Essi Avellan became Finland?s first Master of Wine in 2006. Recognized as a champagne and sparkling wine specialist, Avellan is the author of several wine books, including Essi Avellan?s Champagne and Matka Champagneen. She has also revised and extended the 3rd edition of Tom Stevenson?s award-winning Christie?s World Encyclopedia of Champagne and Sparkling Wine and is currently working on its 4th edition. For her MW studies she wrote her dissertation on single-vineyard Champagnes and won both the Lily Bollinger Medal for best taster and the Tim Derouet Memorial Award for best overall student. Essi also holds a Master of Science degree in Business Administration. Essi is a reputed wine judge; in addition to FINE Magazines and The World of Fine Wine tasting panels she had acted as the chair of Decanter World Wine Awards? Champagne panel and is a jury member at the Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships. She is an organiser of the annual Grand Champagne Helsinki event. She has been knighted as Chevalier l?Ordre du Mérite Agricole by the Minister of Agriculture of France. She has also been awarded the titles Dame-Officier of Ordre de Coteaux de Champagne and Commandeur of Commanderie de Bordeaux.

Industry sector(s): Journalism, Author, Educator, Consultant, Wine judge, Wine tourism

Wine styles: Sparkling wine, Champagne, Cremant, Cava, Prosecco, English sparkling wines, Sekt

Wine region expertise: France, Champagne

Market expertise: United Kingdom, Scandinavia, France

Specialisms: Production of sparkling wines, Food and wine pairing, Restaurant wines, Wine tourism