Mistress of wine

In 2016, Sonal C Holland became the first Indian to earn the title of Master of Wine (MW), the highest qualification in the world of wine.

- Neha Kirpal

The coveted certification is conferred by the Institute of Masters of Wine via a rigorous three-stage programme — consisting of a preliminary exam, a main exam of theory and blind-tasting papers, as well as a 10,000-word research paper. Ever since, Ms Holland has been inspiring a whole new community of wine lovers in the country and beyond.

Contrary to what most people think, Ms Holland did not come from a privileged background. She grew up in a lower-middle-class family, and had a modest upbringing. A school topper and a carefree tomboy, she was thrown out of college. That was when she decided to change her field to hotel management. After she graduated, Ms Holland landed a job as a management trainee in the Taj Group of Hotels in Mumbai. Thereafter, she pursued a Master of Management Studies course and joined the Oberoi Towers as a sales executive. It was here that she met her future husband, Andrew Holland, who had come to India as an expatriate and is now a reputed expert on the Indian stock market.