Solaris Wine Grapes
medium-growing green grape created in 1975 by the state wine institute in Freiburg, Germany by crossing the varieties Merzling and GM6493. It is a so-called PIWI plant (pilzwiderstandsfähig), meaning a grape that is characterized by its resistance to diseases and powdery mildew. It withstands colder climate well, which has made it a popular variety in northern Europe. Today it is the most widely used grape variety in Swedish wine making.
Solaris is recognized as a “Vinis Vinifera” variety by the EU, even though there are hybrid grapes in its pedigree.
The clusters are medium-sized, and the vines are rich-bearing, the leaves are large and bright green. The Solaris wines can vary greatly in aroma from aromatic tones to ripe yellow apples and honey tones, depending on the place of cultivation and winemaking philosophy. High must weights make the grape suitable for sweet wines, but in the most northern wine regions, such as in Sweden, the sugar content is generally lower and dry wines are more common. The taste of the wines is strong and concentrated, usually with a good body. Many Solaris wines also have a high alcohol content of 13-14%. Many Swedish wines are made solely from Solaris grapes, in other countries it is more common blended with other varieties, such as Riesling or Pinot Blanc.
