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Alpana Singh

Restaurateur, Master Sommelier, TV Host & Author

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Alpana Singh Biography

One of just 269 master sommeliers worldwide, and one of just 28 women to be given the distinction, Alpana Singh became the youngest American woman ever to pass the final level of the master sommelier exam at age 26. Born and raised in Monterey, California, Alpana Singh’s strong work ethic and ease with people of all ages stemmed from a youth spent working in her family’s ethnic grocery store. Later, while waiting tables in college, Singh fell in love with wine and discovered that it united her varied interests in traveling, history and food.

Singh shares her inspiring story of rising from the daughter of Fijian immigrants to becoming a successful entrepreneur and television personality all while navigating a male-dominated profession. She gives groups a glimpse of the back of the house as she teaches them how to taste wines “blind,” purchase bottles like a professional, and pair with meals for any occasion.

At 19, Singh began her path in the business with a job as a wine sales clerk at Nielsen Bros. Market in Carmel, California. By 23, she had landed the sommelier position at the world-renowned Everest Restaurant in Chicago. Just three years later, Singh earned the title Master Sommelier. This distinguished accomplishment, along with her effervescence, experience and energy, was magnetic, and it wasn’t long before Singh found herself in the local spotlight. For ten seasons, she served as the host of the Emmy Award-winning restaurant review television show, Check, Please!, on Chicago’s PBS station and returned in 2018 after a 5-year absence.

In 2006, Singh released Alpana Pours, a unique lifestyles book that shares her social observations of wine, contemporary women and relationships. A humorous and real look at the sometimes absurd interactions between men and women plays out in an entertaining book of tips for hosting and entertaining.

In December 2012, Singh opened The Boarding House, a wine-driven concept in the River North neighborhood. In February of 2015, Singh opened her second restaurant, Seven Lions, on Chicago's iconic Michigan Avenue. In 2016, Alpana opened her third restaurant venture, Terra & Vine, in Evanston, Illinois.

Singh is a member of the Advisory Council for the Illinois Restaurant Association and Choose Chicago where she serves as Treasurer on their Executive Committee. She played a significant role in bringing the James Beard Foundation Awards to the city of Chicago in 2015 and is an avid supporter of Deborah's Place, an organization that assists and empowers women facing homelessness.

Speaking Topics
  • Motivation & Determination in Life: How the Daughter of Fiji Immigrants Became the Youngest Woman to Ever Pass the Master Sommelier Exam

  • Turning a Passion for Wine into a Career

  • Pairing Wine with Food

  • The Basics of Wine Tasting: How to Taste Like a Master Sommelier

  • How to Run a Successful Beverage Program: From Purchasing to Developing & Maintaining a Wine Cellar

  • It’s all in the nose.

    Singh’s expertise stems from a highly attuned palette, but she assures audiences that everyone can develop one if they learn to stop fearing wine and just figure out what tastes right. From corporate parties and dinners with corresponding wine tastings personally selected for the event, to course by course “How to Taste Like a Master” interactive sessions, Singh’s presentations are lively, informative, and tastefully fun. Being a unique member of her industry’s elite group of specialists, she also uses anecdotes and personal stories about becoming the first Indian Woman to vault to the status of Master Sommelier. She conducts classes, provides post-event mixers and instructional wine bars for attendees, and creates exceptional experiences that are the ideal pairing of the informative and the entertaining. And everyone walks away with a greater knowledge about not only wine, but about the surprising depth of their personal taste.

Videos
Books
Alpana Pours: About Being a Woman, Loving Wine, and Having Great Relationships

Alpana Pours: About Being a Woman, Loving Wine, and Having Great Relationships

FAQs
  • HOW TO BOOK Alpana Singh?

    Our booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure talent like Alpana Singh for both live and virtual events for over 15 years. The team at All American Entertainment represents and listens to the needs of organizations and corporations seeking to hire keynote speakers, celebrities or entertainers for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment. Fill out a booking request form for Alpana Singh, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get pricing information and check availability for Alpana Singh or any other celebrity of your choice.
  • HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BOOK Alpana Singh?

    Speaking fees for Alpana Singh, or any other keynote speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The amount that Alpana Singh charges to speak often varies according to the circumstances, including their schedule, market conditions, length of presentation, and the location of the event. The speaker fees listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only. In some cases, the actual quote may be above or below the stated range. For the most current fee to hire Alpana Singh, please fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak with an experienced booking agent.
  • WHO IS THE AGENT FOR Alpana Singh?

    All American Entertainment has successfully secured celebrity talent like Alpana Singh for clients worldwide for more than 15 years. As a full-service talent booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Alpana Singh for your next private or corporate function.
  • WHAT IS A FULL-SERVICE TALENT BOOKING AGENCY?

    All American Speakers is a "buyers agent" and exclusively represents talent buyers, meeting planners and event professionals, who are looking to secure celebrities and speakers for personal appearances, speaking engagements, corporate entertainment, public relations campaigns, commercials, or endorsements. We do not exclusively represent Alpana Singh or claim ourselves as the exclusive booking agency, business manager, publicist, speakers bureau or management for Alpana Singh or any other speaker or celebrity on this website. For more information on how we work and what makes us unique, please read the AAE Advantage.
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This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

Restaurateur, Master Sommelier, TV Host & Author

Travels From:
Chicago, IL, USA
Speaking Fee:

Alpana Singh Biography

One of just 269 master sommeliers worldwide, and one of just 28 women to be given the distinction, Alpana Singh became the youngest American woman ever to pass the final level of the master sommelier exam at age 26. Born and raised in Monterey, California, Alpana Singh’s strong work ethic and ease with people of all ages stemmed from a youth spent working in her family’s ethnic grocery store. Later, while waiting tables in college, Singh fell in love with wine and discovered that it united her varied interests in traveling, history and food.

Singh shares her inspiring story of rising from the daughter of Fijian immigrants to becoming a successful entrepreneur and television personality all while navigating a male-dominated profession. She gives groups a glimpse of the back of the house as she teaches them how to taste wines “blind,” purchase bottles like a professional, and pair with meals for any occasion.

At 19, Singh began her path in the business with a job as a wine sales clerk at Nielsen Bros. Market in Carmel, California. By 23, she had landed the sommelier position at the world-renowned Everest Restaurant in Chicago. Just three years later, Singh earned the title Master Sommelier. This distinguished accomplishment, along with her effervescence, experience and energy, was magnetic, and it wasn’t long before Singh found herself in the local spotlight. For ten seasons, she served as the host of the Emmy Award-winning restaurant review television show, Check, Please!, on Chicago’s PBS station and returned in 2018 after a 5-year absence.

In 2006, Singh released Alpana Pours, a unique lifestyles book that shares her social observations of wine, contemporary women and relationships. A humorous and real look at the sometimes absurd interactions between men and women plays out in an entertaining book of tips for hosting and entertaining.

In December 2012, Singh opened The Boarding House, a wine-driven concept in the River North neighborhood. In February of 2015, Singh opened her second restaurant, Seven Lions, on Chicago's iconic Michigan Avenue. In 2016, Alpana opened her third restaurant venture, Terra & Vine, in Evanston, Illinois.

Singh is a member of the Advisory Council for the Illinois Restaurant Association and Choose Chicago where she serves as Treasurer on their Executive Committee. She played a significant role in bringing the James Beard Foundation Awards to the city of Chicago in 2015 and is an avid supporter of Deborah's Place, an organization that assists and empowers women facing homelessness.

Alpana Singh Speaking Topics

  • Motivation & Determination in Life: How the Daughter of Fiji Immigrants Became the Youngest Woman to Ever Pass the Master Sommelier Exam

  • Turning a Passion for Wine into a Career

  • Pairing Wine with Food

  • The Basics of Wine Tasting: How to Taste Like a Master Sommelier

  • How to Run a Successful Beverage Program: From Purchasing to Developing & Maintaining a Wine Cellar

  • It’s all in the nose.

    Singh’s expertise stems from a highly attuned palette, but she assures audiences that everyone can develop one if they learn to stop fearing wine and just figure out what tastes right. From corporate parties and dinners with corresponding wine tastings personally selected for the event, to course by course “How to Taste Like a Master” interactive sessions, Singh’s presentations are lively, informative, and tastefully fun. Being a unique member of her industry’s elite group of specialists, she also uses anecdotes and personal stories about becoming the first Indian Woman to vault to the status of Master Sommelier. She conducts classes, provides post-event mixers and instructional wine bars for attendees, and creates exceptional experiences that are the ideal pairing of the informative and the entertaining. And everyone walks away with a greater knowledge about not only wine, but about the surprising depth of their personal taste.

Alpana Singh Videos

  • Terroir - Alpana Singh
  • One Chicago Stories - Alpana Singh
  • Global Perspectives: Alpana Singh

Alpana Singh Books

FAQs on booking Alpana Singh

  • How to book Alpana Singh?

    Our booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure talent like Alpana Singh for both live and virtual events for over 20 years. The team at All American Entertainment represents and listens to the needs of organizations and corporations seeking to hire keynote speakers, celebrities or entertainers for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment. Fill out a booking request form for Alpana Singh, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get pricing information and check availability for Alpana Singh or any other celebrity of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Alpana Singh?

    Speaking fees for Alpana Singh, or any other keynote speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The amount that Alpana Singh charges to speak often varies according to the circumstances, including their schedule, market conditions, length of presentation, and the location of the event. The speaker fees listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only. In some cases, the actual quote may be above or below the stated range. For the most current fee to hire Alpana Singh, please fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak with an experienced booking agent.
  • Who is the agent for Alpana Singh?

    All American Entertainment has successfully secured celebrity talent like Alpana Singh for clients worldwide for more than 20 years. As a full-service talent booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Alpana Singh for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service talent booking agency?

    All American Speakers is a "buyers agent" and exclusively represents talent buyers, meeting planners and event professionals, who are looking to secure celebrities and speakers for personal appearances, speaking engagements, corporate entertainment, public relations campaigns, commercials, or endorsements. We do not exclusively represent Alpana Singh or claim ourselves as the exclusive booking agency, business manager, publicist, speakers bureau or management for Alpana Singh or any other speaker or celebrity on this website. For more information on how we work and what makes us unique, please read the AAE Advantage.

Alpana Singh is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Motivation & Determination in Life: How the Daughter of Fiji Immigrants Became the Youngest Woman to Ever Pass the Master Sommelier Exam, Turning a Passion for Wine into a Career, Pairing Wine with Food, The Basics of Wine Tasting: How to Taste Like a Master Sommelier, How to Run a Successful Beverage Program: From Purchasing to Developing & Maintaining a Wine Cellar and It’s all in the nose.. The estimated speaking fee range to book Alpana Singh for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Alpana Singh generally travels from Chicago, IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Art Smith, Aarti Sequeira, Jörn Kleinhans, Stephanie Izard and Erik Segelbaum. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Alpana Singh for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Alpana Singh Speaking Topics

  • Motivation & Determination in Life: How the Daughter of Fiji Immigrants Became the Youngest Woman to Ever Pass the Master Sommelier Exam

  • Turning a Passion for Wine into a Career

  • Pairing Wine with Food

  • The Basics of Wine Tasting: How to Taste Like a Master Sommelier

  • How to Run a Successful Beverage Program: From Purchasing to Developing & Maintaining a Wine Cellar

  • It’s all in the nose.

    Singh’s expertise stems from a highly attuned palette, but she assures audiences that everyone can develop one if they learn to stop fearing wine and just figure out what tastes right. From corporate parties and dinners with corresponding wine tastings personally selected for the event, to course by course “How to Taste Like a Master” interactive sessions, Singh’s presentations are lively, informative, and tastefully fun. Being a unique member of her industry’s elite group of specialists, she also uses anecdotes and personal stories about becoming the first Indian Woman to vault to the status of Master Sommelier. She conducts classes, provides post-event mixers and instructional wine bars for attendees, and creates exceptional experiences that are the ideal pairing of the informative and the entertaining. And everyone walks away with a greater knowledge about not only wine, but about the surprising depth of their personal taste.

Alpana Singh Speaker Videos

  • Terroir - Alpana Singh
    One Chicago Stories - Alpana Singh
  • Global Perspectives: Alpana Singh

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.

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Speakers Similar to Alpana Singh

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

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