Page 19 - Naked Foodies - July 2021

In combination this allows for grapes to slowly develop high natural acidity, aromatics and ripeness for world class quality grapes. The award winning Kullabergs vingård has 14 ha of vines planted with hybrids acting as interspecific crossings, PIWI, but aims for 23 ha by 2022. He describes the fungus resistant PIWI varieties as “Windows 10 instead of Windows 95” in the way they perform. The majority planted is the green Solaris which he describes as a Sauvignon blanc “but without greenness with more tropical and flower aromatics”. Other green varieties are Souvignier Gris, Donauriesling, Muscaris. Blue grapes found are Pinot Nova, Cabernet Noir, some Rondo and Regent too. In addition to these there is also an experimental field with 21 different varieties on the property.
The plantings are cultivated sustainably with great respect for nature with herb and flower mixes in rows and around vines. Production figures are almost 100 000 bottles per year and there is a new winery being built at this very moment. ”Winemaker & Oenologist at Kullabergs Vingård, Chairman at the commission SOVK, Secretary and board member of SBOV.”
Worked in Austria, Italy, France, South Africa, New Zealand, Switzerland during his journeyman years before bringing a world of knowledge back home to Sweden. Numerous prices and awards both nationally and internationally amongst AWC, IWC, Piwi International but not at least. Felix also describes the current wine scene in Sweden. He knows what he is talking about, being one of the initiators of the new trade association SBOV, Sveriges Branschorganisation för Oenologi & Vitikultur,
and active on the managing board. The aim is to create an organisation for professionally run wineries and safeguarding their interests.Today there are around 250 growers but a couple of more than around 20 who run their vineyards on a commercial level with a quality focus.
So what is next? Again, Felix has a clear vision of what the industry could look like. There are up to 10 000 ha land which could be planted in the regions of Halland, Blekinge and Skåne for instance. Swedish wine could become “a billion industry” if politicians and investors see the potential in the country. Wine is a lifestyle product that every other product would like to be, he explains. It is a product for people who enjoy life, taste and smell, experiences and are curious. The vision is to make industry sustainable, interesting, transparent and competitive.
My favourite wine from Kullaberg:
2019 Immelen is my all time favourite. This was the first wine I encountered from Kullaberg and it really blew me away. Swedish? No way at this quality level..but oh, yes it is!
Dominant grape variety, with 86% is Solaris but there is also 7% Souvignier gris and a 7% mix of other varieties.
You can tell from the spicy, nutty nose that there is oak used in the vinification and it sits there as a well balanced match with ripe peach and citrus. Complex enough to be intriguing and the taste follows suit. Dry, quite big and bold but the freshness and well balanced oak and fruits makes your mouth water. A subtle roundness on the mid palate from the lees ageing and bâttonage. I would pair it with a skrei(cod) fried with generous amounts of butter that is melting enough to turn slightly caramelized together with flakes of almond. Swedish new potatoes allowed to almost boil finished but then taken off the water and tossed on the barbeque for a few minutes. Salt and a good oil added on the potatoes. A green salad and nothing else.
English — Kullabergs Vingård
But there is obviously more to discover and enjoy:
Traditional method produced sparkling wines called Josefinlust in Brut Zero, Brut and rosé styles. The latter one is exclusively sold on the farm for the wineclub Kullabergs Vin & Vänner. (Kullabergs Wine & Friends) The Brut Zero will be sold in the exclusive assortment at the retail monopoly starting December 10, 2021. 15 months on lees, 10 for the Brut zero, and all in the same elegant yet nuanced character as Immelen.
Visit the website for more info on wines, cider and destillates also produced. And maybe best of all, plan a trip and go visit them in their beautiful location at Kullaberg, Sweden.
Hitta hit — Kullabergs Vingård. http://kullabergs.se
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