Sonal Holland
Sonal Holland is an Indian Master of Wine, which is regarded in the wine industry as one of the highest standards of professional knowledge in the world and is the first recipient of the Master of Wine title in the country. She is a certified wine educator, a certified professional in Saké and Shochu, a consultant, retailer, broadcaster, and the founder of India Wine Awards, considered India’s most authoritative wine competition. Education. In 2016, Holland was named Master of Wine (MW) from the London-based Institute of Masters of Wine. To become a MW, Holland had to  pass a rigorous exam comprising five 3-hour papers on viticulture, vinification and bottling that form the theory component, followed by the practical component, the wine tasting, which requires a candidate to blind taste 36 wines over three days, assessing them for origin, quality, winemaking and style. Her dissertation was on, "Awareness, attitude and usage of wine among SEC A urban Indian wine consumers.” Prior to the MW, Holland received Level 4 Diploma in Wines & Spirits from Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET). Holland also holds a master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Mumbai, and a Diploma  in Hotel Management from the IHM Mumbai. In February 2020, she became a certified professional in Saké and Shochu. She was conferred an advanced certification in Saké and Shochu by the Japan Saké and Shochu Makers Association. Career. Holland was a director of national sales at a Fortune 500 company, and gave it up to pursue her passion in wine, enrolling in the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) in London and completed the two-year diploma. Initially in her career, she worked as the Divisional Head of Wine & Beverage at ITC Hotels. In 2009, Sonal founded the Sonal Holland  Wine Academy, India’s leading wine-centric institution and a licensed collaborator with Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) headquartered in London, UK. The courses are tailored to suit corporates, hospitality and airline companies, wine industry, food & beverage professionals and connoisseurs of wine. In 2016, Sonal launched SoHo Wine Consultants, offering bespoke services to the Hospitality and AlcoBev industry. With her domain expertise on the business of wines and spirits in India, Sonal is 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 international brands  seeking a foothold in India’s complex marketplace, through a 360-degree suite of services. In 2017, Sonal conceived the India Wine Awards, considered as India’s most authoritative wine competition, which recognises excellence in wine and restaurant wine programmes in the country. Powered and chaired by Sonal Holland, the competition is led by a jury of the most qualified wine professionals and the finest taste-makers from across the world. The India Wine Awards are regarded as the ultimate consumer guide to ranking the best wines and wine-forward restaurants in the country. Presently in its fourth edition, the  scope of the awards continues to get bigger and broader in its vision, with consumer empowerment, education and experiences at its core. In 2018, in collaboration with a London-based consumer research company Wine Intelligence, Sonal released the country’s most comprehensive, research-backed survey on the urban Indian wine consumer, the India Wine Insider. These research findings provided valuable insights into the psyche and behaviour of the Indian wine drinker, uncovering prevailing consumer realities whilst also identifying future growth opportunities beneficial for Indian and international traders to make informed decisions. In early 2019, she entered wine retail with an  entrepreneurial venture, Vine2Wine. These contemporary wine retail stores are located in Foodhall gourmet stores in Mumbai and Bangalore, and features a global selection of wine and beer. To support the wine shops, Sonal started the SoHo Wine Club, an extensive community of wine-loving entrepreneurs, lifestyle patrons, corporate clientele and friends. The Club recommends exceptional wines to its members guided by Sonal personal selections, through invigorating events and tastings. In addition to her educational and entrepreneurial ventures, Sonal is also a passionate broadcaster and is keen to reach wider audiences through the digital medium. Her pioneering digital channel Sonal Holland  Wine TV, dedicated to wine education and entertainment, has bagged multiple awards, including the prestigious SheThePeople’s Winner of Innovative Content Creation in 2015. The broadcast has achieved over half a million views with exciting, topical and relatable content on wine travel, pairing, enjoyment tips, reviews, expert opinions and tastings. In 2018, she gave her first TEDx talk, chronicling her journey from a Fortune 500 corporate house to becoming India’s leading wine voice. A distinguished wine writer, her wine columns have been featured in Vogue, Conde Nast Traveller, Mid-Day, Times of India, Economic Times and LuxeBook, among other  prestigious publications. Brand ambassador. In 2018, she was conferred the Official Ambassador title by the German VDP wine association and the Bourgogne Wine Board with the charge of promoting their wines in India. Wine judging. She has judged several prestigious international competitions including the 2018 Decanter Asia Wine Awards, Concours Mondial du Bruxelles and the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition. Wine journalism and broadcast. An award-winning wine broadcaster, Holland’s content on the Sonal Holland Wine TV has garnered over half a million views. Her wine columns have been published in publications including Vogue, Mid Day, and LuxeBook . In 2018, she gave her first TEDx talk, chronicling her journey from a Fortune 500 corporate house to becoming India’s leading wine voice.