Swedish wine is on the rise

The Swedes have hundreds of years of experience in fermenting fruit, but in the last twenty years, fermenting grapes, or making wine, has become increasingly popular. There are two reasons for this. First of all, Sweden is warming up. In addition, Swedish winemakers can use so-called hybrid grape varieties that are resistant to all kinds of grape diseases and also perform better in a cool climate. There are now about thirty professional winemakers active in Sweden and exports are increasing. Sweden is an emerging wine country to keep an eye on.

Although wine was already being made in Sweden in the 19th century, the recent revival dates back to the 1990s. Cultivated, so-called hybrid grape varieties appeared on the market that are more resistant to persistent grape diseases such as mildew. This makes them very suitable for cooler and wetter wine regions. These grape varieties are also called 'Piwi', after the German abbreviation 'Pilzwiderstandsfahige Rebsorten'. Swedish winemakers began experimenting with these 'new grapes' in the 1990s.

They got a tailwind from the EU's recognition of Sweden as an official wine country in 1999. And even more so from climate change. According to the Swedish Meteorological Service, the temperature in southern Sweden has increased by two degrees Celsius in the past thirty years. This has increased the opportunities for wine growing, especially in sheltered places or close to open water. The sea has a moderating effect and can prevent frost in the spring, for example.

The Swedish vineyards are therefore located in the south. Most of the now approximately 100 to 150 hectares of vineyards are located in the province of Scania, the southern tip of the country. Vineyards on a calcareous subsoil and relatively more hours of sunshine are also located on the eastern islands of Gotland and Öland.

The Swedish winemakers have planted almost exclusively hybrid grape varieties. Most are white, just like the vast majority of Swedish wine. By far the most important is the Solaris, which they like to call the 'signature grape' of the country. The Solaris is a cross that was created in Germany in 1975. It is resistant to various diseases. The Swedes increasingly use it for sparkling wines. Other varieties that you will find in Swedish vineyards are the Rono and the Cabernet Cortis for red and the Muscaris and Souvignier Gris for white.

There are now about 30 professional wine companies active in Sweden. About ten with a reasonable scale and the rest really small. It is striking that most of them work organically, or almost organically. On the one hand, this has to do with their hybrid grape varieties that are resistant to various diseases and therefore do not need to be sprayed or much less. On the other hand, the Swedish consumer is sensitive to organic. Incidentally, this consumer is not so easy to reach for the Swedish winemakers. In Sweden, the sale of alcohol is the exclusive privilege of Systembolaget, a state monopolist. Swedish winemakers are therefore not allowed to sell directly to consumers; not even after a tour of the winery. Export is therefore of increasing importance.