Most wine tastings in Helsinki happen in back rooms. Wine shops with fluorescent lighting. Restaurant private dining rooms. Hotel conference spaces with chairs arranged in rows. There is nothing wrong with any of these — Viinitie, in particular, has one of the best shop-floor selections in the Nordics, and restaurant pairings at places like Grotesk are genuinely excellent.
Then there is the one on the island.
A former military island, opened to the public only in 2016. Twenty minutes by ferry from Market Square. A sommelier who picks five wines each week and tells the story behind every producer. A DJ who plays between pours. A terrace facing the Baltic Sea. It’s not a better wine tasting. It’s a different category — the same difference between a restaurant dinner and a picnic. Both are good. One is an experience.
How the island tasting works
The tasting lasts two hours on the sea-view terrace of Vallisaari island. The price includes five wines, a tapas buffet, the sommelier’s guidance and the DJ. Each session seats 80 people.
The sommelier doesn’t lecture from the front. He moves table to table and tells the story behind each bottle — where the vineyard is, who makes the wine, why it matters — so you ask what you want and learn what you want. Between pours, the DJ keeps the energy moving without demanding attention.
The theme changes weekly: Italian classics one weekend, white wines or Champagne the next. The event description for the late-June tasting reads, translated from Finnish: “We travel through Italy’s wine landscape — from Piedmont to Sicily.” You don’t know exactly what lands in your glass until you’re there. That’s the point.
You don’t need to know anything about wine. Beginners enjoy it most — everything is a discovery. Tastings are 18+, dogs are welcome if they behave, and there is always a non-alcoholic option: five mocktails or non-alcoholic wines at the same price. Over the first two summers, more than 4,500 guests attended, and both summers sold out.
A note on language: IISI serves guests in Finnish, English and Swedish, but the tasting crowd is largely local. If you want to be sure a specific session works for you without Finnish, ask before booking: oliver@iisivallisaari.fi.
Summer 2026 dates, themes and prices
On a tasting weekend there are two sessions per day — 13:00–15:00 and 17:00–19:00, Fridays and Saturdays. Each weekend is one theme; the four sessions pour the same line-up.
Dates below are Friday–Saturday pairs unless marked otherwise:
| Dates | Theme | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Jun (Sat only) | Stand-up wine tasting: Tom Molin & Comedy Fabe | €79 |
| 26–27 Jun | Italian Classics | €59 |
| 3–4 Jul | Azienda Agricola Sukula — Riikka & Jyrki | €69 |
| 10–11 Jul | White Wines & White Party | €59 |
| 24–25 Jul | Southern France | €59 |
| 31 Jul–1 Aug | Champagne & Sparkling | €79 |
| 7–8 Aug | Tuscany & Abruzzo | €59 |
| 14–15 Aug | Germany & Austria | €59 |
| 21–22 Aug | Sparkling & White Wines | €69 |
| 28–29 Aug | Five Red Wines | €59 |
| 5 Sep (Sat only) | Piedmont’s Best | €69 |
| 12 Sep (Sat only) | Vallformosa Winery | €69 |
A few gaps in the calendar: no tasting on Midsummer weekend (19–20 June — the island hosts free Midsummer dances instead) or on 17–18 July. The 13 June stand-up tasting runs Saturday only. In September, tastings are Saturdays only, and the season ends 12 September — the same day as the ferry.
Cancellation is free up to 21 days before the event, and you can move your booking to another session free of charge up to 14 days before.
The Friday secret
Saturday is the session everyone knows about — more people, more energy. Friday at 13:00 is the one fewer people find: the sommelier takes more time at each table, and the afternoon light does half the work. The 17:00 session turns into a party — once the glasses are empty, the terrace stays open until 23:30 and the DJ shifts the set into evening mode. Come for two hours, stay for five.
If you book one session: Friday afternoon. If you want a night out: Saturday at 17:00.
The honest comparison
Helsinki has several wine tasting formats worth knowing about. Viinitie is a wine shop with a serious tasting room and one of the widest selections in the city — the best address if you want to compare many wines. Restaurant pairings at Grotesk or Palace are Helsinki’s finest for food-forward tasting. Viinikerho Helsinki runs recurring members’ evenings with a community feel. We mapped the city’s wine spots in a separate guide: the best wine bars in Helsinki.
None of these happen on an island you reach by ferry, with a DJ playing between wines, on a terrace facing the Baltic. That’s not a quality judgement. It’s a category difference.
Getting there: the ferry block
The tasting takes place on Vallisaari island. The JT-Line water bus leaves from Market Square (Kauppatori), Kolera Basin pier 10, and the crossing takes about 20 minutes. A round trip costs €9.80 for adults and €6.80 for ages 7–17; children under 7 travel free. Pay by card or cash — HSL travel cards are not valid. The 2026 ferry season runs 20 May – 12 September.
Full timetables are on JT-Line’s site, and our ferry guide covers the practical details.
The perfect day: start with the salmon soup at IISI Bistro (€17.50, at Torpedolahti harbour — the kind of meal people mention unprompted for weeks), then the 13:00 tasting, then a walk on the island’s trails, then the evening on the terrace. Full island day trip guide | Full Vallisaari guide | Picnic wine guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need to know anything about wine?
No. The sommelier explains everything — from grape to region, producer’s story to flavour. Beginners enjoy it most, since everything is new. No silly questions.
Q: What’s included in the price?
Five wines, a tapas buffet, the sommelier’s guidance and the DJ. Two hours on the sea-view terrace. Food and drinks are included.
Q: How much does a wine tasting in Helsinki cost in 2026?
IISI Vallisaari’s island tastings cost €59–79 per person depending on the theme, all-inclusive.
Q: Is the tasting in English?
IISI serves guests in Finnish, English and Swedish, but most guests are local. If you want to confirm a specific session works for you in English, email oliver@iisivallisaari.fi before booking.
Q: What if it rains?
The terrace is covered and tastings go ahead in any weather. The island breeze is cooler than the mainland, so bring a jacket even in July.
Q: Is there a non-alcoholic option?
Yes — five mocktails or non-alcoholic wines. The ticket price is the same, since capacity is limited.
Q: Can I cancel or reschedule?
Free cancellation up to 21 days before the event. 7–21 days before: 50% fee. Less than 7 days: no cancellation. Moving to another session is free up to 14 days before.
Q: How do I get to Vallisaari?
JT-Line water bus from Market Square (Kolera Basin pier 10), about 20 minutes. Round trip €9.80 adults, €6.80 ages 7–17, under 7 free. HSL travel cards are not valid. Season: 20 May – 12 September 2026.
Oliver Laiho · IISI Vallisaari · Updated June 2026 with AI assistance.