Enthusiastic sommelier Aleksandr Nakonechnyi joins the F&B team at Niyama Private Islands Maldives for an exciting new chapter, as the entire resort experience is reimagined and its wining and dining made more tantalizing than ever. Niyama Private Islands, an award-winning luxury playground, features two lush islands offering endless choices to chill or play. The team bringing dreams to life welcomes sommelier Aleksandr Nakonechnyi, a passionate and expert craftsman. Aleksandr launched his hospitality career as a bartender at the Kempinski Grand Hotel Gelendzhik on the Black Sea. His wanderlust then drew him to the enchanting allure of St. Petersburg, followed by a voyage across the seas to the barefoot luxury of Soneva Jani in the Maldives. In 2021, Aleksandr joined the Minor Hotels family as Wine Guru at Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas, managing the extensive collection at SEA, the world’s first underwater wine cellar. It was here that he spearheaded the resort’s Dom Pérignon underwater aging initiative, submerging premium bottles in the reef for more than a year to infuse the champagnes with unique seaweed and mineral flavors, followed by hosting ocean-immersed tasting events for guests. Now joining the team at sister property Niyama, Aleksandr contributes his passion and innovative vision. At Edge, the overwater signature restaurant and multi-year winner of the Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence, surrounded solely by open water, he reintroduces diners to refined wine and champagne pairings that echo the horizon—crisp and luminous. At Subsix, the resort’s signature underwater venue beneath the waves, the Nikkei-inspired tasting menu is enhanced by his champagne and sake pairings, transforming each course into a multisensory experience. At Tribal in the jungle, robust, well-structured wines pair with dry-aged meats—each combination designed to amplify depth, smokiness, and character. Finally, high in the treetops at Nest, lighter expressions take center stage, as delicate wines and sake selections harmonize seamlessly with avant-garde Asian flavors. ADVERTISEMENT.
