Belgian wine has had a real 'grand cru' year as production hit a new record and the number of winegrowers and hectares also grew, figures from the Federal Public Economy Service published on Thursday show.
Total wine production in Belgium increased by almost 13% to more than 3.4 million litres in 2023; Wallonia accounted for 1.8 million litres, and Flanders for almost 1.6 million litres. The production of sparkling wines in particular increased (up 53.8% for rosé and 18% for white). Regular white wine production went up by 17%.
More farmers are growing wine, both in a professional and amateur capacity. Belgium now has 290 winegrowers, compared to 259 in 2022. The number of hectares with vines also increased: from 801 hectares in 2022 to 891 hectares in 2023.
The growth follows the rising interest in Belgian wine production, Jeanette Van Der Steen of the Château Bon Baron wine estate on the banks of the Meuse river told De Tijd.
Turning red wine into rosé
"There is enormous growth and that can only be welcomed," Van Der Steen said. "People have long overlooked Belgium as a wine country but with climate changes we now have the right climate to grow wine."
While poor weather last summer led to a 33% drop in red wine produced in Belgium, winegrowers were able to compensate by using the less ripe grapes to make rosé sparkling wine instead. This production grew by 54% last year.
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White sparkling wine (+19%), regular white wine (+17%) and regular rosé (9.5%) also did well and interest in orange wine is blooming. This wine (also referred to as amber wine due to its colour) is made like red wine but with grapes for white wine, resulting in a complex taste palette, said Van Der Steen, who is also experimenting with the new trend.
"I always make a small quantity because I notice that the general public is not yet fully familiar with such a cloudy wine. Most people still prefer a pure, clear wine, with a brilliant sparkle in the glass."
