Young sommelier Aleksandr Nakonechnyi joins the F&B team at Niyama Private Islands Maldives for a thrilling new chapter, as the entire resort experience is reimagined and its wining and dining made more tantalising than ever.
Niyama Private Islands an award-winning luxury playground, it’s two lush islands giving you an abundance of choices to Chill or Play. Joining the team that brings dreams to life, there is sommelier Aleksandr Nakonechnyi, passionate and knowledgeable about his craft.
Aleksandr began his hospitality career as a bartender at the Kempinski Grand Hotel Gelendzhik on the Black Sea. His wanderlust then took him to the captivating beauty of St. Petersburg, then across the seas to barefoot luxury Soneva Jani in the Maldives.
In 2021, Aleksandr joined the Minor Hotels family as Wine Guru at Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas, overseeing the vast collection at the world’s first underwater wine cellar, SEA. It was also here that he led the resort’s Dom Perignon underwater ageing project, sinking prized bottles into the reef for over a year to allow the champagnes to gain distinct notes of seaweed and minerals, then hosting tasting sessions for guests surrounded by the allure of the ocean itself.
Now joining the team at sister resort Niyama, Aleksandr brings with him passion and a bold vision. At Edge, the overwater signature restaurant and multi-year recipient of the Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence, surrounded by nothing but open water, he reintroduces dinners with refined wine and champagne pairings that mirror the horizon – crisp and luminous. Beneath the waves at Subsix, the resort’s iconic underwater venue, the Nikkei-inspired tasting menu is complemented by his champagne and sake pairings that elevate each course into a multisensory journey. In the jungle at Tribal, bold, structured wines complement dry-aged meats – each pairing crafted to enhance depth, smokiness and character. Finally, high above in the treetops at Nest, lighter expressions take centre stage, with delicate wines and sake selections harmonising effortlessly with avant-garde Asian flavours.
“Aleksandr is a rare find, and we are so excited to have him join us to charm our guests with his passion and infectious enthusiasm”, says General Manager of Niyama Private Islands Maldives, Hafidh Al Busaidy. “As Niyama continues to evolve, he will play an invaluable role in creating even more intriguing wining and dining experiences”.