Danish Wine
an Emerging Cool Climate Gem
To many, it seems obscure that a country like Denmark, with its low average temperature, limited sunshine, and considerable rainfall, can produce quality wines. However, Danish wine is in strong development, and something we urge you to try.
Experience Danish wine at the Cool Climate Wine Summit.
A Growing Gem in the Cool Climate Wine World
Located between 51 and 55 degrees Northern latitude, Denmark is clearly a cool climate wine region.
It lies significantly North of the 50th degree line, traditionally seen as the most Northern border for commercial winemaking. This unique positioning makes Danish wine stand out in the world of viticulture.
Danish Wine in a Nutshell
Development
1993 - The Danish winegrowers' association is established
2000 - The EU lists Denmarks as a wine-producing country
2008 - Denmark's first and so far only PDO "DONS" is established
Today, 130 commercial winemakers work about 170 hectares of vines.
Grape Varieties
Hybrid varieties and resistent crossings play a significant role in Danish winemaking.
The most important white wine varieties include Solaris, Ortega, Muscaris, and Orion.
For the red wines, varieties like Rondo, Bolero, Cabernet Cortis, and Leon Millot show great potential.
Terroir
Denmark's climate can be described as a cool maritime climate.
Vineyard set-up and sunlight reflection are crucial to ripen grapes properly. Large bodies of water like the Kattegat moderate temperature fluctuations.
In the best regions, the soil consists of sand with limestone.
The Development of Danish Wine
Winemaking in Denmark has been officially allowed since 2000, when the European Union recognized Denmark as a winemaking country. Before this recognition, the declaration "wine of Denmark" was not legally permitted, and alternative descriptions like "alcoholic beverage based on fermented grapes" were used.
The EU divides Denmark into four geographical wine regions: the island of Bornholm (the sunshine island), the island of Zealand (home to the Capital Region around Copenhagen), the island of Fynen, and the mainland part of Denmark called Jutland. Today, approximately 170 hectares are planted with vines for commercial wine production.
The number of winemakers is rapidly growing, with about 130 commercially registered winemakers today. In 1993, the Danish growers' association Dansk Vinavlerforening was established and remains the largest official body representing Danish vintners.
Since 2008, Denmark has its first and so far, only Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) with the region of DONS. This PDO allows for sparkling wine production in a defined area in Southern Denmark. Harvesting must be done by hand, and only sparkling wine production is permitted for the PDO, with a minimum alcohol level of 9%, among other criteria. Find the PDO application here.
Grape Varieties for Danish Wine
With an average temperature of 7.7 degrees C, annual rainfall of about 800mm, and only 1,600 hours of sunshine, grape selection is crucial for Danish vintners. Consequently, hybrids, PIWI varietals and other robust varieties with early-ripening curves play a significant role in Danish wine production. Here are some of the most popular grape varieties used in Denmark.
White Wine Varieties
Solaris – Developed in 1975 by Norbert Becker. Crossed from Merzling and Gm 6493. Early-blossoming and early-ripening with high resistance to frost and disease. Highly aromatic with high acidity, reminiscent of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Read more about Solaris here.
Orion – Developed in 1964 by Gerhartd Alleweldt. Crossed from Optima and Villard Blanc. High frost and mildew resistance. Produces flowery and fresh-styled wines similar to Müller-Thurgau but with less aging potential.
Ortega – Developed in 1948 by Hans Breider. Crossed from Müller-Thurgau and Siegerrebe. Early ripening but produces simple wines with moderate acidity and low complexity. Read more about Ortega here.
Muscaris – Developed in 1987 by Norbert Becker. Crossed from Solaris and Gelber Muskateller. Highly aromatic and ideal for Kabinett-styled wines with residual sugar.
Red Wine Varieties
Rondo – Developed in 1964 by Helmut Becker. Crossed from Zarya Severa and Sankt Laurent. An uncomplicated grape variety with high disease resistance and tolerance for rain. Produces intense, concentrated wines, ideal for Rosé production.
Leon Millot – Developed in 1911 in Alsace by Eugene Kuhlmann. Goldriesling is among the parent varieties. Very early ripening with excellent resistance against mildew. Suitable for elegant and complex red wines.
Cabernet Cortis – Developed in 1982 by Norbert Becker. Crossed from Cabernet Sauvignon and Solaris. All development phases begin about a week earlier than for Pinot Noir. Produces intense, tannic red wines with a clear vegetal character and aroma of cassis. Read more about Cabernet Cortis here.
Further interesting varieties include Zala’s Perle (white), Bolero (red), and Cabernet Cantor (red).
For more information about grape varieties in Denmark, we recommend the work of Carl-Henrik Brogren, a Denmark-based biochemist researching hybrid varieties and their development in a cool climate. Link to Vinosigns.
Terroir Analysis for Danish Wine
Denmark’s macro-climate can be described as a cool-maritime climate. While the average temperature is generally low during the year compared to traditional wine-growing regions, frost is rarely a problem due to maritime effects stabilising temperature fluctuations. However, rainfall poses a significant challenge, especially in Western Denmark, where harsh Atlantic winds are channeled through the British Channel and hit the North Sea.
Vineyard setup is crucial when talking about Danish wine, akin to the Mosel region in Germany. Denmark, being a relatively flat country with its highest elevation at 170m, lacks deep slopes and large rivers. Consequently, alternatives had to be found, especially in North-East Jutland and Northern Zealand, where the Kattegat (the body of water between Denmark and Sweden that connects the Baltic with the world seas) provides a good temperature moderating effect. These regions also offer some solid slopes, allowing vineyards to be directed towards the water to benefit from sun reflection.
The picture by Mikkel Bækgård shows Vejrhøj's ideal positioning
The soil composition in Denmark, heavily affected by the Ice Age and dominated by islands, varies widely. The most ideal sites provide sandy soil with limestone components, found in Northern Zealand and North-East Jutland.
Danmark's digital soil map provided by GEUS can be found here.
Danish Vineyards to Know
Skærsøgaard (Jutland). Meet them at the Cool Climate Wine Summit 2025.
Vejrhøj (Zealand)
Guldbæk (Jutland). Meet them at the Cool Climate Wine Summit 2025.
Njord (Zealand)
Barfod (Zealand). Meet them at the Cool Climate Wine Summit 2025.
Dyrehøj (Zealand)
Hideaway Vineyard (Zealand)
Vesterhave Vineyard (Zealand)
Ørnberg (Zealand). Meet them at the Cool Climate Wine Summit 2025.
Lindely (Jutland). Meet them at the Cool Climate Wine Summit 2025.
Further Readings
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