Solaris: an In-Depth Wine Profile

What is Solaris?

Solaris is not a centuries-old relic of European viticulture. It is a modern hybrid, created in 1975 at the Freiburg Grape Breeding Institute in Germany by Norbert Becker. Solaris, also known by its code name '240 75' and the synonym 'fr', is the result of a crossing between Merzling and GM 6493 (the latter itself a crossing of Zarya Severa × Muscat Ottonel). Solaris was engineered with specific goals: to ripen early, resist fungal disease, and withstand frost in northern climates where traditional Vitis vinifera varieties often fail. These traits ensure reliable yields and harvests for growers even in challenging cool climate regions.

If Riesling is a Renaissance painting, Solaris is a piece of modernist architecture: clean lines, deliberate function, no wasted ornament. It reflects applied science rather than accidental tradition. This makes it a point of contention among purists, yet increasingly relevant in a warming, shifting climate.

In practical terms, Solaris is a white grape variety that delivers high natural sugar levels even in short growing seasons. That means it can be turned into a wide spectrum of wine styles: crisp and dry, lush and off-dry, or concentrated dessert wines. Its resilience makes it a flagbearer for northern viticulture, and its versatility makes it attractive to both winemakers and adventurous consumers. Solaris grapes ripen early and are often known for high natural sugar levels.

The Winemaking Process

Solaris hands winemakers a toolkit. Depending on choices in the cellar, the grape can be pushed toward aromatic freshness, textured richness, or sweet decadence. Solaris is often picked early in cooler regions, where it develops less sugar content at harvest. This makes it ideal for producing dry wine that pairs well with seafood and chicken.

In summary, Solaris is dry wine suitable, and its sugar content can be managed to create a range of wine styles, from crisp dry wines to luscious dessert wines.

Key features of Solaris winemaking

Harvest Timing:

• Early harvest produces leaner, citrus-driven wines with higher acidity.
• Later harvests enhance tropical fruit notes and increase the potential for alcohol.
• Some producers deliberately leave Solaris on the vine to produce late-harvest dessert wines, capitalizing on its natural sugar accumulation. Solaris is considered suitable for dessert wines due to its ability to ripen to high must weights.

Fermentation Vessels:

• Fermentation in stainless steel is the norm, used to preserve aromatics and freshness.
• A small number of winemakers experiment with oak to round out the edges and add structure, although this remains a niche approach.

Fermentation Temperature:

• Typically kept cool (14–16°C) to enhance aromatics such as elderflower and tropical fruit.

Malolactic Fermentation (MLF):

• Often blocked to retain crisp acidity.
• Occasionally used in oak-aged versions to soften acidity and add creaminess.

Lees Contact:

• Increasingly popular among ambitious producers.
• Lees stirring adds texture, reduces overt tropical sweetness, and introduces a savoury element.

Sparkling Experiments:

• Some producers, especially in Scandinavia, use Solaris for traditional or tank-method sparkling wines, relying on its acidity and aromatic punch.

Summary: Solaris is flexible. Like a Swiss Army knife, it can adapt to whatever style the winemaker envisions, though its DNA always shows through: ripe fruit, firm acidity, and aromatic presence.

Sensory Profile

Solaris has powerful aromatic intensity, often surprising given its cold-climate origins.

• Aromas: tropical fruit (banana, pineapple, mango), stone fruit (apricot, peach), citrus zest, herbal notes (elderflower, nettle), and occasionally nutty undertones (hazelnut, almond). Solaris wines feature fruity and perfumed aromas with hints of banana and hazelnut.
• Palate: medium- to full-bodied, with ripe fruit balanced by fresh acidity. Solaris ripens early, and in cooler climates, this can result in wines with lower sugar content, producing drier wines that pair well with fish, shrimp, or chicken. Alcohol often reaches 13–14%, even in cool regions, thanks to high sugar ripeness.
• Acidity: naturally high, giving freshness and balance to the ripe fruit.
• Finish: clean, mineral, and sometimes saline in coastal plantings.

Analogy: If Riesling is a ballet dancer: precise, linear, and elegant, Solaris is a CrossFit athlete: muscular, energetic, occasionally brash, but undeniably impressive.

This combination of ripeness and freshness gives Solaris broad appeal. It can satisfy those who want fruit-forward, easy-drinking whites, as well as those seeking structured, food-worthy wines.