Global warming is helping to turn freezing Sweden into unique wine country
In most of the northern hemisphere, harvest ended months ago. But at a small vineyard not far from Stockholm, in -8C temperatures and 15cm of snow, it's only just begun.
"It's perfect", said Göran Amnegård, whose Blaxsta winery claims to be one of the northernmost wineries in the world, as they began harvesting last week.
When he Planted its first grapes 22 years ago, it was one of Sweden's only commercial wineries. Today, it's one of many Nordic countries that experts say is on its way to becoming a wine destination.
Amnegård's vidal blanc grapes receive up to 23 hours of daylight in the height of summer before being turned into his award-winning Icewine, which he sells to Michelin-starred restaurants. "We have one of the most unique terroirs in the world," he said.
Although relatively small at 150 hectares , Swedish vineyards have increased by 50% in the last two years. Within five years, their size should more than double. In the long term, it is predicted that they could grow to 10,000 hectares and become a new billion-euro industry.
Domestic sales of Swedish wine have nearly doubled in the past five years. Systembolaget, the off-license government chain with a monopoly on the sale of alcoholic beverages over 3.5%, said sales had risen from 19,388 liters in 2017 to 34,495 liters this year as of November 30. Although production is still on a very small scale, the retailer said quantity, quality and customer interest are increasing.
Experts say global warming climate and the cultivation of new grape varieties are among the factors that drive Swedish wine production. The main varieties grown in Sweden are Solaris, a white grape variety first introduced in 1975 by the Freiburg Wine Institute in southwestern Germany, and Rondo, for red wine.
>Lotta Nordmark, a researcher at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, said the styles of wine were mainly white, sparkling and rosé, but there is also potential for making of orange wines.
Vital for the success of viticulture will be the use of disease-resistant grape varieties, sustainable cultivation systems and the ability to experiment without the restrictions appellations, Nordmark said. -spacefinder-role="inline" data-spacefinder-type="model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement" class="dcr-173mewl">
In most of the northern hemisphere, harvest ended months ago. But at a small vineyard not far from Stockholm, in -8C temperatures and 15cm of snow, it's only just begun.
"It's perfect", said Göran Amnegård, whose Blaxsta winery claims to be one of the northernmost wineries in the world, as they began harvesting last week.
When he Planted its first grapes 22 years ago, it was one of Sweden's only commercial wineries. Today, it's one of many Nordic countries that experts say is on its way to becoming a wine destination.
Amnegård's vidal blanc grapes receive up to 23 hours of daylight in the height of summer before being turned into his award-winning Icewine, which he sells to Michelin-starred restaurants. "We have one of the most unique terroirs in the world," he said.
Although relatively small at 150 hectares , Swedish vineyards have increased by 50% in the last two years. Within five years, their size should more than double. In the long term, it is predicted that they could grow to 10,000 hectares and become a new billion-euro industry.
Domestic sales of Swedish wine have nearly doubled in the past five years. Systembolaget, the off-license government chain with a monopoly on the sale of alcoholic beverages over 3.5%, said sales had risen from 19,388 liters in 2017 to 34,495 liters this year as of November 30. Although production is still on a very small scale, the retailer said quantity, quality and customer interest are increasing.
Experts say global warming climate and the cultivation of new grape varieties are among the factors that drive Swedish wine production. The main varieties grown in Sweden are Solaris, a white grape variety first introduced in 1975 by the Freiburg Wine Institute in southwestern Germany, and Rondo, for red wine.
>Lotta Nordmark, a researcher at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, said the styles of wine were mainly white, sparkling and rosé, but there is also potential for making of orange wines.
Vital for the success of viticulture will be the use of disease-resistant grape varieties, sustainable cultivation systems and the ability to experiment without the restrictions appellations, Nordmark said. -spacefinder-role="inline" data-spacefinder-type="model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement" class="dcr-173mewl">
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