Sovna Puri: Beyond the Classroom

Firsts in Indian Wine Education

Sovna has been at the forefront of several landmark moments in Indian wine education:

• Conducted India's first ever all-women WSET Level 1 course in Wines, The Lalit, July 2019. Both the course and the educator were women, a historic double first. (Reference: Indian Wine Academy, July 2019)
• Conducted India's first ever online WSET Level 2 in Wines, July 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, when most educators had paused teaching entirely.
• Part of India's very first batch for the WSET Level 3 Award in Spirits, passing with Merit (2023).
• Took her teaching international for the first time in March 2024, conducting a WSET Level 2 in Wines at Bandos Maldives under her own Approved Programme Provider status.
• Invited to California as one of 20 global educators for the Capstone California immersive educator programme, the only Indian in her cohort.

Judging and Competition

ProWine India association

Sovna's relationship with ProWine India, one of the world's leading international trade fairs for wines and spirits, spans six years and increasingly significant roles:

• 2018Guest Speaker, ProWein Education Campaign
• 2019Guest Speaker, ProWein Education Campaign
• 2022Masterclass Speaker, ProWine India Uncork India, Jio World Convention Centre (two sessions: "Which WSET Level is Right for You?" and "If You Like This, Then Why Not Try")
• 2024Inaugural Jury Member, ProWine India Challenge and ProSpirits Challenge

Institutional and Corporate Reach

Sovna has delivered WSET programmes and wine education for leading corporate partners, luxury hotels, and educational institutions nationwide.

Across India and the Maldives, Sovna has taken world-class wine and spirits education to professionals and students well beyond traditional classroom boundaries.

Published Writer

Contributing author to India's premier wine publication, including a cover article:

• COVER ARTICLE: "There is More to Spain than Sangria!", Spanish wines, regions, and grape varieties (Autumn 2019, Vol 15 Issue 4)
• "Taste the Stars!", The history of Champagne (Summer 2020, Vol 16 Issue 3)
• "To Decant or Not to Decant", A guide to decanting wines (2019)

Social Media and Digital Reach

With more than 140,000+ followers on Instagram and recognised as one of India's Best Wine Influencers by FeedSpot (2025), Sovna's reach extends well beyond the classroom, making wine knowledge accessible to a wider audience every day.

Professional Impact

With over a decade of experience, Sovna has transformed the beverage education landscape in India. Her programs provide essential value to F&B professionals, offering foundational skills to advanced sensory mastery.