In vino veritas: India's First Master of Wine pens journey in memoir

Sonal C Holland has shown that it is possible to scale new peaks from humble terroirs. Early in her new memoir, 'One in a Billion: Becoming India's First Master of Wine', she writes that only 512 people have earned the title of Master of Wine (MW) since 1953.

- Ekta Mohta

MUMBAI: Created by the Institute of Masters of Wine, UK, it involves assessment at three stages, including theoretical essays on topics such as viticulture, vinification and pre-bottling procedures, the handling of wine, the business of wine and contemporary issues; three 12-wine blind tastings; and finally, a 10,000-word research paper.

"More people have scaled Mount Everest," writes Holland. "In 2016, a woman from India achieved this, where the per capita consumption of wine is less than a teaspoon."

Holland was a pioneer in treating wine education with the seriousness it deserved. And, her million-plus following on Instagram; her eponymous Sonal Holland Academy in Mumbai, which offers specialized certification courses; and her new book are some of the ways in which she's spreading the seeds of knowledge.