10 Indian Sommeliers to follow on Instagram

Indian Sommeliers are making our country proud by excelling in different part of the world.  Some of them even find the time from their tannic schedules to post on Instagram and inspiring the world to drink wine or for people to pursue the profession. Here the instagram accounts of Indian Somms to follow. We considered accounts that had activity on them insterspersed with wine inspiration once in a while if not always. Follow them, Seek advice, Drink better, Work better !
(The article is written by Ajit Balgi, WSET Educator, BNIC Cognac Educator, Wine Judge.)

Atul Tiwari - The Oberoi, Mumbai
A graduate from IHM Dehradun and winner of the Indian Sommelier Championship 2014, Atul defines himself as a gourmet aficionado and says it is passion that drives him to be on top of wines. He has travelled to prominent wine regions in Australia, NZ,France, Italy, Spain, USA etc. Instagram Link

Sreejith Menon - Constance Ephelia, Seychelles
Loves to write about wine, go hiking and trekking and share life experiences in words. A passion for travel, food, adventure and working with people of different nationalities make his job fun. “Beautiful beach and a bottle of good wine always makes my day a beautiful one.” Says he Instagram Link 

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Arunkumar Tamilselvan - Anantara Kihavah, Maldives
A Sommelier who is also certified in Sake, is happy to be a WSET certified educator. Travelling has been his best teacher and he has ensured he travels at least one winemaking region every year. In his words “A good Sommelier is a magician, story teller and experience maker" Instagram Link

Anushka Pandkar, ITC Maratha, Mumbai
A Certified Sommelier and one of the few women Somms in India, Anushka has been on all side of the business, as a consultant, with an importer and now pouring wines in a hotel. When she is not ‘Wining’, she is amidst pets, wildlife and likes to contribute for their welfare. Instagram Link

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Ranjeet Shirke - Qualia, Mumbai
With 10 years of experience in India, Singapore and Dubai, Ranjeet is a beverage specialist with an eye for cocktails and wine with equal aplomb. A certified Sommelier, he was been on the top of the Dubai beverage scene and hopes to use his expertise and leave a mark. Instagram Link

Gaurav Dixit -The Leela Palace, New Delhi
​A panelist at the Grandi Langhe tasting, Gaurav is a story teller. He’s glad his last wine list found place in Wine Spectator’s last 5 years.“ I’m a proud Indian and don’t leave a chance to wax eloquent about Indian wines and produce” He beams. Instagram Link​

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Amit Chavan - Hakkasan, Abu Dhabi
He manages an award winning winelist, he travels to buy wines and his new found love is Biodynamic wines. “The list needs a story around it and the wines need to follow the food. If the wine is in sync with our food, it is on our menu.” asserts Amit. Instagram Link

Lalit Rane - Ministry of Crab, Srilanka & Maldives
​A Certified Sommelier, with 9 years of luxury hotel experience, Lalit is loving this endeavour of pairing seafood and wine, especially crabs in the southern waters. He says, ‘Indian wines are coming of age and I will see how I can make them more popular in my capacity.’ Instagram Link

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Balu Pandiyan - Reef Island, Bahrain
He has worked in a Paulliac winery, as a Sommelier in Paris and had stints in Maldives, Muscat etc. Balu a Certified Sommelier and Cognac Educator believes that hard work is a given, but luck is important too and he had been lucky to travel to multiple wine countries. Instagram Link

Rakesh Awaghade - The Lodhi, New Delhi
He has multiple chips on his shoulder in his experience spanning 15 years in India and England. Rakesh had worked as the Head Somm for a Ramsay restaurant at the Savoy and others in London, before going strong with the Oberoi for 5 years,he moved next door recently. Instagram Link

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