Swesomm Coaches
The Swedish National Sommelier Team, known as Swesomm, consists of the finalist from this years Swedish Championship and the candidates for the European- and the World Championship. Behind them we find a team of talented and passionated coaches and supporters that makes it all happen.
Swesomm’s Coaches
Sören Polonius
Head Coach
Work: Adam/Albin, my own company Dryck enl Polonius and Swesomm
Merits: 2010 – Swedish Candidate World Championship (Semifinalist)
2009 – Grand Jour de Champagne (Winner)
2009 – Baltic Championship (Winner)
2008 – European Championship in Bulgaria (Semifinalist)
2008 – Nordic Championship in Stavanger (Final, 2nd place)
2008 – Swedish Sommelier Championship (Winner)
2006 – Trophée Ruinart European Championship (Semifinalist)
2006 – Nordic Championship in Copenhagen (Final, 2nd place)
2006 – Swedish Sommelier Championship (Winner)
2005 – Nordic Championship in Iceland (Final, 3rd place)
2005 – Swedish Sommelier Championship (Final, 3rd place)
2004 – Swedish Sommelier Championship (Semifinalist)
2004 – Trophée Ruinart Stockholm Competition (Semifinalist)
2003 – Swedish Sommelier Championship (Semifinalist)
2003 – Rookie of the Year Championship (Final, 2nd place)
Favourite region: California (to travel in) and California, Burgundy, Bordeaux and Wachau (to drink).
Sommelier I look up to: Gerard Basset, no one else in the world has accompliced what he have.
Guilty pleasure: Semi-dried cheese doodles. (They have to have the right texture, it takes about 24-48 hours depending on the humidity).
Hidden skills: Whistle, I do it all the time without even thinking about it. I’m starting to get really good at it.
Contact: soren@swesomm.com
Instagram: @pappitvega
Maya Samuelsson
Assistant Coach
Work: Scandinavian Wine Academy, TV4 Nyhetsmorgon & Allt om vin
Merits: 2014 – 1st place Sommelier Freestyle
2014 – 3rd place Swedish Sommelier Championship
2014 – 3rd place Châteaux & Domaines Castel Sommelier Cup, Poland
2014 – 3rd place Trophée Mastroberardino, Estonia
2014 – 1st place Lily Bollinger Award
2015 – 3rd place Swedish Sommelier Championship
2016 – 3rd place Swedish Sommelier Championship
2016 – 1st place Nordic Ruinart Challenge
Favourite region: Champagne
Sommelier I look up to: Gerard Basset
Guilty pleasure: Hot shot & Harry Potter (an awesome combination by the way)
Hidden skills: Can sleep anywhere at anytime.
Contact: maya@swesomm.com
Instagram: @maya_samuelsson
Ellen Franzén
Assistant Coach
Work: Freyja
Merits: 1st place in the Nordic Sommelier Championship 2021
1st place in the Swedish Sommelier Championship 2021
1st place in the Nordic Ruinart Challenge 2019
1st place in the Swedish Sommelier Championship 2019
2nd place in the Nordic Sommelier Championship 2018
3rd place in the Nordic Ruinart Challenge 2018
2nd place in the Swedish Sommelier Championship 2018
2nd place in the Swedish Sommelier Championship 2017
Favourite region: Burgundy
Sommelier I look up to: Arvid Rosengren
Guilty pleasure: Moscato d’Asti on the rocks.
Hidden skills: A master of making hot shots.
Contact: ellen@swesomm.com
Instagram: @ellen_franzen
Fredrik Lindfors
Assistant Coach
Work: Ward Wines
Merits: 2019 5th Best Sommelier in the World, Antwerp, Belgium
2018 Finalist of Balkan Sommelier Challenge, Belgrade, Serbia (Guest Competitor)
2017 Nordic Sommelier Champion, Helsinki, Finland
2017 Winner of Vana Tallinn Grand Prix, Vilnius, Lituania
2017 Swedish Sommelier Champion, Stockholm, Sweden
2016 1st Runner up Nordic Sommelier Championship, Copenhagen, Denmark
2016 Swedish Sommelier Champion, Stockholm, Sweden
2012 Winner of Moët Sommelier Challenge, Stockholm, Sweden
2008 Bartender of the Year, Gothenburg, Sweden
Favourite region: Rhône Valley & Champagne
Sommelier I look up to: Arvid Rosengren
Guilty pleasure: Super Bock – a truly underrated beer
Hidden skills: Tipsy dancing
Contact: fredrik@swesomm.com
Instagram: @f_lindfors
Tina Johansson
Marketing manager / Communication
Work: Restaurant Ekstedt
Merits: Finalist in Vana Tallinn Grand Prix/Baltic Championship 2019 (guest competitor)
3rd place in the Swedish Sommelier Championship 2019
2nd place in the Nordic Ruinart Challenge 2018
1st place in Lily Bollinger Award 2017
2nd place in the Nordic Ruinart Challenge 2017
3rd place in the Swedish Sommelier Championship 2017
2nd place in Lily Bollinger Award 2016
Favourite region: Champagne & all of South Africa
Sommelier I look up to: Maya Samuelsson, the first person who made me believe I could actually compete in sommellerie
Guilty pleasure: The Twilight movies
Hidden skills: Weirdly good at karaoke to all the ABBA hits
Contact: tina@swesomm.com
Instagram: @tinahelenajohansson
Johan Waara
Team Psychologist
Work: Psychologist at Uppsala University
Merits: Been working with the team since 2014
Favourite region: Bourgogne
Guilty pleasure: Plankstek (steak on a plank)
Hidden skills: DJ
Contact: info@johanwaara.se
Instagram: @psykologwaara
