Our Sommelier’s Story: From Mechanics to the Art of Wine
Life is full of unexpected turns, surprising coincidences, and inspiring stories.
One of them is about how a trained mechanic became a true sommelier.
If you’ve already met Ivan, our sommelier, you will remember his charisma, passion, and warmth. And if not — allow us to introduce him.
Ivan is young, charismatic, and genuinely in love with his craft. He has become the soul of our restaurant. As he likes to joke with a smile:
“Technically, I should be tightening bolts and nuts, not pulling corks. That’s what I was trained for. But how dull that feels compared to wine!”
By education a mechanic, by spirit a hedonist, Ivan once left his hometown for Minsk to become part of the big city and its culinary culture. His journey began at Café de Paris, where he first felt the magic of gastronomy — that unique emotion born at the meeting point of wine and food, shared alike by guest and sommelier.
His desire to dive deeper into the world of wine led him to Vino&Vino, where he didn’t just study the assortment — he lived it. Thanks to his natural enthusiasm and talent, Ivan eventually became director of one of the network’s largest wine stores.
Today, Ivan is a recognized expert. He hosts wine lectures, masterclasses, and themed tastings — from light introductions to rich journeys through the world’s great wine regions. Listening to him is a true pleasure: he speaks simply and vividly about complex things, drawing you into Burgundy and Champagne, Tuscany and Ribera del Duero.