The Team and Testimonials | MMI Wine Academy

Our Trainers

Meet your intrepid Sommeliers who will be delighted to guide you on your wine education journey.

Wine Academy Manager

Stephen Towler, Master Sommelier

After having caught the wine bug in South Africa over twenty years ago, Stephen returned to the UK to embark on a career as a Sommelier. This calling carried him from his native Cornwall UK, via France and the Maldives to eventually land in Dubai in 2006. Stephen initially started with MMI in 2014, he is a Certified Educator and level 4 Diploma holder with WSET and achieved the prestigious title of Master Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers in 2025.

Wine Trainer

Antoaneta Rangelova

Antoaneta has called Dubai home since 2019, where she has developed her career as a Sommelier across a range of hospitality establishments. Over the past few years, she has discovered a strong passion for wine education and now specializes in guiding students through WSET Level 1 and Level 2 in Wine. Currently preparing for her WSET Diploma qualification, Antoaneta continues to expand her expertise while sharing her enthusiasm for wine with aspiring students and professionals alike

Abhishek Sharma

Hanu Restaurant

“I had an excellent learning experience while preparing for my WSET Level 3 with The MMI Wine Academy. Steve’s structured teaching approach, guidance, and constant support helped me build strong theory and tasting knowledge. His weekly Monday mentoring sessions were especially valuable, and he has a great ability to simplify complex topics, making them easy to understand. His mentorship played a key role in helping me achieve a Distinction, which would not have been possible without his support. I highly recommend The MMI Wine Academy to anyone serious about WSET studies."

Gustavo Klaebisch

Moët Hennessy

"Studying at the MMI Wine Academy made the WSET Level 3 course make sense. It was very well structured from the start, contacting us two months in advance with clear guidance, study tools, and useful external platforms to begin preparing before the live sessions.
The tasting preparation was especially extensive and clear, and Stephen was always patient, open to questions, and available even outside the sessions to clarify doubts. The course was extremely valuable and well delivered."

Bohdan Krevsun

The Artisan Il Ristorante

“I recently completed the WSET Level 3 wine course at MMI Wine Academy. The lectures were perfectly organized, and the material was logically structured. The instructor was exceptionally knowledgeable and professional. I am especially grateful for the mentoring sessions and the valuable tips provided on wine tasting techniques.”

Agassi Serobyan

Vaga Dubai

“Having completed both WSET Level 2 and Level 3 with the MMI Wine Academy, I greatly value the clarity, structure, and depth of its teaching. The trainer's ability to explain complex topics thoroughly while addressing all questions in detail ensured a strong alignment with WSET Level 3 assessment standards. MMI's mentoring has significantly enhanced my practical ability to assess wines, draw structured conclusions, and make informed recommendations. I commend their dedication and professionalism."

Sachin Shrestha

Four Seasons

"I had a great experience completing my WSET Level 2 Award in Wines with MMI. The course was well-organized, engaging, and very informative. It significantly improved my wine knowledge and confidence.

I gained valuable knowledge about different wine regions, grape varieties, and tasting techniques, which has really boosted my confidence in the industry.

I’m happy to have passed and would definitely recommend MMI to anyone interested in building a strong foundation in wines."

Kamran Ibrahimov

La Petite Maison

"The WSET Level 3 course was intense, but the way the material was taught by Stephen made it click.

Tasting sessions were structured and practical. I walked into the exam confident and passed with merit."

Cedric Dallemagne

“My wife and I have always shared a deep passion for wine. With a French background, a sommelier uncle, and a mother-in-law who owned a wine bar, we’ve been lucky enough to taste exceptional wines from around the world. Yet, despite our exposure, selecting wines often felt overwhelming, and our knowledge was limited.

This led us to pursue our WSET certifications, and choosing MMI Wine Academy was one of the best decisions we made. The closeness and personalized attention from the professors were exceptional—they weren’t just extremely knowledgeable, but their passion for everything related to wine was truly inspiring.

The weekly tutorials made a huge difference in our journey. Developing a palate isn’t just about talent; it requires education and consistent training. The weekly sommelier tutorials were critical to our success. They didn’t just test our knowledge deeply but also instilled the discipline needed to excel in this fun yet challenging professional certification.

Earning our wine certification with Steve and his team has been a major highlight of the past two years. It’s been an incredible experience, and the only regret is that the diploma isn’t yet available at the Wine Academy. We’re already looking forward to the next chapter!"