Swedish Wine Industry Flourishes as Warming Climate Creates Favorable Conditions

Swedish winemaking is changing from primarily being done on a small scale by amateurs to an industry with greater ambition as drought, rising temperatures, and other extreme weather events force traditional wine-producing regions to reevaluate their practices.

The majority of the vines on Kullabergs Vingrd, which covers 14 hectares (about 34 acres), were planted less than ten years ago. The winery produced over 30,000 bottles of wine annually by 2022, predominantly whites that are served in high-end restaurants throughout the world, from Europe to Japan to Hong Kong.

These wines have also won numerous international awards.

Grapevines can withstand heat and drought, and irrigation-free farming has historically been practiced in some regions of Europe. But the earth has experienced its warmest years on record during the last ten years, and further warming is predicted.

It may affect wine, as even slight weather changes can alter the sugar, acid, and tannin content of grapes.

Climatic change may make it harder to grow grapes in places that were once suitable for them. Excessive heat causes grapes to develop more quickly, which can result in earlier harvests that may compromise quality or, if allowed to ripen for an excessively long time, stronger, unbalanced wines.

In recent years, commercial vineyards have popped up in countries like Norway and Denmark, and other regions, like the American West, have expanded into cooler regions as a result of the planting of grapevines.

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Warming Trends in Sweden Extend Wine Production Season and Spur Innovation

The demand for its sparkling wines is expected to cause the area planted with vines in the United Kingdom, known for its ales and bitter beers, to treble over the next ten years.

Data from the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute show that temperatures in southern Sweden have risen by around 2 degrees Celsius over the previous 30 years compared to the 30 years before that. Moreover, the growth season has been extended by almost 20 days.

According to them, Sweden experiences fewer extreme weather events than France, where warming winters can cause grape vines to grow early buds that are susceptible to frost and violent hailstorms can quickly undo a year’s worth of work.

Chichery added that compared to nations steeped in tradition and rules, like France, Sweden offers more latitude for experimentation.

Getting the wine to consumers around the world is a huge hurdle for Sweden’s fledgling wine industry. Unlike France and other traditional wine-producing nations, there is no government support.

Due to Sweden’s official monopoly on the sale of alcohol, wineries are subject to stringent regulation and are unable to sell directly to customers.

As vineyards grow, winemakers expect that will change. Despite the fact that the vine planting area is expanding quickly, it still remains small—only around 150 hectares—in comparison to Spain’s almost one million hectares and France’s more than 800,000 hectares.

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Source: ABC News