About Tim

History of DSF

Niels Monberg (from Jan Pedersen’s Restaurant La Cocotte) and I won as prizes in Sopexa’s Danish competition ‘Knowledge of French Wine & Spirits’ — that in 1983 we were sent to participate in the ASI World Championship for Sommeliers / Mondial du Vin in Brussels. We didn’t win the World Championship (far from it) — but we met many skilled ‘real’ sommeliers from some of the finest restaurants around the world, and we gained inspiration there, along with Søren Hansen (from Erwin Lauterbach’s Skovshoved Hotel) and a few other very wine-interested people from the hospitality industry, to establish the Danish Sommelier Association (DSF) six years later (1989).

But already in 1984, I was invited by the Association Sommelier International (ASI) to participate as a representative for Denmark and as a judge / jury member at all the international and some national Sommelier Championships, which I did for about the next 40 years — of course, like all sommelier work, without payment — but the reward was and is great in the many exciting experiences and knowledge gained, which could be applied when we, after almost six years of preparation, founded the Danish Sommelier Association.

ASI and around the World

During my many travels as a jury member with ASI, I met skilled sommeliers from all over the world, and I studied, ‘a little enviously,’ their very different and often beautiful emblems that showed which sommelier association they represented. For example, the French Sommelier Association had / has a beautiful golden bunch of grapes, and Italy had a beautiful small golden Tastevin (wine taster cup) on their sommelier uniform — I also wanted one. So, back in Denmark, I went to the kiosk at the SAS Radisson Hotel Scandinavia (where I worked in the gourmet restaurant Top of Town on the 25th floor). The kiosk didn’t sell sommelier emblems, but they had the little charming mermaid on a stone with the Danish flag as a background. I proudly wore it on my suit at the next ASI championship, and suddenly, ‘everyone’ wanted to trade emblems with me to get the sweet mermaid. So, before the next international championship, I bought a whole box of these very popular Danish Mermaid ’emblems’ at the kiosk and traded them for a large, nice collection of beautiful sommelier emblems from all over the world.

But I was well aware that our lovely mermaid probably didn’t symbolize wine or sommelier work, but I knew what emblems all the then-30 ASI member countries had and was actually surprised that none had what I considered the most important tool — a ‘Waiter’s Corkscrew’ as their emblem. So, I took my own regular corkscrew, placed it on the photocopier, and sent out a fax to several companies asking for offers on a golden corkscrew emblem — which today receives great praise from many of the now almost 70 ASI member countries. Many would love to trade for it, but they get a ‘sorry, not possible’ response. The Golden Corkscrew Emblem with D.S.F. is exclusively reserved for members of the Danish Sommelier Association who work in the restaurant industry and have proven their knowledge of beverages before becoming members.

P.S. The same corkscrew emblem in silver is reserved for DSF’s sponsors — who are very important — even though all sommelier work is still unpaid. We need sponsor support for education, events, training, and travel, etc., so that DSF, as support for the Danish restaurant industry, can ensure the service of highly qualified labor for the demanding customers from both Denmark and the rest of the world, who are increasingly visiting the many famous restaurants we are all so proud of.”

A sommelier is a person who can set aside their own taste and understand the guest's expectations. The sommelier can describe the wine neutrally for the guest and recommend food to pair with it.

My Work as a Sommelier

Tim Vollerslev og Kronprinsesse Mary
Tim Vollerslev og Kronprinsesse Mary
Tim og ASI's præsident
Prins Henrik med sit Diplom

My work as a sommelier has provided me with many exciting experiences and new acquaintances around the world. I have had the honor of meeting both royals and some of the world’s most renowned wine growers in various countries, and each experience has enriched my understanding and passion for the world of wine.

Around the World

Sommelier BootCamp i Malaysia
Stockholm
Cykeltur i Chiles vinmarker

After my time as Liaison for ASI, I have had the pleasure of participating in many wine trips and sommelier assessments around the world. One of the most memorable experiences was my trip to Hong Kong. Over the years, I have also visited numerous vineyards, both in Europe and overseas — including in Chile, which offered warm, beautiful surroundings and fantastic wine experiences.

Family

Familie og Børnebørn
Vinvejledning til min søn i USA
Ægteskab siden 1986

Together with my wife Kristina, we have raised three wonderful adult children — a daughter and two sons — and today we enjoy being grandparents to our lovely grandchildren. After a long marriage since 1986, we look forward to many more good years filled with delicious food, wine, and exciting experiences.
My passion for wine has taken me on many journeys, but it has also meant that time at home has been scarce. As a small tradition, I always brought a Barbie doll home to my daughter from every country I visited, and it became a small, loving gesture to show that she was always in my thoughts, even when I was far away.

Read more about my career

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