Interview With A Sommelier – Shreyas Chandratre

The World of Wine is beautifully showcased by an army of talented Sommeliers, who help the consumer discover their next favourite bottle, understand the different regions and pair a delicious meal with the right Glass of Bubbly.

In this feature, I speak with a man from, Dubai, who has helped many people to discover the vast world of Wines and Sparkling Wines, his name is Shreyas Chandratre, let’s find out about his life as a Sommelier.

Tell Us About Yourself

“My name is Shreyas Chandratre. I am currently working as a Senior Sommelier for Orange Group of Hospitality in Dubai.

I’m from Nasik a small city that has emerged as the ‘Wine Capital of India’ over the past decade.

I have been working in the Food & Beverage Service industry for 8 Years and I always wanted to become a Wine Sommelier since my University time when I was pursuing my Graduation in Hotel Management.”

Do You Remember Your First Experience With Sparkling Wine? When It Was And What Kind Of Wine It Was?

“First experience with Sparkling Wines was very amazing and unique for me…

I was working as a trainee in a hotel where the sommelier team was sabring some Champagne for a specific event…

They handed me a bottle to sabre which was for the first time & it was a bottle of Bollinger Special Cuvee which I sabred perfectly with a knife and tasted a sip of Champagne for the first time.

The first thing that I did after tasting the Champagne was to read how the Champagnes are made. I was impressed by the traditional method of making Sparkling Wine and began to learn more about it.”

What Inspired You To Become a Sommelier?

“It was during my Hotel Management Course when I was learning about Wines & Spirits as part of my studies and was introduced to the World of Wine.

I was very lucky to have a professor who had excellent wine knowledge.

He taught us about wines and the basics of wine in such a beautiful way and also arranged an educational visit to a Winery In India where I tried the wine for the first time.

I was really impressed by the production method of wines and was fascinated with the beautiful history of the wines, The stories wrapped behind each bottle, the art, the passion of the winemaker and those fancy words and names of the wines fascinated me a lot and I became very much curious about the wine as a subject.

This made me learn more about wines, read lots of books and try new wines all the time. I started enjoying the journey of wine study & joined some wine tasting groups.

My fascination with wine turned in to my passion and I decided to continue my career with wines as a Sommelier.”

During Your Time As A Sommelier, What’s The Most Surprising & Interesting Thing You’ve Learnt?

“During my time as a Sommelier When I worked with wines, I not only tasted them but also understood the food, the culture, the geography of the region from where the wine is made and the tradition of the place and its history which always improved my skills & kept me going and learning new things.”

What Sparkling Wine Producing Countries or Regions Hold A Special Place In Your Heart?

“The Champagne region always holds a special place in my heart, the best thing for me about Champagne is its complexity and versatility which can be paired with a variety of dishes around the world.

Also, Pét Nat! Or ‘pétillant naturel’ from Georgia, holds a special place in my heart as the distinct flavours and the rich cultural heritage of the area have left a lasting impression on me during my visit to the place.”

What Advice Would You Give Inspiring Sommeliers?

“A good Sommelier should not only cultivate a deep understanding of wines, but also embrace the importance of hospitality, blending it seamlessly with their knowledge and skills to create a memorable experience for the guest.

If you have passion you will gain knowledge, Just be open minded, work hard, invest your time in tasting wines, reading wine books, tracing flash cards, drawing maps and helping aspiring Sommeliers to grow.”

Where’s The Most Memorable Place You’ve Enjoyed A Glass of Bubbly?

“During my time on a cruise where I enjoyed a glass of MCC (méthode cap classique), with fresh oysters on the front deck of the ship surrounded by a gentle breeze which remains an outstanding moment.”

Thank you, Shreyas, for sharing your words, knowledge and experiences with us and we at Glass of Bubbly wish you the very best for the future!

Images belong to Shreyas Chandratre. Glass of Bubbly was granted permission, to use them.