Her ‘spirit’ed passion brings her to Chennai

On Women’s Day, we chatted with Polish sommelier, Zbierajewska Alina, of Ottimo the ITC Grand Chola, who has made this city her home.
“Chennai is a vibrant city and it has been an interesting journey for me so far, to say the least. India, especially Tamil Nadu, is very different from where I was born and it has been a learning curve for me, adapting to the people, the work, the food, the habits, the culture,” she says.As for how she forayed into this profession, she says, “In Italy, wine is an inseparable part of every meal and my journey started there 11 years ago. At the beginning, behind every bottle of wine there was a big mystery and I was convinced that you need to have some special predispositions (for example, to be a painter or a writer) to understand what’s inside. Now – when I know much more – there are fewer mysteries, but a lot of nice surprises! Drinking wine is not only what you have in your glass – there is much more around: passion, lifestyle, food, story, places where you eat, and the company.All these factors together can give you a lot of special and unforgettable experiences.”
Alina says she loves sharing her experiences with Chennaiites and helping them make sweet memories.