Ellen Lindegren is Sweden’s best female sommelier in 2024. [read the full champagne story]
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
The exciting final of the Lily Bollinger Award 2024 has now been decided and the one who can call herself Sweden’s best female sommelier is Ellen Lindegren from Gondolen in Stockholm. During two intensive days, three outstanding sommelier talents competed in various practical and theoretical parts.
The final
During a nerve-wracking final, Ellen Lindegren from Gondolen, Malin Vallin from Köksbaren and Julia Engström, former sommelier student at Vinkällan, competed for the prestigious title “Lily Bollinger of the Year”. Over two days, 22–23 September, the three finalists competed in eight different theoretical and practical events. Among other things, they have been tested in a comprehensive theory test, a written blind tasting of three wines, an oral blind tasting of spirits and a service moment where they would recommend German wines to a menu.
I am incredibly impressed by our finalists who have all shown that they can really deliver under pressure. It was a strong starting field where all three should be proud of their performance. This year’s Lily Bollinger, Ellen Lindegren, excelled in all aspects and it will be a lot of fun to follow her competition career going forward,
says Tina Johansson, competition manager Lily Bollinger Award
The title
In addition to the glorious title “Lily Bollinger of the Year”, Ellen Lindegren receives an educational trip to the prestigious Bollinger champagne house and a Stålhästen bicycle. The bicycle symbolizes how Lily Bollinger constantly guarded the vineyard on two wheels.
It feels absolutely fantastic to now receive a receipt that the work I put in has paid off. I had a good gut feeling before the competition and went all in on just being myself. It’s nice to see that it was appreciated and I’m very proud of my performance,
says Ellen Lindegren, Lily Bollinger of the Year 2024
The jury
The competition was decided before a well-qualified jury consisting of main judge Ulrika Ferlin as well as Janni Berndt Dahl, Anders Melldén and Emelie Zung-Hee Svensson.
