In Finland, Grüner Veltliner from the northernmost origin in the world was harvested for the first time in 2025. wein.plus editor Alexander Lupersböck was the first foreign journalist to taste it exclusively.

Alexander Lupersböck

Wine academic, author and speaker with a preference for elegant wines

The northernmost Grüner Veltliner in the world comes from the south of Finland and grows at 60.06 degrees north latitude. The project, called "Dragontorp", was initiated by Finnish wine enthusiasts and supported by Austrian winemaker and consultant Willi Opitz. In 2019, they planted 600 vines of a special selection of the Grüner Veltliner grape variety around 150 metres from the coast. Owner Sigrid doesn't want to give any more details, "as we don't want to suddenly have busloads of curious people here. This is not a commercial project."

Willi Opitz opted for Grüner Veltliner to demonstrate its suitability for cool climate zones. Although it can get as cold as minus 20° C there, the vines suffered no frost damage. According to Opitz, it is crucial to protect the graft union. Budding took place in May and flowering in mid-July. As it never really gets dark in summer this far north, the grapes ripen quickly in July and August. After that, it quickly cools down again to such an extent that plant protection was unproblematic, according to Opitz: "By the time berries form, it is already too cool and dry again for fungal infestation." The healthy grapes were harvested between 1 and 9 November at around 8° C. They were processed in the sauna hut. It was easy to keep at the right temperature and has a water connection. During fermentation, the temperature inside was around 18° C. The wines were then stored at 0 to 5° C.