Sommelier Annamari Nikkel: Sparkling Wine's Winning Streak Continues on Ships

Annamari Nikkel, wine category director for Tallink & Silja Line vessels, explains why the world is shifting from red wines to white and rosé. She also discusses how just five ship wines were selected from nearly 150 candidates.

Sommelier and wine category director for Tallink & Silja Line Annamari Nikkel notes that wine trends have clearly shifted – consumers are increasingly favouring white and rosé wines over red. The change is no accident: people today eat less meat and therefore seek lighter drinks that suit their new dietary habits and lighter dishes.

The rise in sparkling wine popularity is particularly pronounced. Nikkel confirms that sparkling wines' winning streak is continuing, with demand remaining high among both passengers and the shipping company's own experience. Prosecco, cava and various cremant wines have become part of everyday celebrations, not just special occasions.

Selecting ship wines is a thorough process – Nikkel describes how from nearly 150 different candidates, the final selection came down to just five wines. Each candidate was evaluated against multiple criteria, including taste, price-to-quality ratio and passenger preferences. The result of such careful selection should be wines on the ship shelves that offer good value and diverse enjoyment.