Welcome to the Asia Wine Market: Almaty Special Edition and Episode 2679 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Roza Zharmukhambetova interviews Natalya Budayeva, a wine educator at Champagne Sommelier School in Almaty. Together, they dive into the role of education in shaping the market, and the opportunities for building a stronger connection between trade and HoReCa. Key learning objectives: Understand the role of wine education in Kazakhstan, including current knowledge levels, key challenges, and how educators make wine more accessible. Identify the main gaps between education, trade, and HoReCa, and how industry initiatives contribute to building wine culture in an emerging market. Learn how to build and position a wine portfolio for Kazakhstan, including selection criteria and market fit. Bonus: Natalya’s favorite wine spots in Almaty: Champagne Wine Gallery Agora More about today’s guest: Natalya Budayeva is a wine educator and industry professional based in Almaty, Kazakhstan, working at the intersection of wine education, trade, and hospitality. She is an educator at the Champagne Sommelier School, where she develops training programs, teaches courses for professionals and wine lovers, and organizes tastings and brand presentations. She also plays an active role in the local wine community as Board Coordinator of the Kazakhstan Sommelier Association (KazSomm), contributing to competitions, tastings, and educational initiatives that support the growth of wine culture in the region. Natalya holds the DipWSET qualification and takes part in international wine competitions as a jury member. Connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prosto_vino/  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/notifications/?filter=all  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/?checkpoint_src=any  More about the 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 the end of 2024, she has been a member of the Italian Wine Podcast (IWP) team, contributing her passion for Italian wine. Connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/le_vin_en_rose/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rozazharmukhambetova/  _______________________________ Let's keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast on our social media channels: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast  Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mammajumboshrimp  Explore New Market Opportunities with Us! Until Next Time Cin Cin!