Today I am in Champagne chatting with Essi Avellan about her remarkable personal and professional journey with champagne. Essi is Finland’s first Master of Wine, a renowned champagne and sparkling wine specialist, author of several wine books and has revised and extended the 3rd and 4th edition of Tom Stevenson’s award-winning Christie’s World Encyclopaedia of Champagne and Sparkling Wine. But not only! She is an organiser of the annual Grand Champagne Helsinki event, a reputed wine judge – notably for the Sparkling Wine World Championships - tasting panellist and writes for numerous publications. Essi has also knighted as a Chevalier by the Minister for Agriculture of France, amongst many other accolades. Hers is a path less travelled. Enjoy listening and santé!