Kenya has reached a milestone in its sommellerie journey, with Soraiya Ladak winning the country’s inaugural Best Sommelier Contest and earning the opportunity to become its first representative at the ASI Best Sommelier of the World contest.
Organised by the Sommelier of Kenya Association (SOKA) on 3 July, the national competition brought together 11 professionals from across hospitality, wine businesses and education. For the association, it marked an important step in developing a national competition pathway and preparing Kenyan sommeliers for international participation.
Ladak will represent Kenya in Lisbon, Portugal, from 11 to 17 October 2026, carrying both personal ambitions and hopes for the profession’s continued growth at home.
“Representing Kenya at the ASI Best Sommelier of the World contest is an incredible honour,” she says. “It means carrying the name of my country onto a global stage and showing that talent, passion and determination can come from anywhere.”
The national contest assessed much more than wine knowledge. Following a written examination, Ladak joined Edwin Njoroge and Samuel Ndichu in a final combining beverage service, food and wine pairing, tasting, commercial judgement and rapid responses under pressure. Chief Judge Spencer Fondaumière led a panel comprising Diane Chimboza, Meera Karia, Aloys Onchuru and Anthony Muturi.
The participation of hospitality students alongside established professionals also highlighted opportunities for SOKA to develop future talent. The association is looking towards a structured pathway that could support junior sommeliers as they progress towards national competition.
For Ladak, the result builds on experience representing Team Wine Kenya at the World Blind Tasting Championship, alongside ongoing education and her work in wine importing, education and mentorship at The Wine Shop. What once seemed a distant ambition gradually became an achievable goal through study, competition and involvement in Kenya’s sommelier community.
Now, her preparation involves strengthening practical service skills and learning to respond confidently when time is limited. Access to established coaching networks and competition resources remains a challenge, making support from colleagues particularly valuable.
“I’m lucky I have a whole village of friends, colleagues and sommeliers who are rooting for me and supporting me all the way!”
Being Kenya’s first representative brings responsibility, but also the opportunity to establish a starting point for those who follow. Ladak hopes her participation will challenge assumptions that advanced wine knowledge belongs primarily to traditional wine-producing countries, while encouraging greater recognition of Kenya’s hospitality culture and emerging wine community.
She is particularly conscious of what visibility can mean for women and young professionals considering their futures in hospitality.
“It is important because I want people to see that sommellerie is a profession with incredible possibilities, no matter where you come from, especially women.”
As SOKA builds on its first national contest, Ladak’s journey offers a tangible example of where education, professional community and competitive ambition can lead. Her appearance in Lisbon will introduce Kenya to a new level of competition and give aspiring sommeliers at home a compatriot to follow.
“I want to represent Kenya to the very best of my ability and show that we belong on this stage.”
