Artem Lebedev
Central Asia Ambassador
Artem Lebedev was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, but has been living and working in Almaty, Kazakhstan, since 2018. His journey into the wine business began after several years as a waiter; a transformative hitchhiking trip through Europe, visiting wineries in Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal, sparked his deep passion for wine.
Following this, Artem pursued a formal education in wine, completing his first sommelier courses, obtaining WSET Level 3 and Level 4 Diploma, and earning his ASI certification. He also became an Italian Wine Ambassador through Vinitaly and a judge for the Mundus Vini and 5StarWines competitions. After several years spent living in Europe and travelling extensively across wine-producing regions, Artem's commitment to the wine industry was solidified.
His significant contribution to the wine culture in Central Asia began with the opening of the first sommelier school in the region, followed by the establishment of the Kazakhstan Sommelier Association, where he served for six years as president. Now he continues to engage in wine education for both amateurs and industry workers, consulting, speaking at various international wine forums and devoting himself entirely to wine. Artem's passion lies in developing wine culture and living a life immersed in the world of wine and its people.