Immelen from Kullabergs Vineyard took the top honours at The Swedish Wine Tasting, a prestigious competition where twelve Swedish wines were matched against twelve European counterparts. This victory not only highlights the exceptional quality of our domestic wines but also marks a significant milestone for Swedish viticulture on the global stage.
The atmosphere was charged with anticipation as the final of The Swedish Wine Tasting unfolded just outside Ängelholm. The event attracted some of the world’s most esteemed sommeliers and wine critics, including sommelier Raimonds Tomsons and Andreas Larsson, World's Best Sommelier 2023 and 2007, as well as Jamie Goode, wine writer from Wine Folly and Julia Harding, Master of Wine and a respected writer at Jancis Robinson. When the results were announced, it was a proud moment for Swedish wine as Immelen, vintage 2021, from Kullabergs Vineyard emerged as the winner with a score of 81.81 points. Close on its heels was Louis Jadot Pouilly-Fuissé 2022 with 81.00 points, and in third place, Classic Cuvée Extra Brut, Langham Culver scored 80.81 points.
"It’s an incredible and liberating feeling," says K Felix G Åhrberg, head winemaker and chief viticulturist at Kullabergs Vineyard. He also admits to feeling a mix of excitement and a sense of responsibility that comes with such a prestigious win. Understandably so, as an accolade of this calibre brings with it new expectations and challenges. "What are we going to do with this win? It’s enormous. But it’s amazing that these wine experts share our vision of how a wine should taste. It’s a clear sign that we’re on the right path," Åhrberg explains.
Kullabergs Vineyard had three wines among the twelve in the final, a testament to their consistent quality. So, what makes Immelen stand out?
"This wine is a blend of several grape varieties, not just Solaris, but also Souvignier Gris and Muscaris. Solaris brings aromatics and body, Souvignier Gris adds structure, and Muscaris floats above, infusing the wine with a delicate fragrance, almost like the Holy Spirit. The entire blend is beautifully framed by careful barrel management," K Felix G Åhrberg elaborates.
For many members of the jury, this was their first encounter with Swedish wine. Raimonds Tomsons, who was visiting Sweden for the first time, shared his impressions: "As a sommelier, one of my driving forces is a constant curiosity, the desire to develop and learn something new. I’ve never been to Sweden before, but the gastronomic scene here is impressive," Raimonds Tomsons notes. During the tasting, he discovered several standout qualities:
I found precision, liveliness, and freshness. There’s definitely potential here for white, sparkling wines," he says, reflecting on the future possibilities for Swedish vineyards.
The selection of wines representing Sweden was made during a preliminary tasting in early June, where 87 Swedish wines were blind-tasted by 17 Swedish sommeliers, with twelve making it to the final. However, the absence of red wines in the final lineup was a slight disappointment for wine writer Julia Harding. "I’m very curious about what’s happening in Sweden, especially in the context of climate change, but it would have been interesting to see some red wines in the tasting as well," Harding remarks. She also noted a memorable experience at a separate wine tasting at Thora Vineyard, where she was particularly impressed by a red wine. "It was a very light wine, which can be attributed to the fact that a third of it was made from Pinot Noir Précoce instead of Pinot Noir, but it was exciting nonetheless," she says.
Julia Harding has a particular fondness for more subtle wines and believes it’s essential to find the right balance between acidity and sweetness while being cautious with oak barrel usage. She also expressed a desire to see a broader range of offerings in Swedish wine.
Among the esteemed guests was Sweden’s own world champion sommelier, Andreas Larsson. Despite spending much of his time abroad, he had not yet had the chance to delve deeply into Swedish wine.
This was a real eye-opener, and blind-tasting Swedish wines alongside international ones is something completely new. I’ve observed a rapid development in Swedish wines over the past few years," Larsson says.
Looking ahead, Andreas Larsson offers some advice to Swedish winemakers: "If you’re going to create something good or even very good, you have to aim to create the best wine in the world. Sticking to a formula will never produce greatness. There needs to be a touch of madness in the process."
If you’re interested in learning more about The Swedish Wine Tasting, visit theswedishwinetasting.com.
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