Making Nordic wine: a world away from French chateaux Despite the climate, winemaking is growing in northern Europe thanks to the commitment of enthusiasts and the use of hybrid grape varieties. In Sweden, only 100 hectares are devoted to vineyards, compared with 750,000 in France. There can be economic challenges too: according to the Swedish Federation of Farmers, the average income of a farm in 2016 was 600,000 SEK (56,000 euros).