Hello there!

Welcome to Sparkling Travel Stories, the wine & travel blog of a Helsinki-based journalist and sociologist whose life was forever changed by solo travel & wine.

So, who am I…?

Sparkling Woman from Finland

My name is Sanna. As a freelancer, I’m always on the go, craving inspiration and authentic experiences. Some call it restlessness, I say it’s all about curiosity and wanderlust.

As an experienced traveller, I love to explore new latitudes while returning to my bustling favourite cities: Paris, Rome, Madrid, Bilbao and Berlin.

Life in Helsinki ain’t bad either, but getaways are very important for my well-being. To be honest, I’d like to travel more often in my home country.

Wine stories from the heart

As a professional wine writer, my trips take me to the French, Italian and Spanish countryside where I seek authentic encounters with the locals. I’ve been to Champagne over 30 times and celebrated several birthdays there. Right now, Spain is the most exciting and dynamic wine country for me.

Besides Finnish (my mother tongue), I speak English, Swedish, German, Italian, French, Spanish and some Russian. My infatuation for the Basque Country, txakoli wines and Athletic Club has led me to study Euskara, the most unique language I’ve encountered.

Room for people & surprises

In this blog, I love to share stories and impressions, coincidences and delicious travel tips. They can be anything from unforgettable croissants to the finest dinners, from quirky orange wines to African sauces, from old cidrerias to the hippest wine bars.

Sometimes my wining & dining is well planned, sometimes the most memorable surprises arise at local eateries. My greatest joy is to taste wine & food and seize the moment while digging into local scene.

When it comes to choosing, I’d rather drink ordinary wines with brilliant people than once-in-a-lifetime unicorns in boring/arrogant/pompous company.

That said, I never say no to a glass of champagne. And if we happen to meet, I am glad to share a bottle of noble bubbles with you. Or even two, if we have time until sunrise.

How about you: what’s your favorite wine or travel destination? Drop a comment below!

Glad to have you here at Sparkling Travel Stories 💜

// Sanna

PS. To follow my travels & wine life, you’ll find me on Instagram as @champagnesanna, and on my Finnish account as @sannakissakangas.

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PHOTO (left): Lari Järnefelt @ Felt Fotografi
Pikku Huopalahti, Helsinki.

PHOTO (right): Giuseppe Rosario Mingione
Barri Gótic, Barcelona.

All other photos in this blog are mine unless credited otherwise.

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P.S. ONE LAST THING…

I only write about places I have visited, people I have met in person and wines that I’ve tasted. Every post is based on first-hand experience and observations.