A delegation of vine growers, winemakers and wine merchants from West Flanders were in Kent for two days in November. 

“Earlier this year, Kent County Council and the Provincie West-Vlaanderen signed a two-year bilateral action plan for economic cooperation in the food and beverage industry. Within this framework, both authorities, in collaboration with POM West-Vlaanderen and Inagro vzw, organised an inspirational trip to Kent on 19 and 20 November for West Flemish winegrowers to learn about viticulture,” explained Huw Jarvis programme manager at Kent County Council. 

Over two days, the 27 delegates visited:

  • Vineyard & Winery Show – a hub for technology, networking, and knowledge sharing.
  • Silverhand Estate – the UK’s largest organic vineyard, committed to biodiversity and carbon-negative operations.
  • Niab/EMR – research institution that supports viticulture through research on plant physiology, soil science, and wine quality.
  • Defined Wine Ltd– a contract winery enabling flexibility and growth for vineyards.
  • Simpsons Wine Estate – a pioneer producing world-class English wines and co-founder of The Wine Garden of England”.

Vineyard Magazine spoke to some of the delegates at the vineyard and winery show to gain their perspective on the visit:

Monteberg Wijngoed is the oldest wine Estate in Heuvelland, Belgium producing between 50,000 and 70,000 bottles a year. The vineyard was planted by Jean-Pierre Six in 1996 who has since passed the torch to his children Edward and Katrien. The vineyard has several varieties that are familiar to growers in Kent including “Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Rondo and Regent,” explained Edward Six who experienced English wines for the first time at the wine hubs at the Vineyard & Winery Show. “We do not have this kind of event in Belgium,” said Edward. “It was interesting to see the wine tasting at the expo because people are tasting the wines with respect for the winemaker showing real appreciation for the wines,” Edward continued. Monteburg produce sparkling wines in the traditional method and still wines. The Monteburg Extra Brut is a blend of Auxerrios, Chardonnay and Kerner. Edward pointed to the English Blanc de Blancs as wines that had caught his attention because “they are not too sweet and show the freshness that we try to capture in the wines we make but we could not sell our wines at that price point in Belgium,” Edward added. 

The Belgian Sparkling wine industry is experiencing tremendous growth and Edward spoke of the recent launch of a collective brand name, BelBul for quality Belgian sparkling wine made in the traditional method. To be able to use the term on a wine bottle there are several criteria that must be met including all grape cultivation and winemaking taking place in Belgium and the winery must be a Belgian family owned business. “The term has only recently been launched but is already catching on and gaining momentum,” said Edward with enthusiasm. 

The trip brought together members of Kent County Council and The West Flanders Development Agency alongside representatives of the Belgian Embassy and the Flanders Department of the Chancellery and Foreign Affairs. Stefaan Verhamme, International affairs manager at POM West-Vlaanderen said: “There are now 43 wine farmers in West Flanders which is three times greater than the number of winegrowers in 2018. We are building innovative systems for regional products using regenerative viticulture and finding international connections helps us to build and learn together.” Members of the Kent wine community will be visiting West Flanders in the near future to continue to build these international relationships.