Some Kind of Wino

Chapati, channa, and….wine?

Master sommelier and television personality Alpana Singh is more than just another pretty face. Born and raised in wine country Monterey, CA, it might make sense that Alpana Singh would develop an interest in the tasty beverage. Except that wine isn’t exactly the beverage of choice for most desis.

Which makes Alpana that much more unique. While waiting tables during college, Alpana discovered her love for wine and decided to pursue her goal of becoming a Master Sommelier, passing the exam in 2003, (only 3% pass) and becoming the youngest woman to be introduced into the Court of Master Sommeliers.

She then went on to serve as sommelier at a variety of 5 star restaurants and has been cited as one of best sommeliers in Wine Advocate, as well as receiving mentions in Bon Appetit, Wine and Spirits Magazine, and Epicurious, where she recommends some of her top wine choices. Among them are Castle Rock 2004 Chardonnay, A-Z Pinot Noir 2003, and Kunin Zinfandel Paso Robles 2003. Delish.

And when she’s not busy kicking ass as a sommelier, she hosts Check Please!, a Chicago based food review show. And in her spare time, she wrote a book entitled Alpana Pours.

Makes passing the MCATs sound easy, huh?

Alpana Singh, www.alpanasingh.com

Check Please!, www.wttw.com

Alpana Pours, www.amazon.com