Interesting link: click @ by Dominik Kozlik – Zeitgeist Sommeliers - www.sommelier-jobs.com

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

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 […]

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 was trained […]

Name: Gaetano Giangaspero Nationality: ItalianAt 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. My journey […]

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 Ned Goodwin @ by Dominik Kozlik – Zeitgeist Sommeliers - www.sommelier-jobs.com

  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 […]

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 […]

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 me change the […]

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 […]

-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 […]

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 […]

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 first contact with […]

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 […]

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. Originally […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 them […]

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, the […]

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 sister […]

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 […]

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) What […]

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 […]

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, not […]

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 […]

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, wine […]

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 quite […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 took […]

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. Also […]

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 time, […]

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? I […]

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 as […]

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 who […]

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 bottle […]

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 Macau, […]

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 would […]

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 Hospitality, […]

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 […]

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 the […]

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 I […]

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) possess […]

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 I […]

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 of […]

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 […]

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 school […]

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 a […]

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 where […]

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 “Great […]

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 wine, […]

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 professional […]

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 in […]

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 restaurant […]

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 & Certified […]

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 wine […]

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. I […]

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 contact […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 a […]

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? What specific traits or skills should a Sommelier(e) possess for professional performance and is there any […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 and […]

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 our […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 at […]

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 […]

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. I […]

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 […]

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 small […]

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 […]

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 also […]

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 15; […]

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 8 […]

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 […]

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. […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 crazy […]

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 Crus […]

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 […]

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 work […]

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 encounter […]

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 my […]

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 the […]

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 day […]

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 […]

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 cuisine, […]

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 […]

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 in […]

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. The […]

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 any […]

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 at […]

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, NY. […]

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 […]

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. […]

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* […]

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 people together, […]

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 Waterside […]

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 […]

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 I´m […]

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 one […]

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 Greenbrier […]

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 […]

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 Salzburg. […]

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 hotel […]

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 bit […]

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 […]

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 gastronomy […]

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 Solothurn […]

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 no import […]

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 World […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 wine […]

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 American […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 form […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 first […]

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 […]

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 1997 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]