Lenka Praveen
Award-winning Senior Wine Guru in Maldives
Lenka Praveen is our connoisseur of all things beverage and one of our young rising stars. In charge of our wine cellar and bars across the three islands of Anantara Dhigu, Anantara Veli and Naladhu, he is as qualified as they come.
Praveen has a Bachelor’s in Hospitality, an MBA in Management, and is certified by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust in London and the Rioja Wine Academy in Spain. He has extensive knowledge of world wines, particular from Spain and South Africa, as well sake, gin and whisky.
Praveen began his career at Adaaran Maldives as a fast-track management trainee. At Heritance Aarah, he managed the wine collection and designed exclusive wine tastings for guests. In 2021, Praveen moved to Sun Siyam Iru Fushi where the F&B offering is renowned for its extent. As Beverage Manager there, he built one of the most impressive wine collections in the Maldives, with over 300 rare vintages from around the world.
At Anantara, Praveen oversees the wine collections of our three resorts and a mixologist team of 16. Across 08 restaurants and bars, guests can sample the finest collection of Old and New World wines, whiskies from around the globe, and cocktails of homemade infusions and Origin gin from the Anantara private reserve.
Runner-up of the Maldives’ Mixologist of the Year competition at FHAM, the Maldives’ leading hospitality gathering, Praveen was also a finalist for Stelliers’ Sommelier & Mixologist Hotelier of the Year award in 2020. He has an exceptional eye for detail, endlessly pursues knowledge, and is passionate in his interaction with guests and in pairing the perfect beverage with their meal.