Finnish Wine Legislation – Official Wine Regions
Reference date: 3 August 2026.
Finland is not officially recognised as a wine-producing country by the EU. Viticulture is experimental and very small-scale, while berry and fruit wines dominate.
Sources: Visit Finland, Alko and Ainoa Winery, 2026. Finland lies between 60°N and 70°N – one of the world's northernmost locations with any form of grape cultivation.
1. Classification System (EU Wine Regulations)
| Designation | Status | Description | Current situation |
|---|
| Protected Designation of Origin | No PDO | No Finnish wines with PDO status | Finland has no registered PDO wine regions in eAmbrosia |
| Protected Geographical Indication | No PGI | No Finnish wines with PGI status | Finland has no registered PGI wine regions in eAmbrosia |
| Sahti | TSG | Traditional Finnish beer (not wine) | Finland's only TSG registration (traditional beer) |
| Marjaviini | Fruit/Berry | Fruit and berry wines | Dominant form of wine production in Finland |
2. Experimental Wine-Growing Regions (no official recognition)
| Region | Location | Characteristics |
|---|
| Olkiluoto (Eurajoki) | Western Finland (61°N) | Experimental vineyard near a nuclear power station, with soil heated using waste heat; Zilga grapes; approximately 800 kg of grapes per year |
| Southern Finland (Coastal Areas) | Hanko Peninsula, Turku Archipelago, Helsinki region | Finland's mildest climate, limited grape cultivation, PIWI varieties |
| Åland Islands | Autonomous region between Finland and Sweden | Maritime microclimate, traditional apple growing, experimental grape cultivation |
| South-Eastern Finland | Lake Saimaa region, Karelia | Continental climate; fruit and berry wines predominate |
3. Wine Production by Type
| Production type | Description | Examples |
|---|
| Berry Wines (Marjaviinit) | Wines made from native berries; Finland's main form of wine production | Bilberries, lingonberries, currants, blackberries |
| Fruit Wines (Hedelmäviinit) | Wines made from fruit, especially apples | Apple wine, pear wine, rhubarb wine |
| Arctic Berry Wines | Premium wines made from rare northern berries | Lakka (cloudberry), sea buckthorn, juniper berry |
| Dessert Wines | Sweet wines, often made from berries | Valokki (cloudberry dessert wine), bilberry port |
| Sparkling Wines | Sparkling wines made from fruit and berries | Sparkling birch-sap wine, sparkling berry wine, apple mousseux |
| Experimental Grape Wines | Very limited production from PIWI grapes | Zilga, Solaris (for local consumption only) |
Finnish berry wines are recognised for their intense flavour, produced by short, light-filled summers under the midnight sun.
4. Main Grape Varieties (experimental PIWI varieties)
| Grape variety | Type | Characteristics |
|---|
| Zilga | Red (PIWI) | Latvian hybrid, Finland's most widely planted variety, extremely winter-hardy (−40°C), fruity and light |
| Solaris | White (PIWI) | German hybrid, early-ripening, tropical fruit and citrus, highly disease-resistant |
| Rondo | Red (PIWI) | German hybrid, deeply coloured, full-bodied, suitable for oak ageing |
| Hasansky Sladky | Red (PIWI) | Russian variety, highly cold-tolerant, suitable as both a table grape and a wine grape |
| Somerset Seedless | White (PIWI) | American hybrid, seedless, aromatic, good winter hardiness |
| Marquette | Red (PIWI) | American hybrid, deeply coloured, produces complex red wine, winter-hardy |
| Frontenac | Red (PIWI) | American hybrid, high acidity, suitable for ice wine |
| La Crescent | White (PIWI) | American hybrid, aromatic, with tropical fruit and apricot notes |
PIWI = Pilzwiderstandsfähig (fungus-resistant). Grape cultivation in Finland requires extreme winter hardiness and a short ripening period.
5. Fruit and Berry Varieties Used in Wine Production
| Fruit/Berry (Finnish) | Type | Wine-production characteristics |
|---|
| Lakka (Cloudberry) | Arctic berry | Premium dessert wines; golden yellow, honeyed and highly prized; Valokki is a bestseller |
| Mustikka (Bilberry) | Wild berry | Dry and dessert wines; intensely purple-blue, rich in antioxidants; Silkki |
| Puolukka (Lingonberry) | Wild berry | Dry wines; bright red, tart and refreshing; high in vitamin C |
| Vadelma (Raspberry) | Cultivated berry | Rosé-style wines; aromatic, summery fruit; Vaapukka dessert wine |
| Mansikka (Strawberry) | Cultivated berry | Fresh wines; sweet, approachable and popular in blends |
| Mustaherukka (Blackcurrant) | Cultivated berry | Powerful wines; deep purple, cassis notes and high tannin |
| Karpalo (Cranberry) | Wild berry | Very tart wines; rose-red, medicinal character; winter wine |
| Tyrni (Sea Buckthorn) | Coastal plant | Exotic wines; bright orange, exceptionally rich in vitamin C, sweet-and-sour |
| Omena (Apple) | Fruit | Cider and apple wines, especially in the Åland Islands; traditional |
| Päärynä (Pear) | Fruit | Soft fruit wines; aromatic and less acidic than apple wine |
| Raparperi (Rhubarb) | Vegetable/Fruit | Distinctive wines; pink, tart and refreshing; a Scandinavian speciality |
| Koivu (Birch – Birch Sap) | Tree sap | Sparkling drinks; delicate, light and mineral; a unique Finnish product |
6. Main Producers
| Producer | Location | Speciality |
|---|
| Ainoa Winery | Hollola, Southern Finland | International award winner; Valokki cloudberry dessert wine; European winemaking methods |
| Valamo Monastery | North Karelia, Eastern Finland | Traditional monastic winery; Orthodox monastery; berry wines |
| Olkiluoto Vineyard | Eurajoki, Western Finland | Experimental grape cultivation using waste heat from a nuclear power station; Zilga grapes |
| Rönnvik Winery | Åland Islands | Apple wines, cider, maritime climate, small-scale production |
| Hermanni Winery | Ilomantsi, Eastern Finland | Wild berry wines, bilberries, lingonberries, Arctic style |
| Lapponia (Hartwall) | Turku | Finland's best-known brand; berry liqueurs and wines; commercial production |
