Believe in a bright future for short haul wine – NRK Vestland

At Slinde in Sogn, wine producers Bjørn Bergum and Halldis Nedrebø are busy. More than 600 grape plants have to be moved to a new field before the frost hits the ground.

– There is good soil and fantastic conditions, but we have to move because the landowner wants us to remove the plants before April. That’s why we have to take them now, says Bergun.

Look at all the plants that are in the ground, because wine is not only produced in southern Europe. They do the same in Sogn. There is a great view of the Sognefjord where it is located.

61 degrees north

Bjørn Bergum says that he has been completely interested in green since he was a child.

– I also used to work with peaches, apricots and grapes in the past. But when Halldis said I had to find a field for the grapes, I found a field to cultivate. Let’s get started, then. We now have 2700 vines, and I have also been a vintner this year for three years in a row.

The climate in the interior of Sogn is perfect for growing the raw material of the golden drops, according to the Slinde grape growers. Bergum thinks it’s exciting to do something non-traditional at 61 degrees north. He has previously harvested two tons of grapes that have been turned into wine.

– It has been noticed both at home and abroad. Now it’s going towards 10,000-15,000 strains here in the area because others also want to help achieve something.

Interested in Norwegian wine

Halvor Bing Lorentzen, Communications Director for Vinmonopolet, explains that, for example, there is low volume when it comes to commercial production in Norway.

– It’s on a small scale. It is limited which types of grapes survive in Norway, because they must withstand the cold, he says.

The wine monopoly doesn’t have figures on the quantity of Norwegian wine, but Lorentzen says more and more people are trying. He believes the reason is a combination of increased interest and increased opportunity due to the weather.

And Vinmonopolet is interested in whether there will be more Norwegian wine available on the Norwegian market.

– What I have tasted of wine made with Norwegian grapes, for the most part, has been good, he says.

Both passion and a little madness

Danilo Costamagna is a member of the Norwegian Wine Growers Association. It is an association of vine growers and wine producers in Norway. It confirms that interest in vine growing in this country is growing.

– We have around 100 members where 12-15 are commercial or are about to become one. The others are amateurs.

And winegrowers are in many places. Most are in Aust, Sør or Vestland. But the grapes are also grown in Trøndelag. The volume is not that great yet, but Costamagna, which is itself a wine producer, says it will increase in the coming years.

– In three or four years, I believe that some 40,000 bottles will be manufactured in total by those who are commercial.

He says climate change is one of the reasons more people have had the opportunity to grow grapes. But there are other reasons as well.

– We see that here it is also possible to make good quality wine. It is very exciting and it is hard work. It’s about courage, a lot of passion and a bit of madness, he laughs.

Looking to the future

At Slinde in Sogn, Bergum is testing 60 different types of grapes, including the grapes that are most common in southern Europe.

– We must find those who mature here. It is a premise.

Although he has won several awards, he continues his hobby. Expect them to go commercial over the next year.

– We are experimenting and it is very exciting.

Despite the relocation of the more than 600 grape plants this week, the winemaker still has passion and courage. Expect a bright future for Norwegian wine.

– Viticulture is moving more and more to the north. In Europe, they look for fields further north. I think Norway will be a wine producing country in 10-15 years. We get a lot of short distance wine after a quarter, he says.