Danish wine

Factsheet about Skærsøgaard ®, Denmark, Nov. 2009:

(Skær-sø-gaard translates literately to: Bright light – lake – estate)

Planted area: 4.3 hectares - approximately 13,000 vines. Fields: South-facing sloping sandy soil by the lake Skærsø; in the woods and on the hills. At present Denmark’s largest wine-estate.
Grape varieties: The main varieties: Rondo, Leon Millot, Regent, Cabernet Cortis (Blue)
Orion, Solaris, Zala’s Pearl, Madeleine Angevine (Green).
First registered and authorized Vineyard in Denmark. 2001 first vintage. Wine types produced annually since the 2001 vintage: red, white, rosé, sweet and sparkling wines.
Year 2009 is the 9th with sales of premium wines every year in all five types of wine (red, white, sweet, rosé and sparkling). Classified “Regional wines” since the 2005 vintage. Grape brandy and fortified wine since 2007.
Constant quality. Awarded 43 medals. Consistent medals each year. Denmark’s most award winning wine estate.
Danish Awards: 36 medals - 6 gold medals, 10 silver medals and 20 bronze medals from the official Danish Wine competition for the first 8 years. Wine-grower of the Year: 2005 and 2008.
Awarded 8 international medals - 1 gold medal for its red wine vintage 2006 (Mundus Vini 2008), 3 silver medals for its sparkling wines by prestigeous international competition between the world’s best sparkling wines (Effervescents du Monde 2007, 2008 & 2009) and 3 bronze medals and 1 silver medal from the world’s largest wine competition - International Wine Challenge 2008 & 2009 - for sparkling, white and sweet wines.
Established micro-distillery in 2007 with 250 liter copper pot and column-distillation for the production of grape brandy. Released first wine brandy in 2007. Has established barrels in 2007 of the first Danish wine brandy (cognac-type).
The wines are sold primarily by the company HJ Hansen as principal wholesaler. Distributed in specialty shop, Magasin du Nord’s wine departments and the chain “Vinspecialisten”. In addition, sales at wine arrangements and at the wine estate’s shop. Available at top restaurants.
Exports - mostly to Germany.

A short history of Danish wine:

In August 2000 EU accepted Denmark as a wine producing area for table wine.

With the vintage of 2001 2 producers opened the Danish commercial wine market with approx. 2.000 bottles.

For the vintage of 2002 there were 6 commercial Danish producers with approx. 12.000 bottles.

For the vintage of 2003: 7 commercial Danish producers with approx. 10.000 bottles.

For the vintage of 2004: 7 commercial Danish producers with a very little amount, because of the bad weather conditions.

For the vintage of 2005: 10 – 12 producers with approx. 15.000 bottles

For the vintage of 2006: approx. 20 producers with approx. 40.000 bottle. From this year the regional wine scheme was accepted.

By 2009 there are approx. 60 producers, 50 hektar planted with vines and a production of approx. 75.000 bottles a year.

Growth rate is expected to increase rapidly, but with several relatively small-scale productions.

Skærsøgaard Wine

This vineyard was the first registered and authorised Danish vineyard.

It is situated near the town of Kolding 6 km from the sea and in close proximity of the lake Skærsø, after witch the vineyard and wine is named.

At the annual EU approved Danish wine competition the track record of Skærsøgaard Wine has been high:

Vintage 2001:
Gold (Best commercial sparkling wine of the year)
Silver (Best commercial sweet dessert wine of the year)
Silver (Best commercial rose wine of the year)

Vintage 2002:
Silver (Best commercial white wine)
Silver (White wine)
Bronze (Best commercial red wine)
Bronze (Best commercial dessert wine)

Vintage 2003:
Bronze (Best commercial white wine)
Bronze (White wine)
Bronze (Best commercial sparkling wine)

Vintage 2004:
Bronze (Red wine)

Vintage 2005:
Gold (Sparkling wine – best wine of the year)
Gold (Red wine)

Vintage 2006:
Silver (Best commercial sparkling wine)
Silver (Best commercial dessert wine)
5 bronze (5 red wines)
Bronze (white wine)
Bronze (sparkling wine)

Vintage 2007
Gold (Best commercial sparkling wine)
Gold (Best commercial white wine)
Silver (Best commercial rose wine)
Silver (Sparkling wine)
Silver (Red wine)
Bronze (Best commercial dessert wine)
3 Bronze (White wine)

Vintage 2008
Gold (Best Sweet vine)
Silver (Sweet vine)
Bronze (Best sparkling vine)
Bronze (Best commercial white vine)
Bronze (Sweet vine)

International rewards

Effervescents du Monde (France)

2007 Silver (Sparkling wine)
2008 Silver (Sparkling wine)

Mondus vini (Germany)

2008 Gold (Red wine)

International Wine Challenge (England)

2008 Bronze (Sparkling wine)
2008 Bronze (Dessert wine)
2009 Silver (Sparkling vine)
2009 Bronze (White vine)

A total of 43 medals for the vintages 2001-2008

VISIT THE VINEYARD

Visit the vineyard in July and August each Wednesday starting at 11 a.m.

Guided tour in vinefields and production facility and tasting of 3 wines.
Charge 100 kr (13 Eur) per adult - cash only no creditcards taken.
The visit takes app. 1½ hour.

WINESHOP

Open each Wednesday from 3 to 5 o'clock p. m. Sales of own price wine of all types: Sparkling-. Red-, White-, Rosé-, Sweet vine plus fortified wine and spirits.

This home page is mainly in Danish - however you will be able to get a visual impression.

International link about Skærsøgaard Wine:
BBC