Ep. 2835 The Indian Wine Revolution and a New Way of Thinking about Wine with Magandeep Singh | Asia Wine Market

Welcome to the Asia Wine Market and Episode 2 the India Special Edition, a of a very exciting series of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Saloni Khanapurkar IWA is in conversation with Magandeep Singh, founder of Wi-Not Beverage Solutions and the Institute of Wine + Beverage Studies (IWBS), about the opportunities and challenges of entering the Indian wine market. Drawing on his extensive experience, Magandeep offers practical advice for producers on finding the right importers and brand ambassadors, connecting with local consumers and key opinion makers, and building a lasting presence in India. More about the guest: Magandeep Singh is India’s first French-qualified sommelier, certified by Le Cordon Bleu and L’Université du Vin, Suze-la-Rousse. His journey began at the Institute of Hospitality Management (IHM), Mumbai, followed by a Master’s in hospitality management at Institut Vatel, France, where a small wine shop in the southern Rhône set him on a lifelong path. Since founding Wi-Not Beverage Solutions in 2001, he has built India’s most recognised beverage consultancy — serving five-star hotels, standalone restaurants, corporates, and individuals. In parallel, he established the Institute of Wine + Beverage Studies (IWBS), India’s first dedicated wine and beverage education institute, which has trained thousands of professionals and enthusiasts. He writes, judges, teaches, and speaks — always with the goal of making wine and spirits accessible, intelligent, and joyful. Connect: Website: https://magandeepsingh.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/singh.magandeep Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/magandeep.singh.personalprofile More about the host: Saloni Khanapurkar is an Italian wine professional, educator, and entrepreneur working at the intersection of wine, culture, and India. She is India’s first and only Italian Wine Ambassador, holds WSET Level 3 in Wine, and is currently a DipWSET candidate. She has worked with Italian wineries and wine organizations across Piemonte, Tuscany, Lombardy, and Friuli Venezia Giulia, with experience spanning wine education, export consulting, communications, and cross-cultural projects. She is also one of the producers of the Italian Wine Podcast and the founder of SipSaathi, a women-first wine ecosystem focused on building education, professional opportunities, and global connections for India’s emerging wine community. Connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salonisips/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saloni-khanapurkar/ More interviews on Asia Wine Market: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/episodes_category/asia-wine-market-almaty-special-edition/ _______________________________ 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 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mammajumboshrimp If you feel like helping us, donate here: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/ Until next time, Cin Cin!