Kristjan Markii: Tallinn has “something for every palate and budget” (and eight new Red Stars)

By Rachel Fellows

Published 16-October-2025

Interview / Tallinn

Kristjan Markii is president of the Estonian Sommelier Association and Star Wine List’s ambassador in the country. As he recommends eight new Red Stars in Tallinn, we ask him about the current challenges and trends on its wine scene.

Sommelier Kristjan Markii is not a fan of pretentious wine service. Instead, he is looking for a sommelier who is “friendly to all guests and knows their cellar in the deepest sense, without getting posh,” he tells us.

Kristjan began his hospitality career in southwest Estonia before moving to Tallinn and working for many years at the atmospheric Balthasar restaurant in the city’s Old Town. A prize-winning sommelier himself, he now supports his industry colleagues as president of the Estonian Sommelier Association, also lecturing at the Estonia Sommelier School, and writing and consulting on wine more broadly.

“There is always something going on,” he says. “And, sometimes, I feel that I should take more time for myself. So I'm careful about making new appointments, and trying to improve the ones I have already committed to.”

The Estonia Ambassador recently attended our awards ceremony for Star Wine List of the Year Baltics 2025 in Vilnius, accepting the certificates of any Estonian teams unable to make it to the Lithuanian capital. At this third edition of our wine list competition for the Baltic states, Kristjan was pleased to note that “we are growing steadily, not only in numbers but also in quality, the depth of selections, and diversity. This makes me happy.”

Kristjan has added eight Red Stars to our Tallinn guide, making your next good glass (or bottle) even easier to find.

How would you describe the wine scene in Tallinn since we last spoke, in 2021?
“It is more and more diverse, and it provides something for every palate and budget.”

What are the main trends on lists and in service?
“Overall, I'm noticing movement towards more authentic wines that reflect their origin, the heritage of the place – winemakers handwriting a good story – and a reasonable price-to-quality ratio. On another hand, there are enough audiences for the usual classics.

“The last few years have been challenging on the economic side, but somehow I see a great development in the food and dining sector in a very positive way.”

What are the biggest challenges for restaurants, and sommeliers, right now?
“Economic (inflation) and political (the war is still going on) – challenges that will somehow touch everyone.”

What are you looking for in a Red Star venue?
“A kind of personal touch from the sommelier and a wine list with character.”

How can a wine list impress you?
“When the wine list is smartly created, by being able to please most palates with different budgets, yet still reflecting the essence of the place and the person behind the wine list.”

Where is the liveliest neighbourhood for wine in Tallinn?
“Rotermanni, for sure, then North Tallinn with the Kalamaja suburb, and Old Town. Luckily, they all are pretty close to each other.”

What were sommeliers talking about at the Star Wine List of the Year Baltics event this year?
“Everyone is talking about de-alcoholised wine or sparkling tea, etc. It shows that non-alcoholic beverages, starting in casual diners to the high-end restaurants, are here to stay for longer periods and we have to adapt with this change. Luckily, a good sommelier is able to make great food and beverage matches with any drink – with wine for sure but also with tea, beer, or sake, and now the high-quality soft beverages.”

Explore the wine guide to Tallinn.