Oslo: Well-known Norwegian wine critic Ingvild Tennfjord, who has been writing for the newspaper Aftenposten since 2013, has listed Azerbaijani wine among the most remarkable discoveries of the season. In her latest column ‘On the Hunt for New Tastes,’ Tennfjord introduced six wines from a variety of countries, highlighting them as opening new ‘flavour doors.’

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Tennfjord, a certified sommelier and a graduate of the Wine and Spirit Education Trust, is also a knight of the French L’Ordre du Mérite Agricole, awarded for her significant contributions to agriculture and winemaking. Among the wines she recommends are selections from Azerbaijan, Italy, Slovenia, Georgia, France, and Lebanon.

Tennfjord reminisced about her time living in Italy, expressing her fascination with the regional wine culture, where even wines from neighboring regions were considered rare. In contrast, she noted that living in Norway offers a choice of 36,000 wines, which she described as a true ab
undance.

Wines from Slovenia and Georgia received 5 points on Norway’s six-point scale, where 6 is the highest rating for outstanding quality. However, the Azerbaijani wine ‘Ismayilli Chabiant Bayan Shira’ achieved the top score of 6 points, joining the ranks of highly rated wines from Italy, France, and Lebanon.

Tennfjord praised the Azerbaijani dry white wine as elegant, fresh, and exceptionally pleasant, particularly recommending it as an ideal pairing with fish and white meat. She emphasized that Azerbaijani winemakers are producing wines that are competitive on the international stage.

This recognition affirms Azerbaijani wine’s position among the highest-rated wines from both the Old and New Worlds, further enhancing the country’s profile on the global wine map.