A unique wine experience in Stockholm,Sweden: Staying at The Winery

If I ask you to imagine visiting a winery and sampling some of the finest wines, Sweden might not be the first country that pops up in your mind. But , for anyone planning a visit to Sweden anytime soon, I have news for you – You can not only visit a winery and learn about the whole winemaking process (from barrel to bottle), but can very well attend a tasting session of some of the world’s finest  and even stay back at the wine-themed hotel, relaxing in the rooftop pool if you like- just outside Stockholm, Sweden! The Winery in Solna –  about 10 kms from Stockholm Central, is Sweden’s and probably the world’s first combined urban winery and boutique hotel. I got the opportunity to stay at the hotel for 2 days during my trip to Stockholm, and met a lot of people choosing to stay there for a relaxing getaway. Here’s the story behind the hotel and my personal experience :

 

THE STORY

 

It is always interesting to meet people who are passionate about their work. In the case of the Söder and Ruhne families, it was their passion for sharing the art of wine-making , that led to the planning and design of The Winery. Importing grapes from their vineyards in Tuscany, Italy, they produce about 8000 bottles of their signature red wine (Winery Red) in a year and have an expert sommelier giving guided tours of their winery to all those interested. They also host one of Sweden’s biggest collection of wines from all over the world , some of which you can taste and learn more about, if you join one of the tasting sessions.

In fact, the design of the hotel is inspired by classic vineyards and the exterior has an industrial feel.On entering the hotel and taking the stairs up to your room, you can spot several of the huge oak barrels , which actually contain the aging wine. Even when you are at the reception, you can catch a glimpse of some of the huge steel tanks, through the glass wall. I also found out later that The Winery is a Green Key hotel, which means that they take a lot of steps to be environmentally friendly.

 

THE ROOM

 

I stayed in a room on the 5th floor and was glad to find a coffee machine as well as some sweet treats waiting for me.  (By the way, I loved Swedish coffee and wish I could have got some back with me!) The decor is tastefully done and you can also peruse over some of the wine-related books and magazines. All rooms have wifi and mine also had a TV, safe, minibar apart from a hairdryer, bathrobe and slippers. This was super convenient as I just had to go one floor up to use the rooftop pool (which I loved) , bar or gym (which I didn’t use ofcourse). You can see how the interiors of the room , including the brick wall, the grape-green colour and huge windows correspond to the overall theme and design of the hotel. You do have the option of booking the breakfast in addition though some rooms have it included.

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RELAXING AT THE WINERY : FOOD, POOL AND MORE

 

As I mentioned earlier, The Winery is a great place to choose for a relaxing getaway. You can enjoy some of the Italian flavours with local ingredients as well as buy a selection of products at the Terreno Deli and pair the perfect wines with your food at the Winery Kitchen. They also host an Italian buffet brunch (inspired by Tuscany) on Sundays, which can be reserved in advance. 

It was interesting to come across the concept of the prepaid card you can use at the Vinotek. Basically, you can load some money on this card and use it to sample any type of wine from the Vinotek dispensers, in the amount apt for you. Your card is charged based on the size of glass you choose.

The rooftop pool and bar are great ways to enjoy your vacation and meet new people. I personally loved starting off the day with a swim but perhaps, you might enjoy watching the sunset while taking a dip and enjoying some drinks or snacks. Do keep in mind that the rooftop bar is open in the spring and summer only. The pool might be closed in the winter if the temperatures go very low. Oak barrels also serve as tables in the rooftop bar.

 

 

GETTING TO THE WINERY, SOLNA AND EXPLORING THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

 

If you fly into Arlanda Airport (Stockholm has 4 airports) , you can simply take the airport bus (Flygbussarna) and get off at the Järva Krog bus stop. If you are travelling from Stockholm city, you can take the train to Solna and then take a bus to reach the hotel.

The hotel is located quite close to the Friends Arena , which hosts a lot of big concerts, sport events etc and the Mall of Scandinavia, which is said to be the biggest shopping centre in Scandinavia. If you like scenic walks or having a picnic outside, you can either walk over to the Bergius Botanic Garden or to Haga Park, which is a part of the Royal National City Park. You can also visit the garden centre near Ulriksdal Palace and enjoy an afternoon meal or cup of tea.

 

STOCKHOLM TIPS

If you visit Stockholm, I would personally suggest keeping a day or two to experience The Winery and using the other days to explore the city of Stockholm as well as some of the islands of the Stockholm archipelago. Of course, you can explore the city while staying at The Winery, but just make sure you have enough time to join the winery and wine tasting tours as well as enjoying the pool and facilities. For public transport, you can consider getting a Stockholm Pass, which also includes entry to several museums and points of interest.

Here’s a suggestive route for a self-guided sunset walk in Stockholm.

It is very easy to take a boat ride to some of the islands – such as Vaxholm, Roslagen or even Nasslingen – which by the way is a small, private island perfect for food, wellness and natural beauty.

You can also take a day trip or spend two days outside the Stockholm Archipelago, visiting Linkoping, Gota Kanal and delving into the history of Old Sweden.

If you love photography and art, make sure you visit the Fotografiska Museum in Stockholm. Here are some more things to do in Stockholm. 

Gear up to have some of the best food and desserts in Sweden. If you are a vegetarian, let me tell you that I had some of the most delicious salads during my trip. Here’s a guide to vegetarian food in 24 European countries, including Sweden.

 

Hope you found this post useful. Do share it with your travel or wine loving friends and let me know what you think of the concept.

Thanks to The Winery Hotel for hosting me. I would love to revisit them during summer !

This post is linked to City Tripping and Faraway Flies.

 

 

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