Ep. 2401 Alexey Dudin of Where To Eat Award | Asia Wine Market: Almaty Special Edition

Welcome to Episode 2401 and the eleventh episode of the special series focusing on the Asian Wine Market. In today’s episode, Roza Zharmukhambetova interviews Alexey Dudin of Where To Eat Award.

This episode is recorded in Russian.

Key Learning Objectives:

• Inside WHERETOEAT: how the award works, who votes, and why it matters in the restaurant world.
• WHERETOEAT in Kazakhstan: current status, goals, and why the award is expanding into this dynamic market.
• Practical insights: how restaurants, chefs, and sommeliers can raise their visibility and stand out in the eyes of the professional community.

Asia Wine Market is a new podcast series from the Italian Wine Podcast that explores the fast-growing wine markets across Asia. Designed for wine professionals, importers, and producers, the series highlights regional trends, consumer behavior, and business opportunities for Italian wine exports.

Through 10 exclusive episodes, this series offers insights from key industry players and builds up to the Vinitaly Kazakhstan Roadshow 2025 — a strategic event connecting Italian wineries with Central Asian wine importers, sommeliers, and distributors. Whether you're looking to enter the wine market or expand your brand presence in Central Asia, this series is your starting point.

 

Today’s guest: Alexey Dudin

Alexey Dudin is the Executive Director of WHERETOEAT Kazakhstan, the country’s premier restaurant award. With a long-standing career in gastronomy and media, Alexey brings deep industry insight and a passion for spotlighting culinary excellence across Kazakhstan.

WHERETOEAT Kazakhstan is an annual ranking of the country’s best restaurants, based on the anonymous votes of a broad expert panel—chefs, sommeliers, hoteliers, restaurateurs, winemakers, bartenders, journalists, and influencers, all living and working in Kazakhstan.

The mission of the project is to support the growth of Kazakhstan’s restaurant industry by celebrating talent, encouraging innovation, and drawing attention to noteworthy venues—from fine dining to local gems. The award also aims to strengthen culinary tourism and preserve gastronomic heritage by raising awareness of Kazakhstan’s rich food culture on the international stage.

Connect:

Website: https://wheretoeat.kz/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vseved68/ https://www.instagram.com/wheretoeat.kz/ 

 

Today’s host:  Roza Zharmukhambetova

Roza Zharmukhambetova has a background in foreign languages and education. She discovered her passion for wine in Beijing, where she gained two years of experience in wine sales. Since returning to Kazakhstan, she has focused on studying Italian wine and exploring its regions. 

Roza holds certifications as an Italian Wine Ambassador (VIA), Italian Wine Scholar (WSG), Langhe Wines Ambassador (BBA), and Valpolicella Wine Specialist (VEP). She is also a member of the Kazakhstan Sommelier Association. Since late last year, she has been a member of the Italian Wine Podcast (IWP) team, contributing her passion for Italian wine.

Connect:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roza.zharmukhambetova

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/le_vin_enrose/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rozazharmukhambetova/

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Until next time, Cin Cin!