In a landmark moment for India’s growing wine culture, five emerging sommeliers from the Sommeliers Association of India (SAI) proudly represented the country for the first time at the ASI Bootcamp Asia & Pacific, held in Singapore from July 1–4, 2025. This milestone marks India’s entry into a world-class sommelier training program hosted by the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) — a platform known for shaping the next generation of global wine professionals.
The bootcamp, a high-intensity, non-competitive learning experience, brought together rising sommeliers from across Asia and the Pacific. Participants engaged in rigorous training, including blind tastings, service drills, masterclasses, and wine list development under the guidance of Masters of Wine, Master Sommeliers, and ASI World Champions.
Representing India were five talented professionals chosen through the 2025 SAI Best Sommelier of India competition:
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Jai Singh, Winner, ASI Diploma Gold
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Pankaj Singh, Runner-up, ASI Diploma Bronze, CMS Advanced
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Amber Deshmukh, 3rd Place
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Savio Cardoza, Semi-finalist
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Karan Patyal, Quarter-finalist
“This is a defining moment not just for these five sommeliers, but for India’s positioning in the global wine and hospitality world,” said Amrita Singh, Co-Founder & President of SAI. “Through this platform, we’ve taken a bold step toward global recognition for Indian wine talent.”
The bootcamp wasn’t just about sharpening skills—it built community. The Indian participants returned with not only a deeper understanding of service and wine but also with meaningful connections and a renewed sense of purpose.
For Jai Singh, the experience was “a dream come true,” while Pankaj Singh called blind tasting the “highlight of his journey.” Each sommelier echoed a shared sentiment: the ASI Bootcamp offered not just training, but transformation.
As India’s hospitality industry matures, this international debut by SAI-trained sommeliers is more than symbolic—it’s a signal of India’s growing place in the world of wine. The journey has begun, and the world is now watching.
