Minne Champagne & Wine

Essi Avellan became Finland's first Master of Wine in 2009 — 77 years after Prohibition ended. Now her champagne list at Minne, near Esplanadi Park, is one of the finest in Europe. The world's foremost champagne authority chose Helsinki as her base, not London, not Paris. Ask bartender Toni Aikasalo which bottle Essi is most excited about this week — the answer changes constantly. Champagne School sessions offer structured tastings where even experienced wine drinkers learn what they didn't know about the world's most famous sparkling wine.

What to do there

3 things to do

1. 1 Taste Champagne Selected by the World's Top Authority Wine · Price: high

   Walk to Minne (near Esplanadi Park, Kasarmikatu area). The wine list is curated by Essi Avellan MW — one of only 5 Masters of Wine in Finland and widely regarded as the world's foremost champagne authority. Her book 'The Finest Bubbles' is the reference work. Order a glass of Champagne and ask Toni Aikasalo (or whoever is pouring) which bottle Essi is most excited about right now. The answer changes weekly. You're drinking from a list curated by someone who has tasted more Champagne than almost anyone alive. Savour accordingly.

   Backup: If Champagne is above budget, Minne's still wine list is also MW-curated and available by the glass from around EUR 10.

   Log Memory
2. 2 Ask About Champagne School Wine · Free

   Minne runs educational champagne events and tastings — ask the staff about their next 'Champagne School' session. These are structured tastings where Essi Avellan or trained staff walk participants through Champagne's terroir, houses, and grower producers. The educational angle separates Minne from bars that just sell expensive bubbles. Ask the bartender: 'What's the one thing about Champagne that surprises most of your students?' The answer is diagnostic — it tells you what even experienced wine drinkers don't know about the world's most famous sparkling wine.

   Backup: If no school is scheduled soon, ask for the Champagne that best demonstrates terroir difference — Minne always has a chalk-vs-clay comparison available.

   Log Memory
3. 3 Register the Prohibition-to-MW Distance History · Free · Optional

   While sitting at Minne, close the conceptual loop of this trail. In 1932, Finland ended Prohibition. In 2009, Essi Avellan became the first Finnish Master of Wine. In 2026, her champagne list is one of the finest in Europe, served 100 metres from the Esplanadi where Russian officers drank French champagne 200 years ago. The distance from 'alcohol is illegal' to 'the world's top champagne authority chose Helsinki as her base' is 77 years. Ask the bartender: 'Why did Essi choose Helsinki over London or Paris?' The answer reveals why this unlikely city became a wine capital.

   Backup: If staff are busy, the distance registers without narration. Look around: you're in one of Europe's best champagne bars, in a country with zero vineyards.

   Log Memory

Insider tips

• Wine list curated by Master of Wine Essi Avellan

• No reservation needed - but available via TableOnline

• À la carte from 16:00 Tue-Sat

• Garden & Lounge available for private events