Lille Gadegård Vineyard
About the distillery
Lille Gadegård Vineyard is located on Bornholm and combines vineyard, farm operations and whisky production at the same address. The winemaker Jesper Paulsen is the 4th generation at Lille Gadegård, which was converted to strawberry cultivation in 1980 and later developed wine production from 2000. In 2005 a small pot still distillery of 2,200 liters was put into use, and maturation takes place in an underground cellar. The whisky journey began with the first bottle sold in 2009, and today the estate's products are sold in their own shop.
History
Jesper Paulsen is the 4th generation at Lille Gadegård. Previously the farm was used for animal husbandry, and in 1980 it was converted to strawberry cultivation, which also laid the foundation for the first wine production, a strawberry wine. It was well received, and in 2000 they began planting vines when Denmark officially became a wine-producing country. Since then the vineyard area has grown to 89,000 square meters. In 2005 a small pot still distillery of 2,200 liters was put into use, and maturation takes place in an underground cellar of 50 square meters. Since the winemaker also cultivates malted barley, it was natural to produce whisky. The first whisky bottle was sold in 2009, and it was therefore described as Denmark's first whisky.
Raw materials and production
The whisky is based on the estate's malted barley. Distillation takes place in a small 2,200-liter pot still distillery. After distillation, maturation takes place in an underground cellar of 50 square meters. The overall setup links the wine and farm production to the whisky production, so the raw materials and craftsmanship are closely connected in the same place.
Maturation and cask types
The whisky matures in an underground cellar of 50 square meters. Here it has time to mature in conditions that are tied to the estate's fixed setup around the pot still and the local storage facilities.
Whiskies
Lille Gadegård Vineyard produces wine, spirits, whisky and much more, and the products are sold in their own shop. For whisky the documented milestone is that the first bottle was sold in 2009. The whisky production is based on the estate's malted barley and distillation in a small pot still, as well as maturation in an underground cellar, so the whisky has a clear rooting in the estate's own raw material circle.
| Whisky | Status |
|---|---|
| Whisky (first bottle sold in 2009) | Available; sold in the on-site shop |
Visit the distillery
It is possible to visit Lille Gadegård Vineyard in connection with the wine shop and restaurant. The wine shop opens at 10:00 AM, and the restaurant is open every day in July and August. Every summer there are tours where the winemaker shows visitors around the vineyard and talks about production, and the tour ends with a wine tasting of four of the vineyard's best wines. For groups of over 20 people you can book a private tour and wine tasting also outside normal hours, and there are options that include lunch. Larger groups can also choose a self-guided visit with a small glass of wine and a tour around the farm.
The listed opening hours are The wine shop opens at 10:00 AM. The restaurant is open every day in July and August.
Philosophy and craftsmanship
The idea behind the production is to closely link the estate's raw materials and craftsmanship. When the winemaker also grows malted barley, whisky production becomes a natural part of the estate's overall production. At the same time, both distillation in a small pot still and maturation in an underground cellar are a direct extension of the facilities that exist on the estate.