Master of Wine Sonal Holland is India�s most accomplished wine professional. The first Indian to have been bestowed with this prestigious global title, she has won numerous awards in her incredible journey to become the only Master of Wine in a nation of one billion people!
[caption id="attachment_4035" align="alignright" width="200"]
Trophy
India Wine Awards 2018[/caption] A domain expert on the business of wine & spirits in India, Sonal�s passionate about drawing global attention to the country�s young and exciting beverage industry. Her vast cultural knowledge has made her a sought after strategic consultant for brands seeking a foothold in India�s complex marketplace. Sonal�s professional achievements include her role as the former corporate head of wine and beverages at homegrown luxury hospitality conglomerate, ITC Hotels. Currently, she is a wine buyer and consultant for luxury food retail chain Foodhall, and is also a wine consultant for restaurant group, Gourmet Investments. Her extraordinary contributions to India�s vino industry have been acknowledged widely. Adjudged the Wine Personality of the Year recently, Sonal is regularly featured as one of the most powerful women and most influential personality in India�s luxury industry. Since the day she embarked on this journey, Sonal has been a role model for women, shattering the glass ceiling in the AlcoBev industry in India. Her exceptional contribution to India�s wine industry has been widely recognized. Some of the prestigious honors Sonal has been part of are: [caption id="attachment_4034" align="aligncenter" width="793"]
Sonal Holland MW with the Lucaris Team at The India Wine Awards 2018[/caption]
Richrd Dolan, CEO of Geoff Hardy Wine with Ruma Singh at the India Wine Awards 2018[/caption]
Here is an excerpt of an Interview of the first Master of Wine of India, Ms. Sonal Holland:
When did you develop this taste for wines? Any specific moment when you realized� yes this is what I want to do�
Until 2006, I was Director of National Sales for a multinational Fortune 500 company but wine and food always piqued my interest. My interest in wines along with steady encouragement from my husband, led me to formally pursue my knowledge for wines.
Tell us something about your journey from a Hotel School Graduate to the Only Master of Wine in India.
Post my degree in hotel management, I worked with a global MNC for years before my interest in wines grew. The rapidly growing wine market in India � without there being truly quality local wines yet however - led me to take the challenge head on. In 2008, I enrolled for an extensive 2 year-long diploma at the London based Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET). Becoming a Master of Wine requires rigorous training and intense study, both theoretical and practical. There are five 3-hour papers on viticulture; vinification and bottling that form the theory component. The practical component requires a candidate to blind taste 36 wines over three days, assessing them for origin, quality, winemaking and style. It took me 6 years of hard work and personal sacrifice, quite frankly, to become a Master of Wine. It was additionally difficult for me as we had limited access to wines in India and I depended heavily on the tastings I did abroad
[caption id="attachment_4032" align="alignleft" width="200"]
Sonal Holland MW & Victoria Burt at The India Wine Awards 2018[/caption]
How does it feel to be India�s most powerful Wine Professional?
I was really shocked and elated when we received the news about me being certified as India�s only Master of Wine. The title comes with a huge responsibility as a Master of Wine is expected to judge competitions, give lectures on wines, guide wine tasting sessions and consult with industry players to make the best wines available to our consumers. Being India�s only MW, I represent my country wherever I go and it also becomes my responsibility to introduce great wines to patrons in India, as well as support the growing Indian wine industry, which is rapidly improving every year.
Are we South Asians under privileged in terms of learning wines and beverages? If yes, what are the reasons of this gap in learning in comparison to European, Australian or American countries?
I wouldn�t necessarily say we�re under privileged � are we on a back foot as compared to other countries? Yes, definitely. Wine & spirits education in India is still somewhat limited due to the dearth of access to a lot of good wines in India. As mentioned earlier, even during my learning days I had to travel to various wineries to understand the process of selecting grapes, their tastes, processes and nuances unique to different countries.
[caption id="attachment_4030" align="alignright" width="233"]
Richard Dolan, CEO of Geoff Hardy Wines at The India Wine Awards 2018[/caption]
Also, since the concept of wines is still somewhat nascent in South Asia not many people are exposed to it. Wine is a way of life abroad and not just another alcoholic drink, which makes it tougher for us.
Does being a woman make any difference?
Definitely. The Master of Wine title is pretty male-dominated. I�m extremely happy to be India�s first Master of Wine, that too as a woman.
You have initiated not only Sonal Holland Wine Academy, SOHO Wine Club but also started the India Wine Awards. How tough was it to initiate and successfully run these operations?
The idea behind launching these organizations has been clear. I aim to bring wine to the forefront in India, working to provide greater accessibility to international brands and more significant exposure to Indian brands. The Soho Wine Club and Wine Academy aim to simplify wine experiences for consumers and budding wine professionals alike. India Wine Awards was launched with the idea of being the benchmark of Wine appreciation in India. At IWA, we taste every single wine both Indian and international available in India and consider it for a medal to ensure no deserving wine goes unnoticed.
The beginning of something new always poses a few challenges. However, we have seen great support from both the community and consumers, while the Soho Wine Club and Wine Academy have seen stable growth with an upward trend.
India Wine Awards has gained huge popularity in very short span of time. What�s the concept behind and the success mantra of this award?
We started India Wine Awards with an agenda to recognize quality wines from India and abroad. The India Wine Awards have seen tremendous growth over the last two editions; this year, the event is even larger, with some great wines participating in the competition. Since its inception, this first-of-its-kind event stands committed to introducing more consumers to wine and to strengthening India�s reputation on the global wine map.
[caption id="attachment_4036" align="aligncenter" width="800"]
Victoria Burt MW with Karishma Chandy it VBev and Ruben Rodrigues of The Leela Mumbai (WSET Level 3 Award in Wines, Busary winners) at The India Wine Awards 2018[/caption]
How was Wine Business in India when you started and how is it now?
Back in 2006 when I began working with wines, the industry was very nascent and stakeholders were intimidated by wines as there was a lower level of awareness and lack of resources to understand wines. The availability of international wines was also less and the quality and taste would change due to lack of proper infrastructure during transportation. Fast forward to 2019, there is a greater awareness of wines and easier accessibility to quality wines. And that�s not all, the past few years have witnessed several of our local wine brands doing us proud with some stand-out offerings.
Do you see any scope of expanding SOHO Wine Club and Sonal Holland Wine Academy to Nepal?
Absolutely, why not! Our aim has always been to promote the positive culture of wine, and offer the UK based WSET courses to wine enthusiasts. Nepal is a small but growing market for wine, and would be worth considering.
[caption id="attachment_4037" align="aligncenter" width="800"]
Kiran Yatin Patil of Reveilo Wines being awarded by Farzana Contractor along with Sonal Holland MW at The India Wine Awards 2018[/caption]
Nepal is celebrating Visit Nepal Year 2020. Any plans on traveling to Nepal?
Nepal like India has been a country with a long history and rich culture, which makes it one of the most sought after destinations in the Indian sub- continent after India. Should time permit, I would love to make a trip to Nepal!
Which professional skill is the most critical one if anyone wants to follow your path?
The MW program is essentially self-taught and requires a high level of self-discipline and expertise. It is vital to have significant knowledge and experience of the wine world prior to embarking on the MW journey. My WSET Diploma equipped me with this knowledge and I found that I was able to adapt to the MW learning and examinations much more easily with this backing.
The courses demand the very best out of you, and help you reach a level of academic excellence in wines like no other. The MW examinations test your theoretical knowledge in wines and tasting skills, leaving no stone unturned.
[caption id="attachment_4029" align="alignright" width="300"]
Celebrated Restauranter Rahul Akerkar, Roshini Bajaj Sanghvi, Sonal Holland MW at India Wine Awards 2018[/caption]
The process will require patience, demand commitment and sacrifice at every stage, but in turn, will reward you with a tremendous sense of gratification, pride, credibility and confidence.
A wine you can never say no to���
A finely aged Burgundian wine
Your perfect food and wine pairing���..
At India Wine Awards, we have a special category called Food and Wine Pairing, where pair most popular foods with different wines. Even after having tried 450 combinations, we believe there is nothing like a perfect food and wine pairing. Taste is personal, and if you enjoy a robust red wine with chocolate, then it is a perfect match.
However for beginners, I would always suggest pair simple wine with simple foods, while going for more complex wines with more elaborate food preparations.
When you are not drinking wine, you are drinking�
When not enjoying a glass of quality wine, I love my daily cup of tea.
What do you love the most besides wine?
Being a total Maharashtrian at heart, I love my mums� homemade food and cannot resist a well-cooked portion of fish.
TrophyIndia Wine Awards 2018[/caption] A domain expert on the business of wine & spirits in India, Sonal�s passionate about drawing global attention to the country�s young and exciting beverage industry. Her vast cultural knowledge has made her a sought after strategic consultant for brands seeking a foothold in India�s complex marketplace. Sonal�s professional achievements include her role as the former corporate head of wine and beverages at homegrown luxury hospitality conglomerate, ITC Hotels. Currently, she is a wine buyer and consultant for luxury food retail chain Foodhall, and is also a wine consultant for restaurant group, Gourmet Investments. Her extraordinary contributions to India�s vino industry have been acknowledged widely. Adjudged the Wine Personality of the Year recently, Sonal is regularly featured as one of the most powerful women and most influential personality in India�s luxury industry. Since the day she embarked on this journey, Sonal has been a role model for women, shattering the glass ceiling in the AlcoBev industry in India. Her exceptional contribution to India�s wine industry has been widely recognized. Some of the prestigious honors Sonal has been part of are: [caption id="attachment_4034" align="aligncenter" width="793"]
Sonal Holland MW with the Lucaris Team at The India Wine Awards 2018[/caption]
- Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Indian Luxury for three consecutive years - 2015, 2016 and 2017 by luxury business magazine Blackbook
- Top 100 Most Influential People in Indian Luxury in 2016 and 2017 by BlackBook
- Top Women in Wine by the Indian Wine Academy
- �Wine Personality of the Year� award by India�s leading food writers� association, the Food Bloggers Association of India (FBAI)
Richrd Dolan, CEO of Geoff Hardy Wine with Ruma Singh at the India Wine Awards 2018[/caption]
Here is an excerpt of an Interview of the first Master of Wine of India, Ms. Sonal Holland:
When did you develop this taste for wines? Any specific moment when you realized� yes this is what I want to do�
Until 2006, I was Director of National Sales for a multinational Fortune 500 company but wine and food always piqued my interest. My interest in wines along with steady encouragement from my husband, led me to formally pursue my knowledge for wines.
Tell us something about your journey from a Hotel School Graduate to the Only Master of Wine in India.
Post my degree in hotel management, I worked with a global MNC for years before my interest in wines grew. The rapidly growing wine market in India � without there being truly quality local wines yet however - led me to take the challenge head on. In 2008, I enrolled for an extensive 2 year-long diploma at the London based Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET). Becoming a Master of Wine requires rigorous training and intense study, both theoretical and practical. There are five 3-hour papers on viticulture; vinification and bottling that form the theory component. The practical component requires a candidate to blind taste 36 wines over three days, assessing them for origin, quality, winemaking and style. It took me 6 years of hard work and personal sacrifice, quite frankly, to become a Master of Wine. It was additionally difficult for me as we had limited access to wines in India and I depended heavily on the tastings I did abroad
[caption id="attachment_4032" align="alignleft" width="200"] Sonal Holland MW & Victoria Burt at The India Wine Awards 2018[/caption]
How does it feel to be India�s most powerful Wine Professional?
I was really shocked and elated when we received the news about me being certified as India�s only Master of Wine. The title comes with a huge responsibility as a Master of Wine is expected to judge competitions, give lectures on wines, guide wine tasting sessions and consult with industry players to make the best wines available to our consumers. Being India�s only MW, I represent my country wherever I go and it also becomes my responsibility to introduce great wines to patrons in India, as well as support the growing Indian wine industry, which is rapidly improving every year.
Are we South Asians under privileged in terms of learning wines and beverages? If yes, what are the reasons of this gap in learning in comparison to European, Australian or American countries?
I wouldn�t necessarily say we�re under privileged � are we on a back foot as compared to other countries? Yes, definitely. Wine & spirits education in India is still somewhat limited due to the dearth of access to a lot of good wines in India. As mentioned earlier, even during my learning days I had to travel to various wineries to understand the process of selecting grapes, their tastes, processes and nuances unique to different countries.
[caption id="attachment_4030" align="alignright" width="233"] Richard Dolan, CEO of Geoff Hardy Wines at The India Wine Awards 2018[/caption]
Also, since the concept of wines is still somewhat nascent in South Asia not many people are exposed to it. Wine is a way of life abroad and not just another alcoholic drink, which makes it tougher for us.
Does being a woman make any difference?
Definitely. The Master of Wine title is pretty male-dominated. I�m extremely happy to be India�s first Master of Wine, that too as a woman.
You have initiated not only Sonal Holland Wine Academy, SOHO Wine Club but also started the India Wine Awards. How tough was it to initiate and successfully run these operations?
The idea behind launching these organizations has been clear. I aim to bring wine to the forefront in India, working to provide greater accessibility to international brands and more significant exposure to Indian brands. The Soho Wine Club and Wine Academy aim to simplify wine experiences for consumers and budding wine professionals alike. India Wine Awards was launched with the idea of being the benchmark of Wine appreciation in India. At IWA, we taste every single wine both Indian and international available in India and consider it for a medal to ensure no deserving wine goes unnoticed.
The beginning of something new always poses a few challenges. However, we have seen great support from both the community and consumers, while the Soho Wine Club and Wine Academy have seen stable growth with an upward trend.
India Wine Awards has gained huge popularity in very short span of time. What�s the concept behind and the success mantra of this award?
We started India Wine Awards with an agenda to recognize quality wines from India and abroad. The India Wine Awards have seen tremendous growth over the last two editions; this year, the event is even larger, with some great wines participating in the competition. Since its inception, this first-of-its-kind event stands committed to introducing more consumers to wine and to strengthening India�s reputation on the global wine map.
[caption id="attachment_4036" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Victoria Burt MW with Karishma Chandy it VBev and Ruben Rodrigues of The Leela Mumbai (WSET Level 3 Award in Wines, Busary winners) at The India Wine Awards 2018[/caption]
How was Wine Business in India when you started and how is it now?
Back in 2006 when I began working with wines, the industry was very nascent and stakeholders were intimidated by wines as there was a lower level of awareness and lack of resources to understand wines. The availability of international wines was also less and the quality and taste would change due to lack of proper infrastructure during transportation. Fast forward to 2019, there is a greater awareness of wines and easier accessibility to quality wines. And that�s not all, the past few years have witnessed several of our local wine brands doing us proud with some stand-out offerings.
Do you see any scope of expanding SOHO Wine Club and Sonal Holland Wine Academy to Nepal?
Absolutely, why not! Our aim has always been to promote the positive culture of wine, and offer the UK based WSET courses to wine enthusiasts. Nepal is a small but growing market for wine, and would be worth considering.
[caption id="attachment_4037" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Kiran Yatin Patil of Reveilo Wines being awarded by Farzana Contractor along with Sonal Holland MW at The India Wine Awards 2018[/caption]
Nepal is celebrating Visit Nepal Year 2020. Any plans on traveling to Nepal?
Nepal like India has been a country with a long history and rich culture, which makes it one of the most sought after destinations in the Indian sub- continent after India. Should time permit, I would love to make a trip to Nepal!
Which professional skill is the most critical one if anyone wants to follow your path?
The MW program is essentially self-taught and requires a high level of self-discipline and expertise. It is vital to have significant knowledge and experience of the wine world prior to embarking on the MW journey. My WSET Diploma equipped me with this knowledge and I found that I was able to adapt to the MW learning and examinations much more easily with this backing.
The courses demand the very best out of you, and help you reach a level of academic excellence in wines like no other. The MW examinations test your theoretical knowledge in wines and tasting skills, leaving no stone unturned.
[caption id="attachment_4029" align="alignright" width="300"] Celebrated Restauranter Rahul Akerkar, Roshini Bajaj Sanghvi, Sonal Holland MW at India Wine Awards 2018[/caption]
The process will require patience, demand commitment and sacrifice at every stage, but in turn, will reward you with a tremendous sense of gratification, pride, credibility and confidence.
A wine you can never say no to���
A finely aged Burgundian wine
Your perfect food and wine pairing���..
At India Wine Awards, we have a special category called Food and Wine Pairing, where pair most popular foods with different wines. Even after having tried 450 combinations, we believe there is nothing like a perfect food and wine pairing. Taste is personal, and if you enjoy a robust red wine with chocolate, then it is a perfect match.
However for beginners, I would always suggest pair simple wine with simple foods, while going for more complex wines with more elaborate food preparations.
When you are not drinking wine, you are drinking�
When not enjoying a glass of quality wine, I love my daily cup of tea.
What do you love the most besides wine?
Being a total Maharashtrian at heart, I love my mums� homemade food and cannot resist a well-cooked portion of fish.
