Bhatia Dheeraj
Dubai Ambassador
bhatia_sommelier
Bhatia Dheeraj has been Star Wine List's ambassador for Adelaide and South Australia. Recently he moved back to Dubai, where he was raised, and has now taken on the role as our Dubai ambassador.
Prior to this he worked at Sydney-based Est, where he led an award-winning programme of wine for Merivale, working with more than 1,500 wines from Australia and around the world. He has also acted as a consultant for various new wine bar openings and held positions leading fine wine teams at The Peninsula in Hong Kong, Robuchon au Dôme in Macau, Raffles in Singapore, The Roundhouse in Cape Town, Burj Al Arab in Dubai, and as a stagier at Mugaritz in Spain. He also contributes to Vine & Bubble magazine, as well as acting as a judge in various domestic and international wine shows.
In recognition of his expertise, Bhatia has an impressive clutch of awards to his name, including Best Sommelier at the Gourmet Summit in Singapore 2011; Ruinart Sommelier Challenge in Australia, 2017; the Judy Hurst Award as the Sommelier responsible for the best wine list; Chevalier / Dame Chevalier, Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne, 2012; Maître Sommelier 2013; and the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, Association Mondiale de la Gastronomie, Hong Kong.