1853 in a Glass: A Defining Moment for Nina Jensen
Nina Jensen. Photo: Ronja Bo Gustavsson, DSF. Dansk Sommelier Forening are proud to welcome Nina Jensen as our newest Member of Honour.
Nina Jensen, one of the world's top sommeliers has built a career on her passionate skill, and a deep love for wine. For Nina, a pivotal moment came with a single glass of Madeira from 1853—a taste of history.
Nina Jensen is one of the most accomplished sommeliers in the world. She was the runner-up in the ASI Best Sommelier of the World competitions of 2019 and 2023, and she made a name for herself on the global stage. Her influence goes beyond the competitions—on Instagram, videos of Nina in action have gathered millions of views.
Nina Jensen in the ASI Best Sommelier of the World competition. Photo: ASI
Her professional achievements are equally impressive. As the former Wine Director at Copenhagen’s renowned Alchemist restaurant, she brought her expertise to one of the most innovative dining experiences in the world.
Success like hers requires more than studying flashcards, tasting, and liking wine—it takes real determination. So I wanted to look past her awards, social media reach, and career highlights to uncover a more personal story: the moment that changed her life and shaped her connection to wine.
Nina Jensen. Photo: Ronja Bo Gustavsson, DSF
The day we met, Nina arrived on her bike, completely unbothered by the rain pouring down. I'd met her briefly before at events and had been impressed by her professionalism, but this was the first time we sat down for a proper conversation. Asking someone to open up about their journey can feel like a big request, but it turned out I didn’t need to worry. When I opened the door to welcome her, Nina greeted me with a warm smile, and I gave her a hug. She gave a thoughtful, intelligent, and down-to-earth impression.
Sponsored ad from Wine-Group, vine fra H.J. Hansen Vin A/S og Theis Vine.
As we sat down by the fireplace, side by side, I turned to her and asked, “Can you share a life-changing moment from your career as a sommelier?”
A Life-Changing Moment
“It was the first time I got to interact with a truly ancient wine,” Nina began. “I was working at Les Sommeliers in Copenhagen (Editor’s note: the restaurant has since closed), and one afternoon, a colleague came to me and said, ‘You have to taste this.’
‘It had powerful aromas of coffee, caramel, prunes, and oranges—so layered and complex. I asked, ‘What is this?’ and they told me, ‘It´s an 1853 Madeira.’ I was stunned. That moment shifted my entire perspective on wine.”
“Drinking that Madeira sparked a poetic trail of thought. It was like consuming time—it becomes a part of you, reconnecting you with the past for a fleeting moment before it’s gone, existing only in memory”
For Nina, the Madeira wasn’t just a wine; it was a connection to the past. “It made me think about what wine represents and what it carries forward through time,” she explained. “Drinking that Madeira sparked a poetic trail of thought. It was like consuming time—it becomes a part of you, reconnecting you with the past for a fleeting moment before it’s gone, existing only in memory.”
(Editor’s Note): As Nina spoke about the Madeira, it was as if she was tasting it again right in front of me. Her eyes lit up, her body language conveyed the intensity of the memory, and it felt like she could still sense its flavors on her palate.
Her emotional expression was so vivid, that to me—it was clear just how deeply that moment had stayed with her.
Fireside chat with Nina Jensen (to the right). Photo: Ronja Bo Gustavsson, DSF
A Broader Perspective on Wine
“At the time, I was studying at Vinakademiet (Editor’s note: Vinakademiet is a wine school in Copenhagen offering professional sommelier training and WSET-certified courses), and thought being a sommelier was all about knowing which grapes are grown where, the size of regions, their biggest producers, and the styles of wine they make,” Nina reflected. “Then, I tasted that specific glass of Madeira, and I realized how many world events had passed since it was made. It was pre-industrialization, or at least before the modern world we know today. That’s when I fully understood the incredible history that came before our current wine world.”
That experience sparked something in her. “Until then, I’d ignored wine history. I was focused on the ‘now’—cool facts I could share today. But the Madeira made me realize how important the aspect of history is to understanding the wine world today. Like with any history, it puts things into perspective.”
A walk and talk, to the right: Nina Jensen. Photo: Ronja Bo Gustavsson, DSF
“History became such an effective tool to help guests connect with their wine.”
This new perspective transformed not only how Nina studied wine but also how she communicated it. “History is something people can relate to. It brings them closer to wine” she explained. “I started thinking about how, in very simple terms, I could present the wine to a guest with more context—whether it’s from a traditional area like Madeira or Burgundy, or from an emerging region. What makes this wine special? History became such an effective tool to help guests connect with their wine.”
Sponsored ad from Wine-Group, vine fra H.J. Hansen Vin A/S og Theis Vine.
This shift in her, also changed how Nina approached conversations with winemakers. “When you visit wine regions and talk to winemakers, they often see themselves as part of a long cultural history that they want to carry forward. That connection to history became central to how I communicated with them and which questions I asked. It changed everything about how I approached wine.”
“Wine is a time capsule, a bridge between past and present.”
She went on to explain how the experience gave her a new understanding of wine. “Matured wine leads us to reflect on what has changed in the world since its vintage and what has stayed the same. It raises deeper questions: What are traditions, and why do they matter? What is modernization, and why is it important? Wine is a time capsule, a bridge between past and present.”
Nina Jensen. Photo: Ronja Bo Gustavsson, DSF
The Connection
What made the Madeira experience even more special were the people who shared it with her—a father, who was living in London and his son living abroad in Copenhagen. “They told me about their shared passion for wine and their common journeys to visit producers. For them, wine was a way to connect despite the distance,” she said.
That single glass of Madeira wasn’t just a connection to the past—it became a shared moment that brought their story to life, highlighting wine’s unique ability to bridge time and relationships.
Reflections on the Past and Future.
“While science has taught us a lot about the winemaking process, the foundation of winemaking—especially among artisanal producers—has remained largely unchanged,” she explained. “We still use oak barrels and harvest fruit from vineyards that date back to Roman times. In many ways, winemaking today is remarkably similar to what it was 1,000 years ago.”
Looking ahead, Nina believes certain wines will remain timeless. “I’ll always have faith in Mosel Riesling—it never disappoints. Fortified wines like Madeira and Port will continue to age gracefully. Champagne will also remain relevant, with more producers crafting it for longevity,” she proclaims.
“When you share wine, you share something deeply personal. It dissolves barriers and creates bonds, even between strangers.”
Balancing Tradition and Modern Trends
In today’s fast-paced world, I asked Nina how she views the ways we approach wine. She said she has noticed a change in people's drinking habits: “We drink wines earlier in their lifetime, and many wines are now produced to be enjoyed young. That’s not necessarily bad—it means people are drinking wine at the wine's best moment. But it’s important that traditions and cultural heritage aren’t lost in the process,” she cautioned.
Nina also reflected on some producers' efforts to preserve wines for future generations. “It’s an expensive and challenging undertaking, but it’s a worthwhile investment to ensure we leave something for the next generation,” she said.
Nina Jensen. Photo: Ronja Bo Gustavsson, DSF
Wine as a Shared Experience
For Nina, one of wine’s greatest powers is its ability to bring people together. “One of the most beautiful things about wine is how it creates moments of equality,” she said. “When you share wine, you share something deeply personal. It dissolves barriers and creates bonds, even between strangers.”
This belief is central to her work as a sommelier. “Sharing wine with guests builds lasting connections. Once you’ve shared an exceptional wine night with someone, you often pick up right where you left off the next time you meet,” she explained.
As she reflected on that pivotal moment, she said, “Wine allows us to consume time, reconnect with the past, and share that moment with others. That’s what makes it so powerful—it’s not just a drink; it’s a bridge to something greater.”
