Try wine tasting in Sognefjord's best wine cellars

Sigurd Kvikne has become passionate about wine.

When Sigurd Kvikne was reprimanded for poor wine selection at Kviknes Hotel, he signed up for a course - and became passionate about wine.

This is how Sigurd Kvikne tells it himself. How Kviknes Hotel has arranged such a sought-after wine list. Today, tourists from all over the world come to taste the specially imported wines, paired with exciting local dishes.

- Because it's not just about wine. It's the combination with food that makes it so much fun, how a wine can taste so different with food," says Kvikne, daily manager at Kviknes Hotel.

Today he gets, among other things, the right: "Wow, are there such great wine lists in the countryside?". Helicopters have also landed outside the hotel, with guests coming to taste the wine they offer.

Got yelled at by colleague

Kviknes Hotel is a gem along the Sognefjord. The family hotel is located in Balestrand and has always been known for its history and good food based on local ingredients. But before, the wine selection was mostly based on "red" and "kvitt".

- "I had a colleague who thought we couldn't have it like that. With such good food, it was unheard of to have such a poor wine selection. So when we were at a trade fair in London, he took me to a restaurant and gave me an introduction to what good wine should taste like. Then a light bulb went off for me," says Kvikne.

Balestrendingen wanted to learn more and enrolled on a sommelier course in Stavanger. With several trips to different wine regions, he has gradually acquired a lot of knowledge. Today, wine is such a great interest that he prefers to order wine that is not found in the normal selection at Vinmonopolet.

A lot of pleasure in wine tasting

Sigurd Kvikne holds wine courses for those who want to, to share some of the same joy he has. And regardless of the target group, he finds that people enjoy attending his courses.

- People learn small, practical things that make the taste experience much better. Things like temperature, serving tips and smell. And people are so happy when they drink good wine.

Courses and conferences

Take the next corporate gathering at Kviknes Hotel and try wine tasting in Sognefjord's best wine cellars. They get to taste different wines that give a sense of what matches and what doesn't. They will be given some basic knowledge about wine, which grapes go with which food and some tips on how to find the best match for good food. 

- It's a personal thing with wine. Each individual can have a different experience, but we have a lot of white Burgundy here as it is my favorite district. I also like wine from Tuscany and Piedmont. Many exciting wines are also starting to arrive from the USA," says Kvikne.

Our wine list is the largest and most comprehensive in the Sognefjord. Here you're guaranteed to find the wine that matches the evening's buffet or our exquisite 4-course menu. A total of over 300 different wines should be enough to find just the right one.