A Classic Wine Enthusiast

What do the following brands have in common: Baron de Ley, Finca Museum, Tosti 1820, Louis Jadot, Marchesi di Barolo, Wolfberger, Rotari, Mezzacorona, Stemmari, Maison Darragon, and Château des Jacques?

The answer: Elina Salminen!

Elina Salminen started at Norex as Product Manager for wines in early spring. With nearly 15 years in the industry, she felt a desire to broaden her expertise. “I thought I needed to see another way of doing things. I wanted to broaden my perspective, get some variety and break new ground.”

Elina originally ended up in the industry thanks to her language skills. “I’m trained as an Italian language teacher. It was precisely because of the language that I ended up working for an importer with a particular focus on Italian products,” she recalls. At the time, Elina’s interest in wine deepened and she completed several wine qualifications.

Thanks to her strong background, Elina already knows the world of wine extensively – and even after all these years, she still gets excited about it. “I’m especially into what Italy, Spain and France have to offer. I often gravitate towards certain regions,” Elina explains, describing her taste in wine. “But I always want to encourage everyone to boldly try something new.”

Passion comes from within

“It’s easy to get excited about wine, because the world of wine is endlessly fascinating and you can look at it through history, culture, chemistry or even gastronomy. Wine always makes a meal a little better and creates the feeling that there’s no rush.”

Elina’s workday is a success if she’s been able to work in a good atmosphere and in good company. “At its best, of course, the day would be if you’d won a listing or managed to turn a bad trend into a better one,” she laughs, but adds that those are naturally not everyday things. “In day-to-day work, I expect variety and versatility: as a counterbalance to the numbers, it’s important to also find time for self-development and sparring with colleagues.”

Elina is looking forward to her years at Norex with excitement and confidence. “You could sense right away that everyone enjoys being here. It feels like people are doing well.”