Alko

Buy a Bottle at the State Monopoly

Alko is Finland's state alcohol monopoly — the only place in the country where you can buy wine above 5.5% ABV. What outsiders see as restriction, Finnish wine people turned into an advantage: Alko's 2,100+ wine SKUs are selected by one of the world's most rigorous buying committees. The Esplanadi branch is the flagship. Ask staff about their custom-order catalog — any of 10,000+ wines delivered to any Alko in Finland. The most unusual recent order tells you everything about Helsinki's wine ambition.