For the first time in the history of this French competition, a Belgian wine has just taken gold in the Vinalies Internationales in Paris. The award winner, a semi-dry white wine labelled “Notes Blanches 2015”, has been produced since 2010 by the cooperative Vin de Liège, located in Heure-le-Romain (in Oupeye).
The Vinalies were created in 1994 by the Union of Wine Experts of France, a trade union. This year, the competition brought together 150 tasters from around 40 countries. They tested and discussed more than 3,500 samples from across the world, to award some 325 gold medals and 725 silvers.
The first harvests by the cooperative Vin de Liège took place in 2014. They produced 25,000 bottles. The proprietors’ ambition is for production to reach 100,000 bottles per year.
Initially created as a third sector social enterprise organisation, the cooperative constructed a wine store house in 2014 using modern winemaking techniques. The architecture of the building was integrated into its surroundings.
The award winning wine is made up of a blend of hyacinth and Solaris vines. Described as expressive and noted for a balance of sweetness and freshness, it is developed through a form semi-organic agriculture.
The Brussels Times
