Episode Details

Welcome to the Asia Wine Market and Episode 2823 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Roza Zharmukhambetova is in conversation with Saloni Khanapurkar IWA. 

Saloni shares her journey into Italian wine, her favorite regions and grape varieties, and her experience as India’s first Italian Wine Ambassador, including the VIA exam. The conversation introduces the new India Special Edition subseries, exploring why the Indian market deserves closer attention and what listeners can expect from upcoming episodes and their guests.

Key Takeaways:

1. Discover Saloni’s journey into Italian wine and her experience as India’s first Italian Wine Ambassador.
2. Understand the opportunities and challenges shaping the Italian wine–India relationship.
3. Explore what to expect from the Asia Wine Market: India Special Edition and the voices, topics, and questions it will bring to the conversation.

About today’s guest:

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, a WSET Level 3 in Wine holder, and 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. Saloni is currently one of the producers of the Italian Wine Podcast, where she contributes to the creation and production of conversations around Italian wine and its people. She is also 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/ 

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/ 

More interviews on Asia Wine Market:

https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/episodes_category/asia-wine-market-almaty-special-edition/ 

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