Swedish producer making wines from native grape varieties grown in Iran’s Zagros Mountains.
The producer
Drood Wine Brewery was founded in 2021 by Iranian winemaker Shahram Soltani. Its vineyards are in the Zagros mountain range of southwestern Iran, at elevations up to 2,500 metres, and its production is based in Gemla, Sweden. The producer works with grape varieties native to the vineyard area, including Lorkosh, Gorchesh, Samarghandi and Rasheh. The range includes Diako The King, The Merchant Irdabama, The Warrior Ariobarzanes, Saadi The Master and Hafez The Poet.
Known for
Native Zagros grape varieties
Notable facts
Founded in 2021 by Iranian winemaker Shahram Soltani.
Vineyards in southwestern Iran’s Zagros Mountains reach up to 2,500 metres above sea level.
Production is based in Gemla, Sweden.
Saadi is made from a blend of Samarghandi and Gorchesh grapes.
The story
Drood Opens In Småland
In 2021, Shahram Soltani opened Drood in rural Småland as the first new Persian winery in nearly five decades. The setting was Sweden’s southern countryside, among old growth forests, red cottages, and historic glass factories and paper mills. Soltani had left Iran and relocated to Sweden in 2016, then began a new chapter for Persian wine. Drood’s vineyards remained in the Zagros mountain range of southwestern Iran, while production was based in Sweden. The opening brought Iranian grape varieties into wines made in Småland.
Drood Opens In Småland
In 2021, Shahram Soltani opened Drood in rural Småland as the first new Persian winery in nearly five decades. The setting was Sweden’s southern countryside, among old growth forests, red cottages, and historic glass factories and paper mills. Soltani had left Iran and relocated to Sweden in 2016, then began a new chapter for Persian wine. Drood’s vineyards remained in the Zagros mountain range of southwestern Iran, while production was based in Sweden. The opening brought Iranian grape varieties into wines made in Småland.
From the atlas
Drood Wine Brewery
Drood Wine Brewery makes wine in Gemla, Sweden, from grape varieties native to remote vineyards in Iran’s Zagros Mountains.
At A Glance
Field
Detail
Founder
Shahram Soltani
Grape origin
Zagros Mountains, southwestern Iran
Production base
Gemla, Sweden
Main grapes
Lorkosh, Gorchesh, Samarghandi and Rasheh
The Producer
In 2021, Iranian winemaker Shahram Soltani founded Drood. Soltani had relocated from Iran to Sweden in 2016. Drood works exclusively with grape varieties and fruit from the Zagros Mountains, and says all its grape varieties are native to the vineyard area.
Production takes place in Sweden at a facility just outside Växjö. The business address is in Gemla, Sweden.
Place
At elevations up to 2,500 metres above sea level, the vineyards sit in the Zagros mountain range of southwestern Iran. Cold nights follow sunny dry days, and the summers receive little rain. Winter snow covers the vines. Cold nights can slow ripening and help retain acidity, while dry days support grape ripening.
The soil is loess over limestone bedrock. Loess provides a loose surface layer, while limestone can drain water and retain some moisture. The vineyards therefore grow in a dry mountain setting with a limestone base.
Wines
The range contains five named wines: Diako The King 2022, The Merchant Irdabama 2023, The Warrior Ariobarzanes 2023, Saadi The Master 2022 and Hafez The Poet 2022.
Diako The King 2022 is the Rasheh wine and has a very fruity red profile, with blackberry, blueberry, plum, violet, black pepper and mint. The Merchant Irdabama 2023 is made from Samarghandi and has raspberry, cranberry, blood grapefruit and fresh herb notes. The Warrior Ariobarzanes 2023 is made from Lorkosh; it is fruity and developed, with slight astringency and notes of dried apple, nuts, dried fruit, sea buckthorn and bitter orange.
Saadi The Master 2022 uses a blend of Samarghandi and Gorchesh. Hafez The Poet 2022 is associated with Gorchesh.
Final Word
The vineyards are run by successive generations of local families.