Sep 30 2025 to Sep 30 2025 6:30 p.m.

Where

Bangalore International Centre

7 4th Main Rd, Stage 2, Domlur 560071

Event Description

India’s first and only Master of Wine, Sonal C Holland, sits down with Harish Vasudev, Director at Museum of Art and Photography, to talk about her memoir One In A Billion and the remarkable journey which inspired her to write it.

This dialogue traces how Sonal walked away from a thriving corporate career and dared to pursue a career in wine even before India knew how to drink it. From knowing nothing about wine, she embarked on a gruelling decade-long pursuit of the world’s most respected wine qualification. It will also explore her rise as one of the most trusted and popular voices in the alcobev space, emphasising the importance of self-investment, ambition without a blueprint, and chasing success without shortcuts.

In this candid conversation, Sonal will reveal what it takes to build a market from scratch and to lead with vision when no roadmap exists. Drawing from years of entrepreneurship, leadership, and global experience, she will offer a rare perspective on creating impact and shaping an industry against the odds. A Q&A session with the audience will follow the fireside chat.

Presented by:

Speakers

Sonal C Holland
Author & Master of Wine
Sonal C Holland, MW has dedicated over two decades to simplifying drinking culture and popularising wine in India. In 2016, she became the first Indian to earn the title of Master of Wine, the highest qualification in the world of wine.

Founder of the Sonal Holland Academy, Sonal has empowered a generation of professionals and enthusiasts with affordable and world-class wine and beverage education. As Chairperson and Founder of the India Wines and Spirits Award, she leads the country’s most authoritative platform recognising excellence and guiding consumer choices. Through Showines Consulting, she has been a strategic advisor to international brands looking to enter and gain a strong foothold in the Indian wine market, and on home turf, has worked as a consultant with noted brands such as ITC Hotels and Air India. She regularly curates bespoke wine and spirits experiences for leading corporate houses, premium member clubs and prestigious networking groups such as the YPO and EO.

A globally certified expert in spirits, saké and beer, Sonal has received the Outstanding Alumni Award by WSET in partnership with JancisRobinson.com and was included in the Top 100 Most Influential People in Indian Luxury.

With over a million followers on Instagram, she is among the most followed wine and beverage professionals on social media.

Harish Vasudevan
Acting Director, Museum of Art and Photography
Harish Vasudevan is an author based in Bangalore. Before turning to writing Harish has had a distinguished career in marketing in multiple parts of the globe. Rushing to meet deadlines, staying calm under pressure, creative inspiration, managing multiple stakeholders, data analytics were all par for the course. Parallel to this career were two constant themes. His interest in crime books and his interest in technology. It is therefore no surprise that his debut novel, Redemption, is a crime story located in Bangalore with healthy doses of technology while leveraging the skills he learnt as a marketing professional. He expects to write more books in both non fiction as well as fiction