India gets its first Master Sake Sommelier

India has reached a landmark moment in beverage education with Kunal Kaul becoming the country’s First Master Sake Sommelier, the most prestigious qualification in the world of Sake at a time when interest in Japanese Sake is steadily growing across India’s premium hospitality and on-trade landscape.

Kunal achieved the distinction after clearing the Master Sake Sommelier examination in Mannheim, Germany, conducted by the Sake Sommelier Association.

The multi-day assessment is regarded as one of the toughest Sake certifications which includes intensive theory papers, blind tasting of multiple Sake styles, service evaluations and oral examinations before a panel of Sake experts. Only a small number of professionals worldwide hold this elite qualification, making this achievement a rare and significant distinction for India on the global Sake map.

With premium Japanese restaurants, luxury hotels and fine-dining venues increasingly listing Sake, and Indian consumers showing a growing curiosity for craft and heritage-driven beverages, Sake is fast emerging as a new category of interest within the country’s evolving alcobev market. Kunal’s achievement comes at a pivotal time, providing India its first globally recognised authority in this niche but fast-growing segment.

Reflecting on the milestone, Kaul said, “India is just beginning its Sake journey. My mission is to build serious, structured beverage education in the country and inspire more professionals to discover, understand and champion this extraordinary Japanese beverage.”

A leading authority in beverage education, Kunal is the Founder of Grape Xpectations, a full-fledged beverage training institution providing qualitative wine and spirits education in the country and Chair of the Sake Sommelier Association India, while leading India’s only SSA-authorised centre for Certified Sake education.

With this achievement, India now joins the global league of elite Sake professionals, opening doors for Japanese beverage culture, education and trade, while strengthening the foundation for Sake’s long-term growth in the Indian market.