Guided tours among the vines, tastings, al fresco meals and no need to nominate a designated driver. These five Swedish vineyards are
especially lovely in summer, with overnight stays that turn vineyard visits into proper weekend escapes.
The afternoon sun spills across the twenty hectares of Arilds Vingård on the Kullahalvön peninsula in Skåne. Glamping tents are scattered among the lush vines, while an 18th-century half-timbered farmhouse stands at the heart of the estate. When Annette and Jonas Ivarsson bought the property 27 years ago, producing wine was never part of the plan. Yet an old vine of unknown origin was already growing on the land and, as they say, the rest is history.
It is a history Jonas Ivarsson is happy to share during a guided tour. “Much of Sweden’s wine is produced around Kullaberg. Perhaps that’s because there are more eccentrics living here than anywhere else in the country, though that’s only part of the story,” he says with a laugh, before going on to explain the unique conditions that have helped put Swedish wine on the map. Today, competition in the region is far more intense, but over the past three decades Arilds Vingård has established itself as one of Sweden’s leading vineyard destinations. The estate has grown significantly and now cultivates varieties including Cabernet Cortis, Pinot Noir and Solaris. Guests who book one of the vineyard packages can enjoy a three-course dinner paired with the estate’s wines, followed by a night in one of the glamping tents or, for those seeking a more conventional stay, in a cottage room. https://arildsvingard.se/
Just outside the university city of Lund, amid the fertile farmland of Skåne, family-owned Flädie Mat & Vingård is another pioneer of Swedish wine tourism. Vineyard, restaurant and hotel are seamlessly combined into a polished experience, with the culinary offering led by Lena Ylipää Abrahamsson. Her cooking showcases locally grown Skåne produce, wild herbs and ingredients sourced from small-scale producers across the region. The menu strikes a balance between rustic local traditions and more refined restaurant cooking, featuring dishes such as charred asparagus with crisp egg yolk and wild garlic foam, flame-grilled Arctic char with trout roe and fried nettles, and cockerel from Tockafarmen in Genarp served with wild garlic velouté, spring vegetables, ’nduja and pickled rhubarb.
Guests can also take part in wine tastings, join guided tours of the vineyard and winery, or book packages that combine dinner with an overnight stay among the vines. The estate’s sparkling rosé, produced from Solaris and Phoenix grapes using the traditional method, is particularly worth seeking out. Dry, vibrant and elegantly aromatic, with bright acidity and a refreshing finish, it makes an excellent summer wine.
Another of Sweden’s oldest commercial vineyards lies just over an hour south of Stockholm: Blacksta Vingård in Flen. Reached via a scenic drive through the Södermanland countryside, the estate offers far more than wine alone, with tastings, locally sourced food, a farm shop, craft beer, house-distilled spirits, a bakery and comfortable accommodation. One particularly appealing option is the vineyard package, which includes a glass of sparkling wine on arrival, access to the wood-fired garden pool, a tasting of the estate’s own beverages and a tasting menu showcasing ingredients such as fish from nearby Lake Långhalsen, meat from the estate and surrounding forests, and vegetables, fruit and berries grown either on site or by neighbouring producers. After a restful night’s sleep, guests can enjoy breakfast before setting off home.
Blacksta produces wine, of course, but owners Josefin and Olle Lagerhorn also run Blacksta Brygghus, where beer is brewed and spirits are distilled. During the summer months, the restaurant welcomes walk-in guests to its bar, while the farm shop is well worth a visit before heading home. https://blackstavingard.se/
When Ästad Vingård released its first wine eleven years ago, the estate was run by Daniel Carlsson, Linda Petersson and Mattias Glamheden, representing the third generation of the family. It was their parents, however, who first recognised the property's potential as a visitor destination and began transforming it into a place for overnight stays and relaxation. Over the past decade, this former farm, beautifully set beside the beech forests of Åkulla in Halland, has evolved into not only one of Sweden’s best-known wineries but also one of the country’s most celebrated culinary destinations.
Much of that reputation rests on the success of ÄNG, the estate’s acclaimed restaurant, where chef Filip Gemzell has led the team to both a Michelin Star and a Michelin Green Star. Visitors can stop by the wine bar to sample Ästad’s wines before browsing the farm shop. However, a longer stay is well worth considering. The estate offers a range of packages, many of which include overnight accommodation, access to Sinnenas Spa and, naturally, the food and wine that have earned Ästad its outstanding reputation.
For many, Sweden is scarcely more beautiful than it is here. Brösarps Backar, north of Kivik in Skåne, is a striking landscape of rolling, grass-covered hills that sweep down towards Hanö Bay. Here, at Haväng in the Verkaån Valley, lies Skepparps Vingård, run by Bengt Åkesson and Eva Bergqist. Bengt’s grandfather first established apple orchards on the site. To this day, the vineyard remains closely linked to Kiviks Musteri, the historic drinks based at Sweden’s first commercial fruit farm. Skepparps also produces cider, while wine arrived much later, in 2011. “That was when we first ventured into winemaking and planted 7,000 vines,” says Åkesson. “Nowadays, we have 25,000 vines, most of them Solaris, a green grape variety that has proved particularly well suited to our conditions.”
Spread across six hectares of south-facing slopes, the estate also grows Rondo, Cabernet Cortis and Merzling, while Cabaret Noir, Sauvignon Gris and Sauvitage were introduced on a trial basis last year. Summer is the busiest season, with vineyard tours and tastings held several times a week. Visitors can drop in for lightly smoked chicken served with seasonal vegetables, enjoy live music, book winemaker dinners or attend Smaka Svenska Viner, a wine festival held on 24 and 25 July. Skepparps does not offer accommodation on site, but several partner stays, including Farmors Lycka and Ravlunda Bränneri, are within a radius of around three kilometres, with Kiviks Taxi available for transfers. Whatever you choose, a glass or three of Skepparps Grand Prix Solaris is a must. Produced using the traditional method, this sparkling wine offers notes of green apple, blackcurrant leaf, gooseberry, biscuit and lime.
