"I look forward to be part of the ProWine and ProSpirits Challenge, which is arguably one of the best platforms to bring the Alcobev industry of the country together and charting the way ahead and recognizing the best product available in the country."

Akshay Tripathi, Vice President - Food and Beverage Strategy and New Business, for Indian Hotels Company Ltd has more than 20 years of experience across Hotel and Restaurant Sector. He has worked across key hotels/restaurants in multiple metro destinations in different geographies, spanning from India, Japan, New York and London in various operational and entrepreneurial roles with IHCL, Four Seasons Hotels and Indian Accent Restaurants; In his current role he has been part of IHCL’s strategic growth for New Brands and Food and Beverage Revenue. Launching more than 50 New Hotels and 25+ New F&B Brands along with New ancillary business which includes Qmin (IHCL’s independent ecosystem for Food Delivery, App/Shops/Trucks), 7 Rivers (Brewpub with ABINBEV), Papermoon, House of Nomad in Goa, Nonya and Paro in Dubai, Bombay Brasserie in Singapore, Captains Cellar, India’s first exclusive wine Bar in Delhi to re-inventing The Chambers, India’s Most exclusive members only private club along with strong process innovation and capability building. Each of the verticals were in line with IHCL’s strategy of unlocking the brand potential and incubating these businesses as independent streams.

Amber is a Certified Sommelier from the prestigious Court of Master Sommeliers, Europe. He has an experience of more than fourteen years in the Hospitality industry, including twelve years of being a Sommelier. Currently working with Monika Alcobev Limited as Business Development Manager, Pan India. He has worked in various segments of the industry like 5-star hotels, the retail sector and import business, giving him a very strong understanding of the Indian beverage industry. Amber is actively involved in helping the young sommeliers in India to learn and grow in the world of wines. Apart from work, Amber is passionate about photography, music, trekking, rock climbing and Maratha history.

"Wine ratings and accolades always helps the trade and consumers confidently choose the wines from the vast options available. It will be an exciting experience to be on the panel to blind taste some of the incredible wines available in the Indian market and rate the which will ultimately help the wine industry."

Anish has been associated with the single malt industry for a number of years, including in his role as the Brand Ambassador for Glenmorangie and Ardbeg single malt whiskies, and as the first Brand Advocate for William Grant & Sons, for Glenfiddich, the world’s largest selling single malt, and The Balvenie, the world’s most handcrafted single malt. He is an accredited whisky ambassador, and a trained whisky nose and taster.

"ProWine is a wonderful platform for all wine lovers to explore & taste wines from around the world & meet their producers all under one roof.

I am grateful that I was invited to be a part of ProWine, being able to Judge Wines completely based on their merits is what I, as a Sommelier look forward to."

"I'm thrilled to be part of the judging panel at the PWPSC this year because it is an incredible opportunity to explore emerging trends and discover exciting new wines and spirits. I'm looking forward to putting my skills to use in identifying and promoting the finest offerings in India, alongside leading industry experts.

I am a Certified Sommelier from the Court of Master Sommeliers and the founder of DWD, a wine consulting and experiences platform big on building a fun and exciting wine-drinking culture and community space in the country. I have represented India as part of the jury panel at the prestigious Concours Mondial du Bruxelles, an international wine competition."

"The judging event provides a unique insight into the vibrant world of wines because the blind tasting exercise will shatter many notions that we may hold about wine, even as wine professionals. Wine has a way of doing that so beautifully; it teaches you to never judge a wine by its label."

Gargi is a curator of immersive and interactive wine experiences. She curates everything from intimate wine evenings to extravagant wine festivals, all with the idea of spreading her love for wine. Gargi has created a vibrant community of wine lovers who seek to learn and appreciate wine. She holds a WSET Level 3 and comes with an experience of 12 years in the Indian wine industry.

"The competitive landscape in the wine and spirits industry has evolved dramatically in the last few years and so I’m looking forward to participating in the process of choosing the top picks."

A French wine professional who made India her home. She loves how the country blends change and tradition, reflecting her own approach to the industry. Currently, with Spill It, she is focused on setting up wine bars, training on wines and spirits, and promoting wine culture. For her, wines and spirits are all about sharing and staying curious-just like Prowine. That is why she is excited to be a part of the jury: exploring new finds and helping others discover them too.

"The opportunity to taste a wide variety of wines and spirits from different regions and producers and Gain insights into the latest trends in the industry. Interacting with other judges, sommeliers, and industry professionals is something I look forward to."

Kevin Rodrigues graduated from IHMMumbai in 2014, and joineddeGustibus Hospitality at Indigo,Colaba. During this time, Kevinearned his Level 1 2 certificationswith WSET (Wine & Spirit EducationTrust). He continued his education,becoming a Certified Sommelierwith the Court of MasterSommeliers.

After Indigo, Kevin joined Ka Hospitality, working with Yauatcha,Mumbai as an Assistant Sommelier. In 2017, Kevin moved overseas for 2years working with Baros, Maldives; an award-winning boutique resort.

This experience was transformative; Kevin handled an extensive winelist featuring over 300 labels. He was able to elevate his palate andexperience wines that were not easily accessible to him in India. Hewas also the only Sommelier at the Resort, which allowed him tofurther develop the wine list, create food and wine pairings for setmenus, and gain expertise in menu engineering.

Following the stint in Maldives, Kevin returned to India and rejoined KaHospitality. He was soon promoted to Bar Manager. He then workedacross all Ka Hospitality brands viz. Yauatcha, Hakkasan, CinCin, and Nara.He is a Certified Sommelier from the prestigious Court of MasterSommeliers, Europe, and is the champion of the inaugural edition of Best Sommelier of India 2024.

"I am passionate about the democratisation of wine in India and being part of the growing movement of wine lovers in this country...I am excited to teach people about how wine can be combined with a fit and healthy lifestyle."

Currently co-founder of a fintech company "SwiffyLabs"

"I think that the ProWine and ProSpirit Challenge is essential for spreading wine culture in a country like India, where wine is not a traditional beverage, I’m proud to be a part of this revolution."

Luca Bernardini is an Italian wine and food expert. In Italy he worked for Slow Food, an International organization that promotes traditional food. Now based in Mumbai for the last 10 years, he lectures for “Il Dolce Vino”, an initiative by the Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce that promotes Italian wine culture in India. He is also brand ambassador for an Indian winery and for an Italian restaurant chain.

"I’m thrilled to be a judge for the ProWine Mumbai event here, where I can support and celebrate the passionate work in our industry, connect with local and global talents and bring my New York roots to India’s dynamic hospitality scene."

Neeraj Singh brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of transformative leadership. His strategic foresight is expected to be instrumental in steering the company’s entry and expansion within premium segments of the beverage industry. Neeraj’s career includes significant tenures at Carlsberg India, Red Bull India, Dineout and Brindco, where he successfully led initiatives that substantially improved market share and fostered strong consumer preference for numerous iconic brands in his career.

In his new role as Chief Business Officer, At Cartel Bros, Neeraj recently launched the first brand in partnership with Sanjay Dutt orchestrates end-to-end business strategies for their flagship brand The Glenwalk, alongside forthcoming private labels to be launched across the world. His business acumen and expertise along with strategic foresight, positions him as a pivotal figure in steering Cartel Bros towards premium market segments within the beverage industry. Neeraj's track record and collaborative approach promise continued success and innovation, driving Cartel Bros towards unprecedented heights in the competitive landscape His role is transforming the industry, and his journey is captivating to follow.

"Participating as a judge at The ProWine & ProSpirits Challenge offers a unique opportunity to engage with the latest innovations in the wine and spirits industry. It allows me to contribute to the recognition of excellence in quality, craftsmanship, and creativity. I'm particularly excited to interact with other industry experts, exchange insights, and learn from the diverse range of products being evaluated. This experience will not only deepen my understanding of emerging trends and techniques but also allow me to help set benchmarks that can inspire and elevate the industry as a whole."

Prithvi Nagpal is the Principal Wine Consultant and Head of Brands at Countertop India where he helps build wine bars, aggressively priced wine programs and creates advocacy programs for wines and spirit brands. Known for his no snob mentality, he also curates and hosts unorthodox wine and spirit experiences in the same spirit.  

Pritish was studying Mechanical Engineering when his passion for wines and spirits emerged, post which he attended Business School at the storied Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. Pritish is Asia’s youngest WSET Diploma holder and WSET Approved Educator. He is Advisor – Strategy and Operation on the board of Aspri Spirits, one of India’s largest importers and Distributors of Wines, Spirits and Beers.

Pritish aims to combine formal education, forward thinking and a young consumer’s outlook to help revolutionize the Indian Wines and Spirits Landscape.

Sovna, an Approved Programme Provider for WSET courses in India, is an award winning WSET

Certified Educator and WSET Diploma holder. She has received the “Future 50 Awards” and “Phoenix

Leading Lady Awards” for her industry contributions. As an independent consultant, she conducts tastings, trainings, and courses across India

Versatile Business Leader with proven record of accomplishment in Hospitality, FMCG and Beverage Industry. Acceredited with the success of several International brands in Indian sub-continent. Ex-Chairman for the “Asian Wine Producers Association”. A DipWSET holder, Wine and Malts lover, an acclaimed writer and a true flagbearer of Indian Beverage Industry.

With a post-graduation degree in Business Administration and International Business from ITM Kharghar (2005), EDHEC Business School (Lille-Nice, France), Groupe ESSCA (Budapest, Hungary), Sumit Jaiswal started his professional journey with Champagne Indage Ltd. back in 2005. With a successful track record of 18 years in developing products, nurturing brands and implementing consumer led marketing initiatives, Sumit has grown to be very passionate about the wine and spirits industry, possessing a keen understanding of the category and consumers alike. He has been associated with the wine producer since 2008, presently working in the position of VP - Marketing and Exim at Grover Zampa Vineyards, overseeing and heralding both local and global marketing initiatives for the brand. His previous stints include a tenure at The Nielson Company (AC Nielson) as a Client Solutions Executive and Indage Vintners Ltd. In Export Business Development . He is passionate about squash , yoga , photography, wildlife , skiing and travelling

"I am delighted to be part of the selection process as I'm truly passionate about wines and spirits and will be honored to play a small part in choosing & bringing forth the finest that the world has to offer to the Indian market & consumers."

Udit Sethi is the founder of Hops Cork - Chain of Liquor Stores in primes locations of Mumbai having 15 liquor retail stores and a trendsetting Wine & Beer boutique in Bandra, Mumbai

The 1st licensed Store that we bought over was in 1984 and now taking the family business to an another level.

A Wset Level 3 himself and also holds an Honours degree in Hospitality Management from Edinburgh, Scotland specialising in Beverage Control!

A prominent name in the industry, Vaniitha Jaiin is an International wine & spirits judge and has consistently been a top voice for hotels, premium alcobev brands and the emerging lifestyle narratives in the country.

At the recently held VinExpo, Vaniitha was conferred as the Top 10 Women of Wine in India. Furthermore, a first of its kind in India, she has successfully launched her entrepreneurial venture of handcrafted crystal glassware collection that comprises of wine and whisky glasses designed through her expertise.

The Perfect Pour founded by Vaniitha Jaiin is a leading wine and spirits consulting firm. And over the years, Vaniitha has consulted with numerous alcobev brands, hotels, corporates, HNI clients and is known for curating bespoke experiences, brand consulting, training, digital content, and research. Vaniitha is keen on shaping the wine and spirits space, especially in India.