📍 Zealand

Zealand (Sjælland in Danish) is the largest island of Denmark, where the capital Copenhagen lies. The island sits between the Kattegat, the Øresund and the Baltic Sea. The climate is maritime, cool and windy, summers are not hot and winters are mild. But the strong temperature swings by the sea are softened, and in sheltered places grapes ripen.

Winemaking in Denmark is young. Since 2000, when commercial production of wine from local grapes was permitted in the country, the number of vineyards has been growing. The island of Zealand is one of the main areas, with dozens of small, often family-run estates around Copenhagen and in the west of the island.

The main grape is Solaris, an early white hybrid that resists disease and ripens even in a cool climate. Other hybrids are grown too, as well as Pinot Noir for sparkling wines. Wines are white, red, rosé and sparkling, fresh and high in acidity. Zealand has a protected geographical indication. Many estates are set in country farms and welcome visitors.

For comparison with its neighbours: to the east, across the Øresund, lies Sweden's Skåne with its vineyards, to the south across the Baltic Germany's Mecklenburg, and to the west Jutland.