India has broken new ground with the achievement of its first Master Sommelier, Kamal Malik, a distinguished professional in the hospitality industry. In August 2024, the Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS) announced six new Master Sommeliers, including Kamal Malik alongside Paul Fauvel, Paul Robineau, Andres Aragón Pérez, Bertrand Lutaud, and Kevin Lu Kai Wen. For those unfamiliar, the Master Sommelier (MS) Diploma is the pinnacle of wine and spirit service qualifications, with only 281 individuals having earned this prestigious title since its inception in 1969. Kamal Malik (extreme L) with the other Master Sommeliers announced in 2024. Small beginnings, Big
Inspiring Indians
Bouncing back from adversity makes for inspiring stories and Namratha Prashanth’s is no different. From an abused housewife in her thirties to a successful wine entrepreneur in the “Mecca of wine” Bordeaux, Namratha has indeed come a long way- her journey continuing to mark newer milestones. Namratha Prashanth If I attempt to narrate Namratha’s story in its entirety, it would outrun the real estate of this post. Hence, I would like to focus more on her wine pursuits. For those interested in further details, listening to the podcast at the end of this post is recommended. My first meeting with