Scandinavia isn’t exactly what connoisseurs would define as prime wine country and commercial vineyards are still tiny compared to France, Italy or Spain. But with climate change making for warmer and longer growing seasons, and new varieties of grapes adapted to this landscape, the bouquet of Swedish wines is maturing nicely.
“Where vineyards in more traditional countries are suffering, we are gaining momentum, ” said Felix Åhrberg, a oenologist and winemaker who returned to Sweden in 2017 to lead Kullabergs Vingård after working in vineyards around the world.
Kullabergs Vingård
Temperatures in southern Sweden have increased by about 2 degrees Celsius over the past 30 years compared to the 30 years before that, according to data from the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute.
The growing season has lengthened by about 20 days.
That was an observe for growing industry and for sure we with a journalist had to visit Göran Amnegård, owner of Blaxsta wine. He planted his first vines over 20 years ago to launch a commercial vineyard.
Thora Vingård
The widespread adoption of new varieties of disease-resistant grapes is also credited with Swedish wine’s growth. Most vineyards have planted a grape called Solaris, developed in Germany in 1975, that is adapted to the cooler climate and more resistant to diseases.
That enables most vineyards to avoid using pesticides.“Solaris is like the national grape variety here in Sweden” said Emma Berto, a French oenologist and winemaker at Thora Vingård
Winemarkers Emma Berto, right, and Romain Chichery at the Thora Vingård in Båstad
Sometimes, when you trust your skills, luck shows up and helps you get an interesting frame, even on a difficult shoot like this one, where you have to photograph green on green and can’t choose the season or sometimes even the time of day.
One time a rainbow appears out of nowhere in exactly the right spot
another time a rabbit runs through the frame looking for its hole to Wonderland.
