Why it matters
The producer
In 2021, Iranian winemaker Shahram Soltani founded Drood. Soltani had relocated from Iran to Sweden in 2016. Drood works exclusively with grape varieties and fruit from the Zagros Mountains, and says all its grape varieties are native to the vineyard area.
Production takes place in Sweden at a facility just outside Växjö. The business address is in Gemla, Sweden.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
At elevations up to 2,500 metres above sea level, the vineyards sit in the Zagros mountain range of southwestern Iran. Cold nights follow sunny dry days, and the summers receive little rain. Winter snow covers the vines. Cold nights can slow ripening and help retain acidity, while dry days support grape ripening.
The soil is loess over limestone bedrock. Loess provides a loose surface layer, while limestone can drain water and retain some moisture. The vineyards therefore grow in a dry mountain setting with a limestone base.
Wines to know
The range in view
The range contains five named wines: Diako The King 2022, The Merchant Irdabama 2023, The Warrior Ariobarzanes 2023, Saadi The Master 2022 and Hafez The Poet 2022.
Diako The King 2022 is the Rasheh wine and has a very fruity red profile, with blackberry, blueberry, plum, violet, black pepper and mint. The Merchant Irdabama 2023 is made from Samarghandi and has raspberry, cranberry, blood grapefruit and fresh herb notes. The Warrior Ariobarzanes 2023 is made from Lorkosh; it is fruity and developed, with slight astringency and notes of dried apple, nuts, dried fruit, sea buckthorn and bitter orange.