Wine country Sweden
Today there are more than 100 vineyards in Sweden, and around thirty of them are commercial. Here are three that welcome visitors for guided tours and wine tasting.
LÅNGMYRE VINERI GOTLAND
Långmyre Vineri, on Gotland's most southerly point in Burgsvik, isa winery run by Emma Serner and And rea Guerra It was founded in 2018 and so far has focused on rosé, but it intends to expand into sparkling wine in the future.
"The climate and latitude distinguish us from wines produced further south. The long growing season and mild temperatures mean the grapes mature steadily and slowly, giving them complexity and well-developed flavours."
This KRAV-certified (Swedish sustainability certification) farm grows five types of grapes: three green and two blue. The grapes were chosen for their resistance to the Scandinavian climate and to avoid the need for chemical sprays. The vision is to farm with minimal impact on the environment.
Långmyre's wines are sold at the state alchohol monopoly Systembolaget, and at the vineyard, and the vineyard will offer guided tours and wine tasting in the summer.
VEJBY VINGÅRD SKÅNE
The Bjärehalvön peninsula in north-western Skåne is said be one of the areas in Sweden with the most vineyards. Small family-owned Vejby Vingård, which runs an ecologically sustainable winery, is located here. It applies the single-vine yard principle, which means that the wine it sells only contains grapes from its own farm. Unlike most other commercial vineyards in Sweden, Vejby Vingård mainly makes red wine, which requires a warmer climate than white and rose. To maintain the temperature, the soil has been covered with stones from the nearby construction of the tunnel through the Hallandsåsen fault block. According to the farm's owner Jeppe Appelin, this raises the ground temperature by up to 15 °.
Vejby Vingård is also known for its orange wines, made using an old Georgian tradition. In 2020, the farm established a Georgian wine cellar (marani) with nineteen large clay vessels for fermentation and storage.
The vineyard is open year-round, and during the harvest in October guests are welcome to help pick the grapes.
BLAXSTA VINGÅRD SÖRMLAND
Sweden's oldest and most northerly commercial vineyard is located just outside of Flen in Sörmland. Founded in 2000, Blaxsta Vingård is run by Göran and Ulrika Amnegård. It is the only farm in Sweden to grow the vitis vinifero grapes, but it is known more for its sweet ice wine, which is made from grapes picked at-7°C. This wine has won gold at Challenge lnternational du Vin four times, most recently in 2019. Blaxsta also makes an ice wine from Åkerö apples and a sparkling wine from pears and white currants, as well as more traditional wines such as chardonnay and grand cuvee.
"Swedish wines are unique in many ways. Nowhere else in the world are the grapes exposed to as much daylight, and the mineralisation of the soil is unique," says Göran Amnegård.
Blaxsta Vingård also includes the restaurant Kung Blacke, where Göran is also responsible for the menu. The vineyard isopen year-round.
why wine from sweden?
Sweden's long summer days and mineral-rich soil are ideal conditions for making flavourful wines that can hold their own against more traditional wine countries.