Belgian wine
Viticulture in Belgium has a long tradition in spite of its minor economic importance. The Belgians have always been among the best customers of French wines from Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne. Despite its northerly location also Belgian wines are produced in modest quantity. The amount produced increased between 2004 and 2006 of 1400 hl 4000 hl and thus developed significantly faster than expected at the beginning of the 21st century.
Wine Regions
The viticulture spread to both Flanders and Wallonia on the. Since the Wallonia is French-speaking, the Belgian wine legislation closely in line with that of the neighboring country France. Belgium currently has 7 denominations of origin in the rank of an Appellation d' Origine ( AOC short ). 4 AOC 's are located in Flanders, 3 in Wallonia. Hageland, located in the province of Flemish Brabant between cities Aarschot, Tienen and Leuven, Belgium was the first, devoted to wine-growing appellation. The term Hagelandse wijn was protected by an Act of 9 July 1997 .. In 2000 was the AOC Haspengouw the second Belgian origin. Between Hasselt, Sint -Truiden, Herk -de- Stad, Herstappe and the Dutch border, the area features the currently largest Belgian wine operation, the Wijnkasteel Genoels - Elderen.
In 2004, the first wine regions of Wallonia were determined. With the appellation Côtes de Sambre et Meuse a geographically extensive area near the rivers Maas, Oise and Sambre was fixed At the same time the country wine Vin de pays des jardins de Wallonie was defined. This wine can be produced on the territory of the Walloon Region.
In 2005 followed in Flanders with Heuveland another AOC. Heuvelland limited to the situated near the French border places De Klijte, Dranouter, Kemmel, Loker, Nieuwkerken, Reningelst, West Outer, Wijschate and Wulvergem.
Were supplemented Flemish origin designations by the sparkling wine Vlaamse mousse Rende kwaliteitswijn which may be generated virtually everywhere in Flanders. Because of the very general definition of the region may be allowed on the label nor the following geographical precisions are listed:
- Uit de kuststreek ( de la région de la côte ), Uit de Westhoek ( you Westhoek ), Uit Brugge en Ommeland ( de la région de Bruges et des environs ), Uit de Leiestreek ( de la région de la Lys), Uit het Meetjesland ( de la région du Meetjesland ) Uit de vlaamse Ardennes ( the Ardennes flamandes ) Uit de Schelde en Denderstreek ( de la région de l' Escaut et de la Dendre ), Uit het Waasland ( du Pays de Waas ), Uit het Pajottenland s Zennevallei ( you Pajottenland et de la vallée dela Senne ) Uit de Dijlevallei ( de la vallée de la Dyle ), Antwerp Uit en de Antwerpse Kempen ( d'Anvers et la Campine Anversoise ) Uit de Limburgse Kempen ( de la Campine limbourgeoise ) Uit de Mijnstreek ( de la région des Mines ), Uit het Maasland ( de la région de la Meuse), Uit de Voerstreek ( de la région of Fourons ) Uit de Oost- Brabant Heuvelstreek ( de la région des Collines du Brabant oriental ) and Uit de Zuid- Limburgse Fruit Streek ( de la région du Sud fruitière Limbourg ).
At the same time the country Vlaamse Landwijn wine (Vin de Pays Flamand ) was defined. This wine can be produced on the territory of the Flemish Region. For the wine country the same name additions to clarify the origin as for sparkling apply.
In 2008, the sparkling Crémant Wallonia de and Vin mousseux de qualité de Wallonie were on Walloon territory defined during the Crémant stricter criteria in the selection of varieties as well as in relation to the maximum fill, the sparkling wine may under the name Vin mousseux de qualité de Wallonia are designated geographically close by one of the following names additions:
- Roman Pais, Ardennes brabançonne, Pays de Villers en Brabant Wallon, Pays de Waterloo, Pays de Mons, Tournai, Pays du center, Les Terres blanches, Picardie, Botte du Hainaut, Pays de Charleroi, Val de Sambre et Thudinie, Hesbaye -Meuse, Thermes et Coteaux, Pays de Herve, Pays de Liège, Huy -Meuse - Condroz Vallées de la Burdinale et de la Mehaigne, Basse Meuse, Gaume, Pays de la Semois entre Ardenne et Gaume, Pays d' Arlon, Haute -Meuse Dinantaise, Pays de Namur, the Sambre and Orneau Vallées des Eaux vives.
Varieties
For wines of the appellation Flemish Hageland following grape varieties are permitted:
- White grapes: Auxerrois, Bacchus, Chardonnay, Müller -Thurgau, Kerner, Optima, Ortega, Pinot gris, Riesling, Schönburger, Siegerrebe and spice.
- Red Grapes: Dominatrix, dornfelder, Gamay, Lemberger, Pinot noir.
For wines of the appellation Flemish Haspengouw applies:
- White grapes: Auxerrois, Bacchus, Chardonnay, Müller -Thurgau, Kerner, Optima, Ortega, Pinot blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Siegerrebe and spice.
- Red Grapes: dornfelder, Gamay, Pinot noir.
For the Walloon wines Appellation Côtes de Sambre et Meuse following varieties may be used:
- White grapes: Auxerrois, Bronner, Chardonnay, Chasselas, Chenin Blanc, St. John, Madeleine Angevine, Merzling, Müller- Thurgau ( or rivaner, both names are listed separately ), Muscat, Ortega, Pinot blanc, Pinot gris, Riesling, Seibel, Siegerrebe, Traminer ( Gewürztraminer or )
- Red Grapes: Gamay, Merlot, Pinot noir, Pinot noir précoce, Regent.
The concept of Seibel vines is probably mistaken in very general terms. From this huge variety family in Belgium, so far only a planting of the variety Verdelet known.
For the generation of Flemish quality sparkling wine, the legislation provides for the following varieties before:
- White grapes: Auxerrois, Chardonnay, Pinot blanc, Pinot gris, Riesling.
- Red Grapes: Pinot meunier, Pinot noir.
For the generation of the Walloon quality sparkling wine, the winemakers are following varieties available:
- White grapes: Auxerrois, Chardonnay, Pinot blanc, Pinot gris, Riesling.
- Red Grapes: Pinot meunier, Pinot noir.
The choice at Crémant, however, is restricted:
- White grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot blanc.
- Red Grapes: Pinot meunier, Pinot noir.
The history of wine in Belgium
In 1895 Joseph Halkin published so far the only complete historical survey of the Belgian viticulture. Accordingly, the first vineyards were already created in the 9th century. The promoted by Charlemagne's Christianization was accompanied by the foundation of numerous monasteries. In addition, the estates Regulation Capitulare de vel curtis imperii villis acknowledges the wine a not unimportant role. The churchmen were dependent on the availability of sacramental wine. From the year 815 there was a monastery for sanctions Peter, belonging vineyard in today's Ghent. Was there lay abbot Einhard. A little later the bishop of Liege, Walkald informed the monastery of Saint- Hubert vineyards at Huy and Vivegnis, a district of Oupeye.
From the 9th to the 14th century, there was a relatively mild climate. This period is also known as the Medieval Warm Period or Medieval Climate Optimum. Regional and temporal offset the annual average temperature was during this time by a few tenths and up to 1.0 degrees Celsius higher than usual. Enjoying the warm climate, the general population grew rapidly. Across Europe, the vineyard flourished. Significant vineyards sprang up around the cities in order to supply the local market. Not least due to the fact that the wine was because of its alcohol content often germ poorer and cleaner than water, its popularity increased even more.
In 1018, the cultivation of wine begins in Wépion at Namur, 1033 Profondeville, 1079 in Berlingen for waves in 1100 at Leuven, 1151 in Floreffe, 1203 in Anseremme at Dinant, 1260 in Leffe in Dinant, 1269 in Brugge, 1286 in Tournai or Mons in 1327. In the early Middle Ages, wine was grown in practically all climatically favored areas of present-day Belgium. Particularly favored the valley of the Meuse turned out. The area to the left of the Meuse belonged to the county of Namur, the orographic right-most the Prince-Bishopric of Liège.
Despite the favorable climatic conditions, the quality was not always satisfactory. From documents of the Cistercian monastery of Villers- la -Ville is apparent that the Order tried to import wine from the Rhine and the Moselle. However, the trip took almost a month and during transport the containers needed a permanent maintenance. The purchase of the wine option emerged in the 12th century on the land, as impractical.
In the High and Late Middle Ages, the forerunner of today's provinces were formed (eg, West Flanders, East Flanders, Brabant ) under the Burgundian dukes. Especially Philip the Good united other areas of present-day Belgium ( Burgundian Netherlands) by heritage or purchase. Under Charles the Bold (Charles le Téméraire ) the Duchy of Burgundy reached the zenith of its power.
The international networking and the wealth of Flanders were the basis for the rise of Burgundy. In the early 15th century the wine knew on Belgian soil heyday. In Leuven alone, there were 23 publicly operated wine presses in 1411. Some farmers put under the impression of falling grain prices their production partly to the viticulture. This trend did not last long. With the growing influence of Burgundy wines from the wine region of Burgundy were increasingly imported into the territory of present-day Belgium. The finer wines of this region meant that from many local vineyards. Poor harvests in the years 1511 to 1524 also for the better locations were abandoned ensured. This decline was accelerated by economic difficulties as well as devastation of soldiers under the 1568 ruling Eighty Years War. In addition, the beer prevailed as an important alcoholic beverage. For beer brewing for a long time, all existing types of grain used and flavored (called Grutbier ) to the 16th century with Grut. Beer, which is made from regionally different herbal blends was cloudy, sweetish, kohlensäurearm and not long lasting. In the 16th century, however, the Hops Beer prevailed. Beer Money became one of the important tax source.
As a result, little is known for viticulture in Belgium. It was not until 16 years after the Belgian Revolution in 1846, an agricultural census in the country, in the 166 ha of vineyards were determined. 144 ha were doing alone in the province of Liège in close proximity to the river Meuse.
In 1862 Felix Sohie founded in Huldenberg the tradition of the cultivation of table grapes under glass. When Baron Theodoor de Baudequin de Peuty on its Kasteel te Huldenberg Sohie built on the first grapes. Alone in the nearby Hoeilaart there were nearly 35,000 greenhouses in 1910 and 5,176 in 1960. Attached were mostly the sorts Alphonse- Lavallée and Léopold III, which is a mutation of the former variety.