Österlen producer making dry and sweet still whites, plus a Seyval Blanc and Merzling sparkling wine in a traditional Champagne style.
The producer
Mellby nr 5 Vingård works the hills west of Kivik in Österlen. Its rows face south toward Hanö Bay, and the vineyard grows Solaris, Merzling and Seyval Blanc. The still range includes Solaris Hav, Solaris Havn and Solaris Have, moving from dry wines shaped by yeast and maceration to a sweet wine. Mellby Mousserande Extra brut uses Seyval Blanc and Merzling, with malolactic fermentation, bottle fermentation and a traditional Champagne style as its model.
Known for
Solaris whites and sparkling wine
Notable facts
The vineyard covers 0.3 hectares and has about one thousand vines.
The vineyard's name comes from Margaretha Laike's farm, worked by the same family for three centuries.
Solaris Hav 2015 received a diploma in the 2016 Swedish wine assessment.
The story
A Danish Mentor for Mellby
In 2015, Mellby Mousserande was produced for the first time. The chosen style took Skaersøgaard Vin's Dons sparkling wines on Jylland as its model, and Sven Moesgaard served as mentor while Mellby developed its version. The aim was to emulate a traditional Champagne style. Mellby Mousserande underwent malolactic fermentation and bottle fermentation. Malolactic fermentation converts sharper malic acid into softer lactic acid, while fermentation in bottle creates the bubbles that remain in the finished sparkling wine.
From the atlas
Mellby nr 5 Vingård
Mellby nr 5 Vingård works a south facing vineyard west of Kivik in Österlen, with still whites and a sparkling wine made in a traditional Champagne style.
At A Glance
Field
Detail
Region
Skåne County
Place
Hills west of Kivik in Österlen
Grape varieties
Solaris, Merzling and Seyval Blanc
Still wines
Solaris Hav, Solaris Havn and Solaris Have
Sparkling wine
Mellby Mousserande Extra brut
The Producer
Mellby nr 5 Vingård is a 0.3 hectare vineyard with about one thousand vines. Margaretha Laike and Marek Haraburda operated the vineyard in 2023. Its name comes from Margaretha's farm, worked by the same family for three centuries.
The planting supports a range of still white wines and sparkling wine. Mellby Mousserande Extra brut is made from Seyval Blanc and Merzling, while the still wines include Solaris bottlings.
Place
The vineyard lies on hills west of Kivik in Österlen, with rows facing south toward Hanö Bay. South facing rows receive more direct sunlight during the day, which can help grapes ripen.
Mellby Mousserande Extra brut comes from Simrishamn municipality in Skåne County. The geographic setting is therefore tied to both the inland hills around Kivik and the bay facing the rows.
Wines
The still white range comprises Solaris Hav, Solaris Havn and Solaris Have. Solaris Hav and Solaris Havn are dry wines with different characters created through yeast choice and maceration length. Solaris Have is sweet, with 16 grams per litre of sugar.
Cimbria Blå 2021 is a Solaris wine with aromas of green apple, pear, Galia melon, gooseberry, citrus and herbs. The palate is very fresh, with green apple, pear, Galia melon, gooseberry, herbs and lime.
Mellby Mousserande Extra brut is a dry white sparkling wine made from Seyval Blanc and Merzling. It undergoes malolactic fermentation, which converts sharper malic acid into softer lactic acid, and fermentation in bottle, which creates the bubbles. By 2023, its bottle fermentation period had progressively increased to 2 to 2.5 years. The stylistic aim is to emulate traditional Champagne style.
Final Word
Mellby nr 5 Vingård makes dry and sweet still whites and a sparkling wine through bottle fermentation, all from its vineyard west of Kivik.