Sonal Holland: Pioneering Wine Experiences and Empowering Women in the Beverage Industry, ET HospitalityWorld

Time of India

2 days ago

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ETHospitalityWorld
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For Sonal Holland who left a high-paying corporate job in her early 30s to pursue a passion and a career in wine and spirits—her new venture, Holland House , a 5-bedroom luxury branded villa in Nashik, India's premier wine region—is another'reinvention of sorts in her entrepreneurial career.'Personally, I like to reinvent myself regularly and also want to inspire others to reinvent,' she said, starting the conversation speaking about the spirit behind her new project, Holland House, which was inspired by her travel to wine growing countries and regions and hospitality experiences in exclusive chateaux, private villas amidst vineyards and the world's best wineries.'It's really for anyone who is looking to reinvent themselves, looking for a second act and daring to make unconventional choices,' she said.Talking about Holland House, which is operated by amã Stays & Trails , she said it was an encapsulation of all her travels and stay experiences in the world's best wine regions into the design and service aspects of the property, which was badly missing in India's premium wine growing region, Nashik.'I felt that there should be a place where the truly discerning wine lover can come, stay, book the entire villa if they want, and we can curate like a 360-degree wine experience which involves visits to your nearby wineries, barbecue evenings with wine and cheese, curate dinners, and even organise educational programmes like a master class where they want to learn about wine. I found that the scope for something like this was enormous and I couldn't find any other place like this in Nashik. I was anyway looking to build a second home, but I didn't want it to be a white elephant,' she explained.Holland House, she said, is a culmination of everything she has learned and loved over the years—from immersive wine experiences in Napa to the elegance of French chateaus and the tranquillity of Tuscany.The five-bedroom property features grand living spaces, curated landscape gardens, a heated pool with a deck and cabana, a plush bar lounge, and seven public lounging areas that encourage guests to unwind beyond the confines of their rooms.'I could've built ten bedrooms. But I wanted to create an expansive, indulgent atmosphere where guests feel free to explore, relax and connect—with nature, with wines, and with themselves,' Holland said.Unlike commercial wine tourism setups by branded vineyards limited to their own labels, Holland House aims to deliver an elevated, globally inspired wine experience.'True wine aficionados appreciate variety and depth. At Holland House, we offer access to some of the best wines from around the world, not just one brand,' she explained.Holland said that they curate different activities depending on the number of nights guests spend at the villa.She also spoke about the transformational role she played in bringing more women into the alco-beverage industry at different levels over the last decade.'When I started my career 20 years ago, there was resistance. It was very unique—and challenging—for a woman to step into the world of wines and spirits,' she said, adding, 'Over the years, I've seen more and more women join this sector—not just as sommeliers, but as educators, content creators, marketers, winemakers, and even retail specialists.'Her own wine and spirits academy offers special scholarships for women in advanced WSET courses to encourage more female participation in the industry.'There are scientific reports suggesting women are better tasters. While I don't officially endorse that, I believe women bring immense value across the board,' she observed.Holland also spoke about the trend of premiumisation and high end wine and spirit exploration that is happening in the country beyond the metro cities.'There is a lot of emphasis on etiquettes and lifestyle around drinks because of increased exposure through travel and aspiration for western lifestyle,' she said, sharing her experiences of hosting events in cities like Ludhiana, Belgaum, etc.'When we talk about premiumisation, it doesn't exist in our cities. It truly exists in pockets in smaller towns. There's so much wealth there and there's so much hunger to embrace a certain lifestyle. There was so much curiosity and they wanted to have the best dreams and they wanted to learn as well. That's where the true premiumisation wave is,' she stated.