About Harshal

Harshal Shah is a sommelier and risk analyst, qualified in Sydney, Australia, and former executive committee member of the Australian Sommelier’s Association (NSW). He currently spends his time between Sydney and New Delhi, India, consulting to restaurants and hotels, as well as conducting research on behalf of international wineries looking to export their wines into the Indian market.

Harshal was hired by wine importer Brindco Sales Limited and flown to India first as Brand Manager for international wines and then later to manage all international wine business relationships for the company. As a result, he has a sound working knowledge of the Indian wine industry, from the production side as well as the distribution and consumption side. In addition, he has been able to harness a strong network both locally and internationally of award-winning winemakers, winery owners and peers in the international wine business. In late 2008, Harshal commenced work as a freelance consultant in India and Australia. He is presently based in New Delhi and consults to wine importers (assisting them in shaping their portfolio) and to wineries around the world – including Peter Lehmann Wines (Australia) Paul Jaboulet Aîné (France) and Marchesi di Barolo (Italy) – providing market intelligence and specific marketing strategies. Harshal works very closely with the Australian Trade Commission, assisting in exposing new Australian wineries to key influencers and buyers in the India through a series of wine-tastings and dinners at the Australian High Commission.

Harshal is a WSET-qualified trainer and conducts WSET courses for food and beverage personnel in India. He is on the panel of judges for the Indian Wine Challenge (chaired by Robert Joseph) and the Sommelier India Wine Competition (chaired by Steven Spurrier) the only two international wine competitions in India. He also produces and presents wine programs for lifestyle and food channels on Indian television. Harshal writes a regular wine column in The Telegraph, the largest-selling broadsheet in Eastern India and is an occasional contributor to various other newspapers and reputable wine and hospitality publications, including Sommelier India, India’s first and most influential wine publication of which he is also Contributing Editor. He has been asked to write for Decanter magazine in London and Australian Gourmet Traveller ‘Wine’ Magazine. Harshal is Chairman of the India International Wine Fair’s Industry Conference.