Welcome to Episode 2381 and the eighth episode of the special series focusing on the Asian Wine Market. In today’s episode, Roza Zharmukhambetova interviews Alexandr Averianov of Champagne Wine Gallery.
Key Learning Objectives:
Understand Champagne Wine Group’s import strategy and how Italian wines are positioned within their portfolio.
Explore how Champagne Wine Group engages consumers through its restaurant, retail store, and wine education programs.
Learn how a sommelier sells and positions Italian wines in a premium restaurant setting.
Asia Wine Market is a new podcast series from the Italian Wine Podcast that explores the fast-growing wine markets across Asia. Designed for wine professionals, importers, and producers, the series highlights regional trends, consumer behavior, and business opportunities for Italian wine exports.
Through 10 exclusive episodes, this series offers insights from key industry players and builds up to the Vinitaly Kazakhstan Roadshow 2025 — a strategic event connecting Italian wineries with Central Asian wine importers, sommeliers, and distributors. Whether you're looking to enter the wine market or expand your brand presence in Central Asia, this series is your starting point.
Today’s guest:
Alexandr Averianov is a certified sommelier with over 15 years of experience in the wine and hospitality industry. He began his career in Moscow, working in some of the city’s top fine dining restaurants while pursuing formal wine education at the Enotria Wine School.
For the past decade, Alexandr has been based in Almaty, Kazakhstan, where he serves as Head Sommelier for a prominent hospitality group. This dynamic group includes an importing company, a wine school, and Champagne Wine Gallery—the largest wine store in Central Asia. The gallery not only showcases their own imports but also offers a curated selection from other importers, making it a hub for wine lovers in the region.
In addition to his work as a consultant for Champagne Wine Gallery, Alexandr oversees the wine programs at two of the group’s flagship fine dining restaurants—Abay and Inzhu—both located in the scenic Koktobe area and known for their refined takes on traditional and Asian fusion cuisines.
Connect:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/averianovalexandr/
Today’s host:
Roza Zharmukhambetova has a background in foreign languages and education. She discovered her passion for wine in Beijing, where she gained two years of experience in wine sales. Since returning to Kazakhstan, she has focused on studying Italian wine and exploring its regions.
Roza holds certifications as an Italian Wine Ambassador (VIA), Italian Wine Scholar (WSG), Langhe Wines Ambassador (BBA), and Valpolicella Wine Specialist (VEP). She is also a member of the Kazakhstan Sommelier Association. Since late last year, she has been a member of the Italian Wine Podcast (IWP) team, contributing her passion for Italian wine.
Connect:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roza.zharmukhambetova
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/le_vin_enrose/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rozazharmukhambetova/
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Until next time, Cin Cin!