Estonia has officially been recognized as a wine-producing country for five years now

An article based on an interview with Gregori on Vikerraadio was published in ERR.

Winemaker Gregor Alaküla told Vikerraadio that the idea to create an Estonian wine route came to him while visiting a wine region in the United States. According to Alaküla, Estonia has been able to be officially called a wine-producing country for five years now, and the history of fruit and berry wine production here dates back over a hundred years.

“The most memorable wine trip was to the United States, to Napa—California’s world-famous wine region—where the idea for the Estonian Wine Route, a tourism network connecting wineries, was actually born,” recalled sommelier Gregor Alaküla. “By that time, my family and I had already been running our own winery for a few years.”

Alaküla is a second-generation winemaker. Although Estonia is not generally considered a wine-producing country, it actually has more than a century of wine-making history. “This is a history of fruit and berry wine production, and that is our strength. Estonia has been able to officially call itself a wine-producing country for five years now, because since December 2021, we’ve been listed as a designated region on the European map, which specifies which grape varieties we’re allowed to grow and which we aren’t,” explained Alaküla, who is also the creator of the wine safari.

A wine safari involves visiting various wineries in Estonia.

“I was born into a family of winemakers—I’m part of the second generation—and somehow it has become my passion and mission. I take it seriously to promote Estonia abroad and, above all, Estonian culture through wine. Locals may sometimes be somewhat skeptical about fruit and berry wines and are unwilling to pay a higher price, but foreigners find it very interesting, and the feedback has been very positive,” Alaküla pointed out.

However, it is very difficult to be a winemaker in Estonia, because in the traditional wine-producing countries of Old Europe, wine is considered a food product and is therefore exempt from excise tax. “In Estonia, however, local wine is still particularly expensive. Another reason is the somewhat muddled debate over alcohol, where the problem is being tackled with a sledgehammer, and small businesses—which are trying to promote entrepreneurship, rural life, and add value to local raw materials,” Alaküla noted.

https://eeter.err.ee/1610151439/veinimoisnik-eestit-voib-juba-viis-aastat-ametlikult-veiniriigiks-kutsuda