Ep. 2634 EU-India Trade Deal & Indian State Monopolies with Mohona Chowdhury | Asia Wine Market

Welcome to the Asia Wine Market and Episode 2634 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Roza Zharmukhambetova interviews wine consultant and digital content creator Mohona Chowdhury to explore the Indian wine market. They discuss the EU–India trade deal and its impact on import duties, emerging opportunities, and the role of major state monopolies. The conversation also covers the Indian wine consumer profile and preferences, strategies for digital marketing targeting Indian audiences, and educational initiatives for wine professionals in the country. Key learning objectives: Understand the structural and regulatory complexity of the Indian wine market. Identify who the Indian wine consumer really is and what drives them. Learn how Italian wineries can adapt their communication, storytelling, and digital strategy to resonate with Indian audiences. Bonus - Mohona Chowdhury’s favorite wine spots: Delhi: Captain’s Cellar at Taj Hotel, Perch Wine Bar Bangalore: Wine in Progress Influencers mentioned by Mohona: Sonal Holland MW @sonalholland_masterofwine Ankush @sipwithkush Devati Mallick @devatimallick The advertisement mentioned: https://youtu.be/RId_UXL3rI8?si=vUXFFKkMp9JuZ0Xs More about today’s guest: Mohona Chowdhury is a wine consultant, educator, and writer based in France. Born and raised in India, her journey took her from luxury hospitality with the Oberoi Group to completing a Master’s in Wine and Hospitality Management with KEDGE Business School and École Hôtellerie de Lausanne. She has worked as a sommelier inMichelin-starred restaurants in Paris and hosted tastings in Burgundy, while also writing for Indian and UK wine publications. Mohona is especially passionate about making wine education more inclusive and helping European producers better understand the evolving Indian market through storytelling, digital communication, and cultural insight. Connect: Website: https://www.thewinediangirl.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohona-chowdhury-61684b18a Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_winedian_girl/ More about the host: Roza Zharmukhambetova has a background in foreign languages and education. She discovered her passion for wine in Beijing, where she gained two years of experience in wine sales. Since returning to Kazakhstan, she has focused on studying Italian wine and exploring its regions. Roza holds certifications as an Italian Wine Ambassador (VIA), Italian Wine Scholar (WSG), Langhe Wines Ambassador (BBA), and Valpolicella Wine Specialist (VEP). She is also a member of the Kazakhstan Sommelier Association. Since the end of 2024, she has been a member of the Italian Wine Podcast (IWP) team, contributing her passion for Italian wine. Connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/le_vin_en_rose/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rozazharmukhambetova/ _______________________________ Let's keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast on our social media channels: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/itawinepodcast Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast If you feel like helping us, donate here: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/ Until next time, Cin Cin!