Daria Likhobabina is an F&B recruiter, co-founder of Graft Collab Store, Dubai decoder by night, accidental content creator, and non-alcoholic sparkling connoisseur when time allows.
Based in Dubai since 2016, Daria matches top-tier hospitality talent with restaurant concepts across the city from refined fine dining to homegrown venues.
She’s the co-owner of Graft Collab Store, the UAE’s first curated online platform for wine accessories, glassware, Coravin systems, and thoughtful tools for both professionals and wine lovers. The store caters to both B2B clients: such as restaurants, hotels, hospitality groups, and B2C customers looking to elevate their at-home wine experience.
Daria is also the operational force behind Graft Collab, blending innovation with precision to ensure seamless execution whether it’s hiring the right people, launching new projects, or curating human-imagined content.
Off duty, she’s the proud parent of a rescue cat with attitude, an avid walker who’s happiest exploring on foot, and a devoted reader of classic French and Russian literature preferably with a glass of something sparkling (non-alcoholic, of course).
Her DMs are open for hiring inquiries, collabs, cat-rescue updates, or just a really good meme.
Hey Wine Lover 👋
I’m Alex – entrepreneur, wine obsessive, and co-founder of Graft Collab. If you’ve landed here, chances are you’re curious about wine, keen to challenge the status quo, or just vibing with a community that’s rewriting the wine rules—especially in the Middle East. Either way, welcome. You’re in good company.
My wine journey started early—think busboy in my dad’s restaurant back in Ukraine, hustling for tips and listening to wine talk before I could legally drink it. My family was all about hospitality and entrepreneurship, so the hustle runs deep. I studied hospitality and exhibition business in Kyiv, but the wine bug bit hard—and it bit for life.
From there, I chased wine across borders. I earned my Master’s in Poznań, Poland, scoring internships in France and Italy that opened my eyes (and palate) to the incredible depth and diversity of the wine world. Then came Dubai—a wildcard that turned out to be the best card in the deck.
Here, I got to work with culinary legends like the late Gary Rhodes, Sean Connolly, and the powerhouse duo Nick Alvis & Scott Price (ex-Gordon Ramsay alumni). It was a masterclass in excellence, pressure, and passion. After years on the restaurant floor, I pivoted into wine distribution—what I cheekily call “the dark side”—and joined MMI, one of the region’s top players, managing some of the most iconic wine portfolios on the planet.
I’m proud to hold the WSET Diploma (yep, smashed it in just 23 months) and I’m now deep in the journey toward the Master of Wine (MW) title. It’s not just about the letters—it’s about mastering how wine connects people, cultures, and stories.
Graft Collab was born out of that belief. Together with Chris and Daria (more on them below), we’ve built Graft as a one-stop hub for wine lovers, brands, and professionals across the region—from brand consultancy to education to content and digital storytelling. We’re on a mission to elevate how wine is discovered, enjoyed, and understood in the UAE and beyond. Whether you’re a hardcore collector or a curious beginner, there’s space at our table.
Let’s reshape the wine narrative—one bottle, one brand, one breakthrough at a time.
Join us. Graft with us. Grow with us.
May the wine be with you 🍷
Better known to some as the Wine Punk, Christiaan Olivier’s career is rooted in the art of hospitality and authentic storytelling.
His journey began unexpectedly on a wine farm in South Africa, where a single glass of French wine changed everything. For the first time, Christiaan recognized aromas beyond the grape — an experience so captivating it set him on a lifelong pursuit of hospitality, flavor, and connection. Determined to understand the full story behind every plate and every glass, he trained as a chef, working under celebrated chefs before traveling and cooking in China, Mauritius, and the Seychelles.
Yet it was the guest experience — the human side of hospitality — that ultimately drew him out of the kitchen and onto the restaurant floor. Christiaan immersed himself in wine, service, and business management, sharpening his skills across multiple disciplines. After opening several acclaimed properties and venues in South Africa, he moved to Dubai, where he joined the iconic Grosvenor House Hotel, managing pre-openings, beverage programs, and entertainment operations for legendary venues like Buddha Bar, Siddharta Lounge, Toro Toro, and Bar44.
In 2023, Christiaan led beverage programs as Multi-Property Beverage Manager and Head Sommelier for The St. Regis Downtown Dubai and Delta Hotels DIP. In 2024, he expanded into a broader luxury role as F&B Marketing and Partnership Manager and Sommelier for One Za’abeel The Link and One&Only One Za’abeel, curating high-impact guest experiences for two of Dubai’s most prestigious addresses.
Today, Christiaan is the Founder and Owner of Graft Collab Agency, a brand management and consultancy platform specializing in wine, spirits, and lifestyle activations across the Middle East.
Beyond consultancy, Christiaan is a passionate advocate for wine education and community building. He founded Flight Club DXB, Dubai’s leading junior sommelier network; created CorkItUpNow, a platform dedicated to demystifying wine through storytelling; hosts the Better Sommelier podcast; and is a partner at Breakfast Wine Club, where he helps aspiring sommeliers and advanced students sharpen their skills through masterclasses and blind tastings.
Christiaan’s philosophy is simple: luxury is emotional, not transactional. He believes great storytelling transforms products into experiences and guests into loyal advocates — a philosophy he brings to every glass poured and every brand he helps to build.
Favorite Quote: “Step up for people, don’t step on top of people.”
Three Words: Creative. Conscientious. Mercurial.
If I were a grape: Pinot Noir — elegant, expressive, and quietly powerful.
