Scandinavian wine has become a recent obsession among adventurous wine enthusiasts. While most people still flock to Italy, Spain, France, or California to go on vino adventures, there’s a lot to be said about Nordic wine regions as they’re slated to be the next big thing in wine tourism. This article is about discovering Scandinavian wine Regions and where to get the best Nordic wine experiences.
Sweden, in particular, is predicted to be the next popular wine destination since the country has the perfect weather and soil for growing different grape varieties.
Felix Åhrberg, who is the Secretary of the Swedish Industry Association for Oenology and Viticulture (SBOV), says that Swedish wine is currently being “very well-received” by oenophiles and that this is the perfect time for the country’s alcoholic products to be in the spotlight. “It would be a new billion euro industry in Sweden with wine tourism,” he adds. If you’re up for a wine-focused adventure in Scandinavia, here’s a guide to the best regions, and where to have the best Nordic wine experiences during your travels.
Skåne County, Sweden
If you’ve never been on a wine tour in Sweden, Denmark, or Norway before, it’s a good idea to keep a few pointers in mind to have an enjoyable winery experience. First, get in touch with the winery manager to know what type of experiences they offer. Some have wine experience packages wherein you get to have a tour of the grounds, followed by a wine tasting session. Others offer wine cellar tours and a meal with your wine of choice. Choose your wine experience, then find out if you need to book in advance since some wineries require you to do that. Also, if you’re having a difficult time choosing which wineries to visit, consider your wine preferences, then choose accordingly. So for instance, if you love white wine, pick a place that produces the best bottles of this variant.
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If you’re planning on having a wine experience in Sweden, head to Skåne County where you’ll find more than 30 beautiful wineries across the region. One of the most popular wineries here is Thora Vineyard, which produces certified organic premium wine. They offer guided tours on Saturdays at 3PM, and this experience includes a walk in the vineyard. After that, you get to sample two different types of wine– their Solaris Heritage 2022 and Pinot Noir are highly recommended.
A visit to Skepparps Vineyard is also a must, especially if you’re a fan of sparkling wine. Grapes and apples are grown in this expansive winery, and the fruits are turned into wine and cider. This place is famous for producing crossover sparkling wines, which are made by mixing Swedish and Italian grapes. Try their Grand Prix Sparkling Rose, which has notes of red currants and raspberries, or their highly-rated white wine, the Grand Prix Sparkling Solaris, which has notes of gooseberry, green apples, and passionfruit.
Discovering Scandinavian Wine Regions: Where To Get The Best Nordic Wine Experiences, article continues below the image.
Jutland, Denmark
The Danish wine scene is fairly new since the country only started to commercially produce wine in 2000, which was the year when wine-making became legal in Denmark. But wine enthusiasts are excited for what lies ahead for Danish wines and wineries, especially since some of the local products have won major competitions over the years. Today, there are four major wine regions in the country, and the region that has the most winemakers is Jutland. There are 28 commercial wineries in the area, and one that stands out is Glenholm Winery, which offers a tour package that includes a walk in the vineyard, a tasting bar with 4 wines, and a glass of wine with a full lunch.
Got lots of time to explore? Visit Skærsøgaard Vin, which is one of the largest wineries in the world. They are said to have the best wines made in the country right now, and their DONS Sparkling wines have won various awards in different wine competitions all over the world. Try their DONS Rose Brut 2018, a sparkling and fruity pink wine, or their DONS Blanc de Noir Brut 2020, which is their most awarded product.
Østlandet and Vestlandet, Norway
Norway has yet to have an officially designated wine region by the European Union, but two destinations that are said to be possible contenders are Østlandet and Vestlandet. The former is situated in the southeast part of the country, while the latter is located along the fjords of the west coast. One winery that is steadily attracting tourists is the Lerkekåsa Vineyard, which is about two hours away from Oslo. Not only do they tour visitors around the vineyard, but they also teach the winemaking process and offer some wine for tasting. They also have accommodation for overnight guests, making it the perfect place for a weekend getaway in Norway.
Scandinavian wine regions show a lot of promise as they’re predicted to be the hottest wine destinations in the coming years. Visit these regions for the best wine experiences and discover some of the finest locally made wines in Europe.
Discovering Scandinavian Wine Regions: Where To Get The Best Nordic Wine Experiences, written dedicatedly for Daily Scandinavian by Karoline Gore. Karoline is a freelance writer from Stoke on Trent in the UK who left the corporate grind when she started a family and has never looked back. She enjoys contributing to a range of online publications on the topics that are important to her.
Feature image (on top): Photo by Valeria Boltneva/Pexels