Finland’s first Master of Wine Essi Avellan is a renowned champagne and sparkling wine specialist. She is the author of several wine books and has revised and extended the 3rd and 4th edition of Tom Stevenson’s award-winning Christie’s World Encyclopedia of Champagne and Sparkling Wine. 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 Avellan is an organiser of the annual Grand Champagne Helsinki event but also a reputed wine judge; In addition to being responsible of the Club Oenologique Champagne Report and being part of The World of Fine Wine tasting panels, she is a panel chair at the International Wine and Spirit Competition’s (IWSC) and a jury member at the Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships (CSWWC).
Essi Avellan 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.
Education
2006 Master of Wine
Tim Derouet Memorial Award for best overall student
Madame Bollinger Award for excellence in wine tasting
Dissertation: Antithesis of Champagne: Single Vineyard Style Wines
2002 WSET Diploma in Wines and Spirits
2000 WSET Higher Certificate in Wines and Spirits
1999 Master of Science in Business Administration (M.Sc. (Econ.))
Master’s Thesis: Corporate Brand Building through Communications for Wineries
Work experience
2022-Panel Chair, International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC), UK
2017- Chair of Kauppalehti wine panel
2015- Founder and co-organiser of Grand Champagne Helsinki event
2014- Judge, The Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships (CSWWC), UK
2008- Columnist, Glorian ruoka&viini magazine
2007-2020 Editorial Adviser, FINE Magazines
2007-2019 Editor, FINE Champagne Magazine
2007-2007 Editor, FINE – The European Fine Wine Magazine
2006-2007 Editor, FINE – The Scandinavian Fine Wine Magazine
2003- Entrepreneur – Wine Writer and Consultant, AvelVino Oy
1999-2003 Product Manager Wines, Shop Operations, Silja Line
1998-1999 Product Assistant Wines, Silja Line
Books
2022 On Champagne – A tapestry of tales to celebrate the greatest sparkling wine of all, Compiled by Susan Keevil, co-authored by Essi Avellan MW, Académie du Vin Library, UK
2019 – Christie’s World Encyclopedia of Champagne and Sparkling Wines, 4th Edition, Tom Stevenson & Essi Avellan MW, Absolute Press, UK
2017 – Essi Avellan’s Champagne, Avelvino Media, Finland
2016 – Essi Avellanin Champagne, Tammi, Finland
2014 – Champagne – Parhaat samppanjat (co-author), Readme.fi, Finland
2013 – Christie’s World Encyclopedia of Champagne and Sparkling Wines, 3rd Edition, fully revised and updated by Essi Avellan MW, Absolute Press, UK
2011 – 100 Parasta Ruokaviiniä 2011-2012, Tammi Publishers, Finland
2010 – Matka Champagneen, Tammi Publishers, Finland
2009 – 100 Parasta Viiniostosta, Tammi Publishers, Finland
2007 – 1000 Finest Wines Ever Made (co-author), Fine Publishing Helsinki, Finland