Gothenburg urban winery making organic, vegan wines from European grapes, including Barbera, Nebbiolo, Spätburgunder and Syrah.
The producer
Wine Mechanics is Gothenburg's urban winery, operating in an old slaughterhouse building and sourcing grapes from certified organic growers in Austria, Italy, Hungary, Germany and France. Kenneth Gustafsson initiated the project. The range includes Fistful of Love Spätburgunder rosé, Common People Barbera and Run to Your Mama Nebbiolo. Cellar work includes whole bunches for Syrah, stainless steel, and a greater share of old than new barrel character in red wines.
Known for
Urban European wine production
Notable facts
Wine Mechanics presents itself as the Nordic region's first urban winery.
Grapes are sourced from certified organic growers in Austria, Italy, Hungary, Germany and France.
Common People receives a short maceration followed by six months in stainless steel.
Run to Your Mama is 100% Nebbiolo aged for 26 months in an older 500 litre barrel.
The story
The First Gothenburg Batch
In 2017, Kenneth Gustafsson produced the first Wine Mechanics batch. It totaled 26,000 bottles, and only half sold that year. The winery was taking shape in a spacious brick building that had been a slaughterhouse in Gothenburg's former meat packing district. When Gustafsson obtained the premises, the smell of pig's blood was still present. He opened the Gothenburg premises to the public on April 18, 2018. Production had begun before the city venue opened, with the first batch made ahead of the public launch.
From the atlas
Wine Mechanics
Gothenburg urban winery using European grapes and cellar methods that include stainless steel, old barrels and whole bunches.
At A Glance
Field
Detail
Type
Urban winery in Gothenburg
Place
Former meat packing district, in an old slaughterhouse building
Grapes
Spätburgunder, Riesling, Barbera, Nebbiolo and Syrah
Styles
Rosé, white and red wines
Defining feature
European grapes transported in refrigerated containers
The Producer
Wine Mechanics occupies an old slaughterhouse building in Gothenburg's former meat packing district. Its current stated address is Lilla Waterloogatan 15, 415 02 Göteborg. Wine Mechanics presents itself as the Nordic region's first urban winery and says its wines are organic and vegan.
Kenneth Gustafsson initiated the project and was its CEO in 2018. The first vintage came from the Palatinate and Saint-Joseph before wine could be made in Gothenburg. The cellar now works with grapes brought in from European growers.
Place
European growers supply the fruit, which Wine Mechanics transports in small boxes inside refrigerated containers. The growers named in the sourcing network are in Austria, Italy, Hungary, Germany and France, all certified organic.
Kenneth Gustafsson also helped with harvest work and sought to have the grapes reach Sweden within 48 hours. Because the fruit crosses national borders before vinification, the wines use the European wine designation instead of a national origin.
Wines
The initial range included Fistful of Love Spätburgunder Rosé, Gimme Gimme Gimme Riesling and Wine Mechanics Syrah. The named range also includes Common People and Run to Your Mama.
Fistful of Love is a rosé made from 100% Spätburgunder from Letten in Deidesheim, Pfalz. It is whole bunch pressed, then fermented and aged in 90% stainless steel and 10% old barrel. Common People is 100% Barbera, described as juicy with refreshing acidity. Run to Your Mama is 100% Nebbiolo, with a grippy feel against the gums and seductive flavors on the palate. For Syrah, whole bunches provide tannin without relying excessively on new barrel ageing. Most red wines receive barrel character mainly from old rather than new barrels.
Final Word
Wine Mechanics puts European grapes into a Gothenburg urban winery, with named wines spanning Spätburgunder, Riesling, Barbera, Nebbiolo and Syrah.