Krönika
Joe Fattiorini

On my desk is a picture of me dressed as a viking. My laptop has a little sticker of a beagle. And there's a poster on the wall from an unforgettable art exhibition. All because I came to Vellinge for a drink.

Actually, I happened to have had a lot more than just one drink during my stay. I was here, together with Maya Samulesson, to produce a show called “Drinking with Joe and Maya”, so drinking kind of came with the job.

The show’s purpose was to uncover local drink producers and understand how the culture of a place can influence the feel and flavor of the outcome. But it was also to show how a drink can take you back in history – or into the future – of that place. And nowhere did we experience this more than in Vellinge.

At Foteviken Viking Museum we transported ourselves back in time about a thousand years to learn about the history of mead; the predecessor to today’s popular honey “ale”. We also visited Perfectly Squared Brewery, one of Sweden’s most innovative craft brewers. Head brewer Loa gave us a tasty insight into what’s next in beer, with new irreverent names such as “Hopportunity Awaits", and "Yes, you can pet that Dawg". Along for the visit was Holly the Beagle, the brewery’s own cheerful little dog. And boy are Maya and I are suckers for a brewery dog.

Another stop on the journey was Falsterbo Photo Art Museum for their annual "Wine, Food & Art" festival. As we arrived, I had one of those “I’ve been here before…” moments. It just happened to be that I’d brought my family here during the glorious summer of 2021. Now I was back for yet another unique cultural experience. The festival was a perfect blend of fine wine, gourmet cuisine, and of course, world-class photography.

We also got a glimpse of the future when it comes to wine in the region. Höllviken’s Vineyard is one of Sweden's newest, and smallest. In fact, it's barely the size of a football pitch. But this is a sign of big things to come. Vellinge, as the entire region of Skåne, is emerging as one of the world's next wine regions. With its long summer days and an almost constant sea breeze, the place ticks all the boxes for what makes great wine.

So, to truly understand a place like Vellinge, start by having a drink.