Seat At The Table: The New World of Wine

Take your seat at the table to hear from a panel of wine experts leading the charge to make wine more accessible and inclusive.

The world of wine needs shaking up and we know just the woman. Join us on Thursday 26th May as Mallika Basu explores the new world of wine with a panel of experts for the first of three Seat at the Table events at Kindred. 

With over 20 years’ experience as a food writer, commentator and diversity consultant, Mallika will uncover why wine and classism, not to mention sexism and ageism, often go hand in hand and ask her panel what can and is being done to promote a more open and inclusive climate. An exciting new world in which new growers and regions come to the fore and wine snobbery is a thing of the past.

Hosted in Kindred’s Library, the event will be open to everyone and though we expect the panel to attract the great and good of the wine world we're keen to welcome wine lovers from outside of the industry, too. This will be your chance to learn about new exciting labels and growers and put your questions to a panel of experts.

A glass of wine comes as complimentary with the ticket and you’re welcome to grab some food and drink with us before and after the event to continue the conversation.

Meet the Panel

Mallika Basu (Host)

Having landed in the UK from Kolkata as a kitchen-shy student, Mallika Basu is now regarded as one of the food industry’s leading voices. Over her 20 year career, she has written a string of successful cookbooks, acted as a trusted adviser for food businesses committed to improving their culture and diversity, and used her voice and standing to champion a more inclusive and culturally sensitive approach within hospitality and the food & drink media.

Sophia Longhi

Sophia Longhi is an award-winning wine communicator, writer and wine tastings host. After working with a number of London restaurants and bars on their social media marketing, Sophia’s interest in wine was piqued and she began studying it officially at the WSET School in London in 2018. As a writer of restaurant reviews for several online publications, Sophia decided time to set up her own blog (www.skinandpulp.com) to record her discoveries in wine. She runs regular tastings at restaurants and bars across London. Passionate about elevating other women in the wine world, Sophia hosts a weekly Instagram Live called #WednesdayWineWomen on her Instagram page, @skinandpulp, and was featured as one of Wine GB’s Great British Wine Industry Women of 2021. Most recently, she won the IWSC Emerging Talent in Wine Communication Award 2022.

Vidya Narasimhan

As an independent wine consultant, Vidya Narasimhan is keen to make wine appreciation and learning an adventure – fun, approachable and accessible. Her role sees her advise Private Equity Firms and restaurants on their wine lists and investments and host wine tastings for private groups. She is currently pursuing a Diploma in wine from the Wine and Spirits Educational Trust (WSET) – having already completed a WSET L3 (Merit) – and has written a Beginners Guides on Grapes and Regions for Wines of Eastern Europe. Vidya is a Be Inclusive Hospitality (BIH) Ambassador and a Judge for the Decanter Retailer Awards (DRA 2022).

Shane Jones

After working in a number of office jobs, Shane Jones turned his passion for wine into a full time career after completing a number of courses and winning the Vintners’ Bursary. Now a freelance wine and sake educator, he is committed to sharing his passion and knowledge with others and opening up the world of wine in the process.