Watching History in the Making!

Nobody knows for sure when Danes discovered wine. The Vikings had what we would call wine goblets, but did they use them for wine or mead? I personally think that they did drink wine after all their travels (after all, they settled in Wineland in today’s Canada!), but since they did not document their daily lives, we just cannot know.

We first read about wine in 1269 in the town of Ribe where rules are created about how much to fine if an establishment served too much or too little to a patron. After this, wine would be bought in large quantities from Germany by various Kings. However, no wine seems to have grown in Scandinavia for thousands and thousands of years.

In the 80s and 90s, a few not so successful wineries started popping up. Today, Denmark boasts 100 professional wineries spread out across the country.

Needless to say, climate change is a huge factor for this new development, but several wine makers are of the opinion that Denmark should have started making wine much sooner. The secret is choosing varietals that can live with the relativ lack of sunshine and that will survive without nasty pesticides which are not allowed in Denmark (hurrah!).

We embarked on a three day tour of 5 vineyards arranged by Vagns Kulturrejser i Danmark (Vagn’s Cultural Trips in Denmark), https://vagns.dk and I will have to admit that my life in Bordeaux and California did not create any particular expectations with regards to Danish Wineries! I was dead wrong. Instead, I discovered a highly technical and scientific world and lovely wineries that are able to cater to large groups, tastings, food pairings AND that receive international accolades and trophies in major tastings.

The following pictures are from the following vineyards:

Skaarupøre Vingaard: Lovely organic winery located in Skårup on the Island of Fyn offering Bubbles, Rosé and White, as well as some fortified wines.

Skærsøgård Vin: The only wine with an appellation in Denmark (Dons) and the most awarded winery in the country with 126 Danish medals and 115 International ones. Located near Kolding in Jylland offering the same typical Danish wines.

Årø Vingård: Located in Southern Jutland on the tiny island of Årø offering the usual Bubbles, Rosé and White, but also red and fortified wines. Don’t miss the “Flammkuchen” (Alsatian pizza simplified!) that come with the tasting!

Vesterhave Vingård: We are back in Zealand in the adorable town of Karrebæksminde way down south, only it feels more like tasting Amarone in Italy! Whoever said that Denmark cannot make red wine is just wrong!

Dyrehøj Vingård: Denmark’s largest vinery with 50,000 vines spread across 4-5 parcels and the only winery on a slope that I have seen so far in this flat country! An impressive production of bubbles, rosé and white, but also gin, rum, fortified wines, liqueurs etc.

Grapes in Denmark are: Rondo, Regent, Leon Millot, Boleo, Cabernet Cantor, Cabernet Cortis, Castel, Solaris, Souvignier Gris, Orion, Zalas Perle and Riesel, all from Germany, France and Hungary.

A very special thank you to Vagn Olsen for organizing a perfect trip with wonderful wineries, food, hotels and stories, and to Alex, our fearless driver from Løvschall Bus.

Next adventure: The Vineyards of Sweden!

Skål!