Leif Eriksson and the famous Viking explorers used to refer to the parts of North America they had encountered as "Vinland."

(It probably doesn't mean "wine" in Old Norse but let's not have truth get in the way of a good story.)

and now, FULL CIRCLE

A wine from Scania, "The Nordic Tuscany" beat all the other famous whites from France and Italy and Spain in a blind test by a panel of international experts.

Sweden is “a young wine country”, says Victor Dahl, chief executive of Kullabergs. EU approval for winemaking in Sweden and Denmark, required for commercial production, was granted only in 1999. There are now about 50 commercial wineries in Sweden. Sales are still tiny—just a drop in the barrel by global standards—but growing quickly.

That wine can be made in Sweden at all may come as a surprise. Global warming has helped. But “climate change is also bad for us,” says Mr Dahl. Although the climate is warmer overall, it is also unpredictable: since 2018 every growing season has been different. Sweden’s long summer days provide plenty of sunshine to ripen grapes. Indeed, slower ripening may enhance flavour.

Immelen, the award-winning wine, is two-thirds Solaris (a grape I had never heard of...) and Souvignier Gris + Muscaris. Basically a lab-made engineered baby... what's not to like?!

The resulting wine is surprisingly full-bodied, with none of the under-ripeness often found in cool-climate wines. It reminded this correspondent of a high-end Sancerre.

Just as significant as climate change has been the rise of New Nordic cuisine, a gastronomic culture centred on Copenhagen and Malmo. Skane is sometimes referred to as the “Nordic Tuscany” and is being promoted as a tourist destination for foodies. In this part of the world, seasonal tasting menus abound, and foragers gather local ingredients for restaurants. Magnus Nilsson—whose previous restaurant, Faviken, earned two Michelin stars—has recently opened a new one in Skane, as has Titti Qvarnstrom, the first Swedish woman to win a star. Being able to serve local wine with local food has obvious appeal.

archive: https://archive.md/rfApN